Definition and Concept
Agency, in a biblical context, refers to the capacity of individuals to act independently and make choices. It is the ability given by God to humans to make decisions that align with His will or deviate from it. This concept is foundational to understanding human responsibility, moral accountability, and the nature of sin and redemption.

Biblical Foundation
The concept of agency is rooted in the creation narrative. In Genesis 1:26-27 , God creates humanity in His image, granting them dominion over the earth. This dominion implies a level of responsibility and the ability to make choices regarding the stewardship of creation. The narrative of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3 further illustrates agency, as they exercise their free will in choosing to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, despite God's command.

Moral Responsibility
Agency is closely tied to moral responsibility. Deuteronomy 30:19 presents a clear choice between life and death, blessing and curse, urging the Israelites to choose life. This passage underscores the importance of human agency in making decisions that align with God's commandments. Similarly, Joshua 24:15 challenges the Israelites to choose whom they will serve, highlighting the role of personal decision in spiritual allegiance.

Sin and Agency
The exercise of agency is central to the biblical understanding of sin. Romans 5:12 explains that sin entered the world through one man, Adam, and death through sin, affecting all humanity. This passage illustrates how the misuse of agency leads to sin and its consequences. However, it also sets the stage for redemption through Jesus Christ, who, by His obedience, offers salvation to all who choose to believe in Him (Romans 5:18-19).

Redemption and Agency
The New Testament emphasizes the role of agency in accepting salvation. John 3:16 declares that whoever believes in Jesus shall not perish but have eternal life, indicating a personal decision to accept God's gift of salvation. Revelation 3:20 portrays Jesus standing at the door and knocking, inviting individuals to open the door and receive Him, again highlighting the necessity of personal choice in the process of redemption.

Agency and the Holy Spirit
While humans possess agency, the Bible also teaches that the Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in guiding and empowering believers to make godly choices. Galatians 5:16-17 encourages believers to walk by the Spirit, contrasting the desires of the flesh with the guidance of the Spirit. This passage suggests that while agency allows for personal choice, the Holy Spirit aids believers in aligning their choices with God's will.

Conclusion
The concept of agency is integral to understanding the biblical narrative of creation, fall, and redemption. It underscores the importance of personal responsibility and the profound impact of individual choices on one's spiritual journey. Through agency, humans are called to choose life, align with God's commandments, and accept the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit to live according to God's will.1. (n.) The faculty of acting or of exerting power; the state of being in action; action; instrumentality.

2. (n.) The office of an agent, or factor; the relation between a principal and his agent; business of one entrusted with the concerns of another.

3. (n.) The place of business of am agent.

5495. cheir -- the hand
... Word Origin a prim. word Definition the hand NASB Word Usage agency (1), charge*
(1), grasp (1), hand (82), hands (88), help (1). hand. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5495.htm - 7k

5259. hupo -- by, under
... A primary preposition; under, ie (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or
with verbs (the agency or means, through); (with the accusative case) of place ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5259.htm - 7k

1223. dia -- through, on account of, because of
... sake (41), sakes (5), since (1), so then* (1), so* (1), therefore* (16), this reason*
(1), this* (1), though (1), through (225), through the agency (1), through ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1223.htm - 8k

4181. polumeros -- in many parts
... variously, at sundry times. Adverb from a compound of polus and meros; in many portions,
ie Variously as to time and agency (piecemeal) -- at sundry times. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4181.htm - 6k

3027. yad -- hand
... 1), had (1), hand (859), handed (1), hands (303), hands* (1), have* (1), help*
(1), helpless* (1), herself (1), himself (1), hold* (1), human agency (1), idle ...
/hebrew/3027.htm - 8k

Agency of Evil Spirits.
... 31. AGENCY OF EVIL SPIRITS. [Illustration: Chapter header.] The connection
of the visible with the invisible world, the ministration ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /31 agency of evil spirits.htm

A New Agency Needed
... CHAPTER XVIII A NEW AGENCY NEEDED. "My thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD. For as the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/taylor/a retrospect/chapter xviii a new agency.htm

Agency of Evil Spirits
... Chapter 31 Agency of Evil Spirits. The connection of the visible with the
invisible world, the ministration of angels of God, and ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 31 agency of evil.htm

God's Agency is Needful Even in Man's Doings.
... Book II. Chapter 20."God's Agency is Needful Even in Man's Doings. For
as it is said, "It is man's part to prepare his heart, and ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 20 gods agency is needful.htm

The Relation Between the Human Will and the Divine Agency.
... Chapter V. The Relation Between The Human Will And The Divine Agency. Thou art the
source and centre of all minds, Their only point of rest, eternal Word! ...
/.../chapter v the relation between.htm

Conversion --Human Agency In
... CHAPTER XX. CONVERSION"HUMAN AGENCY IN. What ... work. They practically deny
the agency of the Holy Spirit, or His means of Grace. ...
/.../chapter xx conversionhuman agency in.htm

An Extravagant Way of Accounting for the Communication of the ...
... Extravagant Way of Accounting for the Communication of the Spiritual Nature to Man
It Was Furtively Managed by Achamoth, Through the Unconscious Agency of Her ...
/.../tertullian/against the valentinians/chapter xxv an extravagant way of.htm

Of the Fact that the Mystery of a Mediator was Made Known to those ...
... of the gospels.Book I. Chapter XXXV."Of the Fact that the Mystery of a Mediator
Was Made Known to Those Who Lived in Ancient Times by the Agency of Prophecy ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xxxv of the fact that.htm

Regeneration.
... and conversion. 1. Regeneration is the term used by some theologians to
express the divine agency in changing the heart. With them ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xxvii regeneration.htm

The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Material Universe.
... material universe. I. The creation of the material universe and of man
is effected through the agency of the Holy Spirit. We read ...
/.../torrey/the person and work of the holy spirit/chapter vi the work of.htm

Agency (4 Occurrences)
... of another. 3. (n.) The place of business of am agent. Multi-Version
Concordance Agency (4 Occurrences). Romans 15:18 For I will ...
/a/agency.htm - 8k

Preaching (116 Occurrences)
... to announce good news" (Matthew 11:5)): 1. Definition 2. The Preacher's Limitations
3. A Man with a Message 4. Preaching a Necessary Agency 5. Biblical Terms ...
/p/preaching.htm - 50k

Creation (35 Occurrences)
... For God creates not being that can exist independently of Him, His preserving
agency being inseparably connected with His creative power. ...
/c/creation.htm - 34k

Mean (93 Occurrences)
... 14. (n.) That through which, or by the help of which, an end is attained; something
tending to an object desired; intermediate agency or measure; necessary ...
/m/mean.htm - 40k

Ministry (44 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The act of ministering; ministration; service;
also (in some countries) a government agency, as the Ministry of Defense. ...
/m/ministry.htm - 51k

Affliction (120 Occurrences)
... Yet there are traces of a dualism which assigns a certain vague limit to God's absolute
sovereignty, by referring affliction to an evil agency acting in quasi ...
/a/affliction.htm - 53k

Sponge (3 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) Dough before it is kneaded and formed into loaves, and after it is converted
into a light, spongy mass by the agency of the yeast or leaven. ...
/s/sponge.htm - 10k

Baptismal (1 Occurrence)
... righteousness implicit in the act of faith (Romans 6). It is the symbol of a cleansing
from sin and renewal by God's Spirit, but not the agency effecting that ...
/b/baptismal.htm - 24k

Regeneration (2 Occurrences)
... righteousness implicit in the act of faith (Romans 6). It is the symbol of a cleansing
from sin and renewal by God's Spirit, but not the agency effecting that ...
/r/regeneration.htm - 60k

Preacher (27 Occurrences)
... to announce good news" (Matthew 11:5)): 1. Definition 2. The Preacher's Limitations
3. A Man with a Message 4. Preaching a Necessary Agency 5. Biblical Terms ...
/p/preacher.htm - 48k

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