Deportment refers to a person's behavior or manners, particularly in the context of how one conducts oneself in various situations. In the Bible, deportment is often linked to the broader concept of Christian conduct, encompassing how believers are expected to live and interact with others in a manner that reflects their faith and commitment to God's commandments.

Biblical Principles of Deportment

1. Holiness and Righteousness: The Bible calls believers to live lives of holiness and righteousness. In 1 Peter 1:15-16 , it is written, "But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" This call to holiness is a foundational aspect of Christian deportment, urging believers to reflect God's character in their daily lives.

2. Love and Compassion: Central to Christian deportment is the command to love others. Jesus emphasized this in John 13:34-35 , saying, "A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another." Love and compassion are essential elements of how Christians are to conduct themselves.

3. Humility and Servanthood: The Bible encourages believers to adopt an attitude of humility and servanthood. Philippians 2:3-4 instructs, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." This passage highlights the importance of putting others first and serving them selflessly.

4. Integrity and Honesty: Integrity is a key component of Christian deportment. Proverbs 11:3 states, "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the faithless destroys them." Believers are called to be honest and trustworthy in all their dealings, reflecting the truthfulness of God.

5. Peace and Reconciliation: Christians are called to be peacemakers and to seek reconciliation. Romans 12:18 advises, "If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone." This pursuit of peace is a vital aspect of how believers are to conduct themselves in a world often marked by conflict.

6. Self-Control and Discipline: The Bible emphasizes the importance of self-control and discipline in the life of a believer. Galatians 5:22-23 lists self-control as a fruit of the Spirit, indicating that it is a natural outcome of a life led by the Holy Spirit. Believers are encouraged to exercise self-control in all areas of life, including speech, actions, and thoughts.

Examples of Deportment in Scripture

· Jesus Christ: The ultimate example of perfect deportment is found in Jesus Christ. His life exemplified love, humility, and obedience to the Father. Philippians 2:5-8 describes His humility and servanthood: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross."

· The Apostles: The apostles, particularly Paul, often wrote about the importance of deportment in their letters to the early churches. In 1 Thessalonians 2:10 , Paul reminds the Thessalonians of his conduct: "You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless we were among you who believed."

· The Early Church: The early church is depicted as a community marked by love, unity, and generosity. Acts 2:44-47 describes their conduct: "All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need. With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people."

In summary, deportment in the biblical sense encompasses a wide range of behaviors and attitudes that reflect a life transformed by faith in Christ. Believers are called to live in a manner that honors God and serves as a witness to the world of His love and truth.(n.) Manner of acting; conduct; carriage of self; especially, manner of acting with respect to the courtesies and duties of life; behavior; demeanor; bearing.2688. katastema -- demeanor
... Neuter Transliteration: katastema Phonetic Spelling: (kat-as'-tay-mah) Short Definition:
behavior, conduct Definition: behavior, conduct, deportment, demeanor. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2688.htm - 7k

5158. tropos -- a way, manner, fashion
... as trope; a turn, ie (by implication) mode or style (especially with preposition
or relative prefix as adverb, like); figuratively, deportment or character ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5158.htm - 7k

The Life of Mr. Thomas Hog.
... family, was his being the instrument to convert a young gentleman of the name of
Munro who frequented the house, and though of a sober deportment, yet void of ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr thomas.htm

Laymen Called to the Field of Missions.
... only to be Christians in name, but to exhibit also intelligence and good order,
purity and loveliness, industry and enterprise; in a word, a deportment in all ...
/.../dibble/thoughts on missions/chapter v laymen called to.htm

Letter xv. Social and Relative Duties.
... Endeavor, then, to maintain, in your family intercourse, the same dignity and
propriety of deportment which you wish to sustain in society. ...
/.../letter xv social and relative.htm

A Faithful Undershepherd
... If the character and deportment of the shepherd is an exemplification of the truth
he advocates, the Lord will set the seal of His approval to the work. ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 51 a faithful undershepherd.htm

An Account of the General Conference of 1800
... and was highly distinguished for the meekness and quietness of his spirit, as much
as the prudence of his conduct, and the exemplariness of his deportment. ...
/.../chapter 4 an account of.htm

On Religion; the Natural and Divine Life; and the Exemplification ...
... In fine, it is no small difference in the deportment of mere natural men, that doth
arise from the strength or weakness of their wit or judgment, and from ...
/.../scougal/the life of god in the soul of man/part i on religion the.htm

The Gentle Boy
... produced actions contrary to the rules of decency, as well as of rational religion,
and presented a singular contrast to the calm and staid deportment of their ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the gentle boy.htm

A Preface
... thirstings after farther acquaintance with the Father, in the Son; your tenderness
of heart, your trembling at sin, your sober and holy deportment also, before ...
/.../bunyan/grace abounding to the chief of sinners/a preface.htm

On the Excellency of Religion and Divine Love.
... whom they affect; and how, even before they are aware, they begin to resemble them,
not only in the more considerable instances of their deportment, but also ...
/.../scougal/the life of god in the soul of man/part ii on the excellency.htm

part i.
... They were made in his own image"framed to resemble him in their intellectual and
moral capacities, and to imitate him in the spirit of their deportment. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/clark/the faithful steward/part i.htm

Deportment (12 Occurrences)
... behavior; demeanor; bearing. Multi-Version Concordance Deportment (12
Occurrences). 1 Timothy 2:9 In like manner also that the women ...
/d/deportment.htm - 10k

Behavior (20 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Manner of behaving, whether good or bad; mode of
conducting one's self; conduct; deportment; carriage; -- used also of inanimate ...
/b/behavior.htm - 13k

Conversation (30 Occurrences)
... Generally the goings out and in of social intercourse (Ephesians 2:3; 4:22;
RV, "manner of life"); one's deportment or course of life. ...
/c/conversation.htm - 19k

Attendants (30 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 10:5 and the food of his table, and the deportment of his servants, and
the order of service of his attendants, and their apparel, and his cupbearers ...
/a/attendants.htm - 15k

Deported (12 Occurrences)

/d/deported.htm - 10k

Levity (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Frivolity; inappropriate lack of gravity and
seriousness in deportment or character; trifling gayety; sportiveness; vanity. ...
/l/levity.htm - 7k

Graceful (6 Occurrences)
... (a.) Displaying grace or beauty in form or action; elegant; easy; agreeable in
appearance; as, a graceful walk, deportment, speaker, air, act, speech. ...
/g/graceful.htm - 8k

Reclaim (1 Occurrence)
... 6. (vt) To call back to rectitude from moral wandering or transgression; to
draw back to correct deportment or course of life; to reform. ...
/r/reclaim.htm - 8k

Respectful (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Marked or characterized by respect; as, respectful
deportment. Multi-Version Concordance Respectful (6 Occurrences). ...
/r/respectful.htm - 7k

Repose (8 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) A lying at rest; sleep; rest; quiet. 8. (v.) Rest of mind; tranquility;
freedom from uneasiness; also, a composed manner or deportment. ...
/r/repose.htm - 9k

Deportment: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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