Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of "collectively" in the Bible often pertains to the idea of unity, community, and the corporate nature of the people of God. Throughout Scripture, there is a strong emphasis on the collective identity and responsibility of God's people, whether it be the nation of Israel in the Old Testament or the Church in the New Testament.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, the nation of Israel is frequently addressed as a collective entity. God’s covenant with Israel was not just with individuals but with the entire nation. For example, in
Exodus 19:5-6 , God declares, "Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine. And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." Here, the collective identity of Israel as a "kingdom of priests" and a "holy nation" underscores their communal relationship with God.
The collective responsibility of Israel is also evident in the laws and commandments given to them. The blessings and curses outlined in
Deuteronomy 28 are directed at the nation as a whole, emphasizing that the obedience or disobedience of the people collectively would result in national consequences.
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the concept of the Church as the Body of Christ highlights the collective nature of believers. The Apostle Paul, in
1 Corinthians 12:12-14 , writes, "For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also is Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink. For the body does not consist of one part, but of many."
This passage illustrates the interconnectedness and interdependence of believers within the Church. Each member has a unique role, yet all are part of the same body, emphasizing the importance of unity and collective functioning.
Collective Worship and PrayerThe Bible also emphasizes the importance of collective worship and prayer. In
Acts 2:42 , the early Church is described as devoting themselves "to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." This communal aspect of worship is a vital part of the Christian faith, as believers gather together to encourage one another and to seek God collectively.
Jesus Himself highlighted the power of collective prayer in
Matthew 18:19-20 , stating, "Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them."
Collective Responsibility and MissionThe collective mission of the Church is also a significant theme in the New Testament. The Great Commission in
Matthew 28:19-20 is directed to all believers, calling them to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you." This mission is a collective endeavor, requiring the participation and cooperation of the entire body of Christ.
ConclusionThe biblical concept of "collectively" underscores the importance of unity, shared identity, and communal responsibility among God’s people. Whether in the context of Israel or the Church, the Scriptures consistently highlight the significance of living and acting as a collective body, united in purpose and mission.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
adv.) In a mass, or body; in a collected state; in the aggregate; unitedly.
Greek
1121. gramma -- that which is drawn or written, ie a letter ... gramma Phonetic Spelling: (gram'-mah) Short Definition: a letter, writings, learning
Definition: a letter of the alphabet;
collectively: written (revelation
... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1121.htm - 6k5092. time -- a valuing, a price
... From tino; a value, ie Money paid, or (concretely and collectively) valuables; by
analogy, esteem (especially of the highest degree), or the dignity itself ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5092.htm - 7k
1636. elaia -- an olive (the tree or the fruit)
... 1636 -- an olive tree (collectively, the Mount of Olives); (figuratively) the, indwelt
by the (the fulfillment/antitype of in Scripture). Word Origin a prim. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1636.htm - 7k
2781. kerion -- honeycomb.
... honeycomb. Diminutive from keos (wax); a cell for honey, ie (collectively) the comb --
(honey-)comb. 2780, 2781. kerion. 2782 . Strong's Numbers.
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2781.htm - 5k
2963. kuriotes -- lordship
... dominion, government. From kurios; mastery, ie (concretely and collectively) rulers --
dominion, government. see GREEK kurios. (kurioteta) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2963.htm - 7k
5568. psalmos -- a striking (of musical strings), a psalm
... From psallo; a set piece of music, ie A sacred ode (accompanied with the voice,
harp or other instrument; a "psalm"); collectively, the book of the Psalms ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5568.htm - 7k
2562. kalame -- stubble
... stubble. Feminine of kalamos; a stalk of grain, ie (collectively) stubble -- stubble.
see GREEK kalamos. (kalamen) -- 1 Occurrence. 2561, 2562. kalame. 2563 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2562.htm - 6k
1087. gerousia -- a council of elders
... council of elders, Sanhedrin. From geron; the eldership, ie (collectively) the Jewish
Sanhedrin -- senate. see GREEK geron. (gerousian) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1087.htm - 6k
4487. rhema -- a word, by impl. a matter
... From rheo; an utterance (individually, collectively or specially),; by implication,
a matter or topic (especially of narration, command or dispute); with a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4487.htm - 8k
2322. therapeia -- attention, medical service
... healing, household. From therapeuo; attendance (specially, medical, ie Cure);
figuratively and collectively, domestics -- healing, household. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2322.htm - 7k
Strong's Hebrew
1511. Gizri -- Gezrites... Word Origin another reading for Girzi, qv Gichon Definition see NH1521. Gezrites
(in the m patrial from Gezer; a Gezerite (
collectively) or inhabitants of Gezer
... /hebrew/1511.htm - 6k 440. Eloni -- a descendant of Elon
... Elonites. Or rather (shortened) oeloniy {ay-lo-nee'}; patron from 'Allown; an Elonite
or descendant (collectively) of Elon -- Elonites. see HEBREW 'Allown. ...
/hebrew/440.htm - 6k
5625. Sardi -- descendant of Sered
... of Sered NASB Word Usage Seredites (1). Sardites. Patron from Cered; a Seredite
(collectively) or descendants of Sered -- Sardites. see HEBREW Cered. ...
/hebrew/5625.htm - 6k
8117. Shimroni -- descendant of Shimron
... Shimronites. Patronymically from Shimrown; a Shimronite (collectively) or descendants
of Shimron -- Shimronites. see HEBREW Shimrown. 8116, 8117. ...
/hebrew/8117.htm - 6k
4578. meeh -- internal organs, inward parts, belly
... From an unused root probably meaning to be soft; used only in plural the intestines,
or (collectively) the abdomen, figuratively, sympathy; by implication, a ...
/hebrew/4578.htm - 6k
6336. Puthi -- a family in Judah
... Patronymically from an unused name meaning a hinge; a Puthite (collectively) or
descendants of an unknown Puth -- Puhites (as if from Puw'ah). ...
/hebrew/6336.htm - 6k
6180. Eri -- descendant of Eri
... of Eri NASB Word Usage Erites (1). Erites. Patronymically of Eriy; a Erite
(collectively) or descendants of Eri -- Erites. see HEBREW Eriy. 6179, 6180. ...
/hebrew/6180.htm - 6k
4687. mitsvah -- commandment
... From tsavah; a command, whether human or divine (collectively, the Law) -- (which
was) commanded(-ment), law, ordinance, precept. see HEBREW tsavah. ...
/hebrew/4687.htm - 6k
582. enosh -- man, mankind
... From 'anash; properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified 'adam);
hence, a man in general (singly or collectively) -- another, X (blood ...
/hebrew/582.htm - 6k
6198. Erani -- descendant of Eran
... of Eran NASB Word Usage Eranites (1). Eranites. Patronymically from Eran; an Eranite
or descendant (collectively) of Eran -- Eranites. see HEBREW Eran. ...
/hebrew/6198.htm - 6k
Library
The Balance of Powers in Nature Shews that it is not God, Either ...
... Against the Heathen. Section 29. The balance of powers in Nature shews
that it is not God, either collectively, or in parts. And ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/section 29 the balance of.htm
Anicius Manlius Severinus
... So Goodness, Immutability, Justice, Omnipotence and all the other predicates which
we apply to the Persons singly and collectively are plainly substantial ...
/.../boethius/the theological tractates/anicius manlius severinus.htm
Concerning Common and Distinctive Theology, and what is the Divine ...
... the deifying, and the cause, and whatever pertains to the whole Godhead, the Oracles
introduce into all the supremely Divine hymnody"collectively, when they ...
/.../dionysius/dionysis on divine names/caput ii concerning common and.htm
The Bread of the Presence
... symbolised the thought that the priestly life, which was the life of the nation,
and is the life of the Christian both individually and collectively, is to be ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the bread of the presence.htm
Be not Foolish, O My Soul, nor Become Deaf in the Ear of Thine ...
... And so ever, when any one thing is made up of many, all of which do not exist together,
all collectively would please more than they do severally, could all be ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter xi be not foolish.htm
Concerning "Perfect" and "One".
... For the Word of God predicates everything, singly and collectively, respecting the
Cause of all, and extols Him both as Perfect and as One [58] . ...
/.../dionysius/dionysis on divine names/caput xiii concerning perfect and.htm
This Function of the Word Described at Length.
... having left nothing void of His own power, but on the contrary quickening and
sustaining all things everywhere, each severally and all collectively; while He ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/section 42 this function of.htm
Whether Movement is a Cause of Pleasure?
... And so whenever any one thing is made up of many, all of which do not exist together,
all would please collectively more than they do severally, if all could ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether movement is a cause.htm
Eleventh Proposition of Arminius
... For, in the Major, grace is used collectively or generally, but in the Minor
distributively; in the former, it is used simply, as to its essence, in the latter ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 3/eleventh proposition of arminius.htm
Book iii. --Of the Harmony of the Fathers of the Old and New ...
... The foes, shut up the stars; kept in the clouds. The rain; showed all collectively
that God. ... 330 Unlawful, with rash voice, collectively. ...
/.../fathers of the third century tertullian appendix/book iii of the harmony of.htm
Thesaurus
Collectively (1 Occurrence)...Collectively (1 Occurrence). Romans 12:5 so
collectively we form one body in Christ,
while individually we are linked to one another as its members. (WEY).
.../c/collectively.htm - 6kLife (6001 Occurrences)
... of living with respect to conditions, circumstances, character, conduct, occupation,
etc.; hence, human affairs; also, lives, considered collectively, as a ...
/l/life.htm - 51k
Fowl (73 Occurrences)
... 1. Old Testament Terms and References: The word most frequently translated "fowl"
is `oph from `uph, "to cover," hence, wing; it is used collectively for birds ...
/f/fowl.htm - 36k
Daughter (320 Occurrences)
... 2:2); (c) grand-daughter or other female descendant (Exodus 21 Luke 1:5; Luke
13:16); (d) the women of a country, or of a place, taken collectively (Luke 23:28 ...
/d/daughter.htm - 43k
Collector (8 Occurrences)
/c/collector.htm - 9k
Heaven (653 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) The sovereign of heaven; God; also, the assembly of the blessed,
collectively; -- used variously in this sense, as in No. 2. ...
/h/heaven.htm - 72k
Young (3454 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) The offspring of animals, either a single animal or offspring collectively.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. YOUNG; MEN, YOUNG WOMEN. ...
/y/young.htm - 10k
Youth (169 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) A young person; especially, a young man. 5. (n.) Young persons,
collectively. Multi-Version Concordance Youth (169 Occurrences). ...
/y/youth.htm - 37k
Quaternion
... 2. (n.) A set of four parts, things, or person; four things taken collectively;
a group of four words, phrases, circumstances, facts, or the like. ...
/q/quaternion.htm - 8k
Quest (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Request; desire; solicitation. 3. (n.) Those who make search or inquiry,
taken collectively. 4. (n.) Inquest; jury of inquest. ...
/q/quest.htm - 7k
Resources
What is collective salvation? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the origin of Christianity? | GotQuestions.orgCollectively: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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