The term "degenerate" is used to describe a decline from a former state of moral, spiritual, or physical integrity. In the biblical context, degeneration often refers to the spiritual and moral decay of individuals or nations that have turned away from God's commandments and righteous living. This concept is prevalent throughout Scripture, illustrating the consequences of abandoning divine principles.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the idea of degeneration is frequently associated with Israel's unfaithfulness to God. The prophets often rebuked the Israelites for their spiritual decline and idolatry. For instance, in Jeremiah 2:21, God laments the spiritual degeneration of His people: "I had planted you like a choice vine from the very best seed. How then could you turn yourself before Me into a corrupt, wild vine?" . Here, the imagery of a vine that has become wild and corrupt symbolizes Israel's departure from their covenant relationship with God.

The book of Isaiah also addresses the theme of degeneration. Isaiah 1:4 describes the nation as "a sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel; they are utterly estranged" . This passage highlights the moral and spiritual decay that results from forsaking God.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, degeneration is often linked to the rejection of the gospel and the teachings of Christ. The Apostle Paul warns against moral and spiritual decline in his letters. In Romans 1:28-32, Paul describes the consequences of humanity's rejection of God: "Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done" . This passage outlines a progression of moral decay that results from turning away from God's truth.

Paul also addresses the issue of degeneration within the church. In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, he warns Timothy about the perilous times to come, characterized by people who are "lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy" . This description serves as a caution against allowing such degeneration to infiltrate the Christian community.

Theological Implications

The concept of degeneration underscores the importance of remaining faithful to God's commandments and the teachings of Jesus Christ. It serves as a warning against the dangers of moral and spiritual decline, emphasizing the need for repentance and renewal. The Bible consistently calls believers to uphold righteousness and to resist the temptations that lead to degeneration.

Practical Application

For believers, the call to avoid degeneration involves a commitment to spiritual growth and moral integrity. This includes regular engagement with Scripture, prayer, and participation in a community of faith. By doing so, Christians can guard against the influences that lead to spiritual and moral decay, striving instead to live lives that reflect the holiness and righteousness of God.1. (v. i.) To be or grow worse than one was originally; hence, to be inferior; to grow poorer, meaner, or more vicious; to decline in good qualities; to deteriorate.

2. (a.) Having become worse than one's kind, or one's former state; having declined in worth; having lost in goodness; deteriorated; degraded; unworthy; base; low.

3. (v. i.) To fall off from the normal quality or the healthy structure of its kind; to become of a lower type.

DEGENERATE

de-jen'-er-at: Only in Jeremiah 2:21, where Judah is compared to a "noble vine" which it "turned into the degenerate branches of a foreign vine." It represents Hebrew curim = "stray" or "degenerate (shoots)," from cur = "to turn aside," especially to turn aside from the right path (Greek pikria, literally, "bitterness").

5351. phtheiro -- to destroy, corrupt, spoil
... [This root (-) literally means "waste away" (degenerate), "moving from a level
(quality, status) to a form.]. Word Origin from a prim. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5351.htm - 7k

1311. diaphtheiro -- to destroy utterly, to spoil, corrupt
... 1311 (from 1223 , "thoroughly," which intensifies 5351 , "defile, corrupt") -- properly,
corrupt, degenerate (disintegrate); waste away by the decaying ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1311.htm - 8k

5494. sur -- degenerate
... sur. 5495 . degenerate. Transliteration: sur Phonetic Spelling: (soor) Short
Definition: degenerate. Word Origin the same as sur, qv. degenerate ...
/hebrew/5494.htm - 5k

5493. sur -- to turn aside
... root Definition to turn aside NASB Word Usage abolished (1), avoid (1), beheaded*
(1), cut off (1), degenerate (1), depart (45), departed (7), deposed (1 ...
/hebrew/5493.htm - 7k

The First Blast to Awake Women Degenerate.
... THE FIRST BLAST TO AWAKE WOMEN degenerate. To promote a woman to beare rule,
superioritie, dominion or empire aboue any realme, nation ...
/.../knox/the first blast of the trumpet/the first blast to awake.htm

Through the Fall and Revolt of Adam, the Whole Human Race Made ...
... CHAPTER 1. THROUGH THE FALL AND REVOLT OF ADAM, THE WHOLE HUMAN RACE MADE
ACCURSED AND DEGENERATE. OF ORIGINAL SIN. THROUGH THE ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 1 through the fall.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, John x. 30, "I and the Father are One. ...
... all ages? Should He who hath no beginning of time, beget a son, different
from That which Himself is, beget a degenerate son? Hear ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon lxxxix on the words.htm

Paracelsus {13}
... That fixed idea might degenerate"did, alas! degenerate"into wild self-conceit,
rash contempt of the ancients, violent abuse of his opponents. ...
/.../kingsley/historical lectures and essays/paracelsus 13.htm

The Holy Spirit Convincing the World of Sin, Righteousness, and ...
... Nay, some in words professedly deny it, though their works too, too plainly
prove them to be degenerate sons of a degenerate father. ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/the holy spirit convincing the.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, John ix. 4 and 31, "We must Work the ...
... No. What then is that which the Siloa Himself saith, the Sent Himself, the Son Himself,
the Only Son Himself, whom thou complainest of as degenerate? ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon lxxxv on the words.htm

The Family Bible.
... Take this book from the family, and she will degenerate into a mere conventionalism,
marriage into a "social contract;" the spirit of mother will depart ...
/.../philips/the christian home/chapter viii the family bible.htm

The Shaking of the Heavens and the Earth (Preached at the Chapel ...
... Are we to degenerate into a lazy and heartless scepticism, which, under pretence
of liberality and charity, believes that everything is a little true ...
/.../kingsley/the water of life and other sermons/sermon vi the shaking of.htm

Of the Necessity of Divine Influences to Produce Regeneration in ...
... valuable and important, when considered in subserviency to the gracious design of
recovering apostate man from the ruin of his degenerate state"without which ...
/.../practical discourses on regeneration/discourse vii of the necessity.htm

Philippians ii. 11-May
... The Word who was God did not degenerate into man, nor was His substance changed,
but he appeared as a man; not to delude us with a phantom, but to instruct us ...
/.../homily vii philippians ii 11-may.htm

Degenerate (1 Occurrence)
... type. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DEGENERATE. de ... literally, "bitterness").
Multi-Version Concordance Degenerate (1 Occurrence). ...
/d/degenerate.htm - 7k

Degrade (1 Occurrence)
... 4. (vi) To degenerate; to pass from a higher to a lower type of structure; as, a
family of plants or animals degrades through this or that genus or group of ...
/d/degrade.htm - 7k

Potter (14 Occurrences)
... Foreign influence is lost. The types which survive degenerate. ... (5) Roman and
Saracenic. Degenerate forms persisting till the present time. ...
/p/potter.htm - 28k

Pottery (11 Occurrences)
... Foreign influence is lost. The types which survive degenerate. ... (5) Roman and
Saracenic. Degenerate forms persisting till the present time. ...
/p/pottery.htm - 27k

Language (112 Occurrences)
... and thirdly, as the vernacular of Mohammed and his followers, the classical tongue
of that religious system which is the offspring of a degenerate Judaism and ...
/l/language.htm - 101k

Imagery (5 Occurrences)
... zodiacal character. The worship of the planets was in vogue at the time
of the prophet among the degenerate Israelites. IMAGERY. im ...
/i/imagery.htm - 10k

Tradition (13 Occurrences)
... Peter (1 Peter 1:18) uses this word with reference to the degenerate Judaism
of the "strangers scattered" whom he addresses (Comp. ...
/t/tradition.htm - 17k

Triclinium
... Reclining was a luxurious habit imported from foreign countries by the degenerate
aristocracy in the days of the later prophets (Amos 2:8; Amos 6:4). Still, we ...
/t/triclinium.htm - 8k

Rust (7 Occurrences)
... a rusty appearance, as plants. 9. (vi) To degenerate in idleness; to become
dull or impaired by inaction. 10. (vt) To cause to contract ...
/r/rust.htm - 11k

Desire (565 Occurrences)
... The literal translation "to lose in value," "to degenerate," would be more
in harmony with the context than the translations offered. ...
/d/desire.htm - 43k

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Degenerate: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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