Topical Encyclopedia In biblical terms, the concept of "audience" can be understood in various contexts, including the audience of a message, the audience of a speaker, and the audience of God. The term is not explicitly used in the Bible, but the idea is woven throughout the Scriptures as it pertains to communication, reception, and response to God's word and His messengers.1. Audience of God's Word The Bible frequently addresses the audience of God's word, emphasizing the importance of hearing and responding to divine revelation. In the Old Testament, the prophets often spoke to the people of Israel, calling them to repentance and obedience. For example, Isaiah 55:3 states, "Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you—My loving devotion assured to David." In the New Testament, Jesus Christ, as the ultimate revelation of God, addressed various audiences, including His disciples, the Pharisees, and the general populace. His teachings were meant to reach the hearts of listeners, prompting them to respond in faith and obedience. In Matthew 13:9 , Jesus says, "He who has ears, let him hear," underscoring the importance of being attentive to His message. 2. Audience of the Apostles and Early Church The apostles and early church leaders also had specific audiences to whom they directed their teachings and letters. The epistles in the New Testament were often addressed to particular churches or individuals, providing guidance, correction, and encouragement. For instance, the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, addressing issues specific to their community. In 1 Corinthians 1:2 , Paul writes, "To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be saints, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours." 3. Audience of Prayer and Worship In the context of prayer and worship, God is the primary audience. Believers are encouraged to direct their prayers and worship to Him with sincerity and reverence. Jesus taught His disciples to pray in a manner that acknowledges God's holiness and sovereignty, as seen in the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). Additionally, worship is described as an act of devotion directed toward God, as in John 4:23-24 , where Jesus says, "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and truth." 4. Audience of Witness and Evangelism The Great Commission, as recorded in Matthew 28:19-20 , calls believers to make disciples of all nations, indicating that the audience for the gospel message is the entire world. The early church took this mandate seriously, spreading the message of Christ to diverse audiences across different cultures and regions. Acts 1:8 records Jesus' words to His disciples: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 5. Audience of Judgment The Bible also speaks of a future audience before God in the context of judgment. All humanity will stand before God to give an account of their lives. Romans 14:10-12 states, "For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: 'As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.' So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God." In summary, the concept of "audience" in the Bible encompasses the recipients of God's word, the hearers of apostolic teaching, the divine audience of prayer and worship, the global audience of evangelism, and the ultimate audience before God's judgment. Each context highlights the importance of attentiveness, response, and accountability in the relationship between God and humanity. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (n.) The act of hearing; attention to sounds.2. (a.) Admittance to a hearing; a formal interview, esp. with a sovereign or the head of a government, for conference or the transaction of business. 3. (n.) An auditory; an assembly of hearers. Also applied by authors to their readers. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia AUDIENCEo'-di-ens: Translated from the Hebrew 'ozen, "ear." In Genesis 23:10 "in the audience of" is equal to "in the presence of," or "while they listened." Compare Exodus 24:7 1 Samuel 25:24 (Revised Version (British and American) "in thine ears"); 1 Chronicles 28:8 Nehemiah 13:1. In the New Testament the expression "to give audience" (Acts 22:22; Acts 13:16, the Revised Version (British and American) "hearken"; Acts 15:12, the Revised Version (British and American) "they hearkened") translated from the Greek akouo "to hear" or derivatives, and means "to listen," "to pay attention." In the King James Version Luke 7:1 (Revised Version, "in the ears of") and the King James Version Luke 20:45 (Revised Version, "in the hearing of") the usage is similar to that of the Old Testament. Greek 201. akroaterion -- place of audience, or listening ... place of audience, or listening. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: akroaterion Phonetic Spelling: (ak-ro-at-ay'-ree-on) Short Definition: auditorium ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/201.htm - 6k 189. akoe -- hearing, the sense of hearing 191. akouo -- to hear, listen 993. Boanerges -- Boanerges, an epithet applied to the two sons of ... 2302. theatron -- a theater, a spectacle 4318. prosagoge -- a bringing to Strong's Hebrew 241. ozen -- an ear... advertise, audience, displease, ear, hearing, show. ... Ie (concrete) the ear (from its form in man) -- + advertise, audience, + displease, ear, hearing, + show. ... /hebrew/241.htm - 6k 8088. shema -- a hearing, report Library After Having Given Audience to Both Parties, the Emperor Condemned ... Buying a Slave Girl How to Speak in Public The Hidden Treasure. The First Preaching in Asia Minor John I. Decision. Introduction Reverence in Prayer Chapter eight Thesaurus Audience (17 Occurrences)... Also applied by authors to their readers. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. AUDIENCE. ... Multi-Version Concordance Audience (17 Occurrences). ... /a/audience.htm - 13k Auditorium (1 Occurrence) Ephron (13 Occurrences) Parlour Areopagus (3 Occurrences) Nathan (42 Occurrences) Chamber (73 Occurrences) Essenes Voices (76 Occurrences) Zedekiah (63 Occurrences) Resources How can we know what parts of the Bible apply to us today? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is rhetorical criticism? | GotQuestions.org Should a Christian play Pokémon? Should a Christian play Yu-Gi-Oh!? | GotQuestions.org Audience: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Audience (17 Occurrences)Luke 7:1 Luke 20:45 Acts 12:20 Acts 13:16 Acts 15:12 Acts 22:22 Acts 25:23 Genesis 23:10 Genesis 23:13 Genesis 23:16 Exodus 24:7 1 Samuel 25:24 1 Kings 10:24 1 Chronicles 28:8 2 Chronicles 9:23 Nehemiah 13:1 Proverbs 29:26 Subtopics Related Terms |