The concept of "developing" in a biblical context can be understood as the process of growth, maturation, and transformation that aligns with God's purposes for individuals and communities. This theme is woven throughout Scripture, emphasizing spiritual, moral, and communal development.

Spiritual Development

Spiritual development is a central theme in the Bible, where believers are encouraged to grow in their faith and relationship with God. The Apostle Paul frequently addresses this in his epistles. In Ephesians 4:15, he writes, "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head." This verse highlights the importance of maturing in Christ, suggesting that spiritual development involves becoming more like Him in character and action.

The process of spiritual development is also described in 2 Peter 3:18: "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." Here, growth is linked to an increasing understanding and experience of God's grace and knowledge, indicating a continuous journey of faith.

Moral Development

Moral development in the Bible is closely tied to the transformation of character. Romans 12:2 instructs believers, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God." This transformation involves a renewal of the mind, leading to discernment and alignment with God's will.

The fruit of the Spirit, as outlined in Galatians 5:22-23, serves as a benchmark for moral development: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." These attributes reflect the moral character that believers are to develop as they live by the Spirit.

Communal Development

The Bible also emphasizes the development of communities, particularly the body of Christ, the Church. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Paul uses the metaphor of the body to describe the Church, highlighting the importance of each member's growth and contribution to the whole. Verse 27 states, "Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it." This underscores the idea that communal development involves each member growing and functioning in their God-given role.

Acts 2:42-47 provides a picture of the early Church's communal development, where believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. This passage illustrates how communal growth is fostered through shared spiritual practices and mutual support.

Biblical Examples of Development

Several biblical figures exemplify the theme of development. Joseph's journey from a favored son to a ruler in Egypt (Genesis 37-50) demonstrates personal and spiritual growth through trials and divine guidance. Similarly, David's development from a shepherd boy to the king of Israel (1 Samuel 16-2 Samuel 5) reflects a process of preparation and reliance on God.

The life of the Apostle Paul also illustrates significant development. From a persecutor of Christians to a leading apostle, Paul's transformation and growth in understanding and spreading the Gospel are evident throughout the New Testament (Acts 9, Galatians 1:11-24).

Conclusion

The biblical concept of developing encompasses spiritual, moral, and communal growth, urging believers to mature in their faith, character, and relationships within the body of Christ. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and adherence to God's Word, individuals and communities are called to continually develop in alignment with God's purposes.(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Develop.1096. ginomai -- to come into being, to happen, to become
... 1), came (45), came into being (2), came to pass (2), come (16), comes (1), comes
to pass (1), coming (1), dawn (1), decided* (1), developing (1), done (20 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1096.htm - 15k6213a. asah -- do, make
... committed (35), committed and practices (1), committing (6), construct (3), deal
(30), deals (1), dealt (22), desisting (1), destroy* (2), developing (1), did ...
/hebrew/6213a.htm - 8k

Empedocles Increased the Absurdity of Pythagoras by Developing the ...
... Chapter XXXII."Empedocles Increased the Absurdity of Pythagoras by Developing
the Posthumous Change of Men into Various Animals. ...
/.../a treatise on the soul/chapter xxxii empedocles increased the absurdity.htm

I Wonder that You with Your Consummate Wisdom have not Understood ...
... Finally, to shew you that it was not my own opinion which I was developing but two
heresies which I was comparing with one another, both of which I had found ...
/.../27 i wonder that you.htm

How to Use this Book
... practise. Cardinal Newman read aloud each day a chapter from Cicero as
a means of developing his ear for sentence-rhythm. Rufus ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/how to use this book.htm

The Revelation to which the Scripture of the Old Testament Owes ...
... which from Paradise to Patmos supernaturally apprehended the sinful life of this
world, and thus raised up believing men who formed the developing Church. ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xiv the revelation to which.htm

That He who is the Pre-Eminent Cause of Everything Intelligibly ...
... The process of developing life complicates, but enriches, the world; that
of thought simplifies, but eviscerates it. Contemplation ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/rolt/dionysius the areopagite/chapter v that he who.htm

Concerning "Omnipotent," "Ancient of Days"; and Also Concerning " ...
... Mechanical Time, or dead Time (of which Aristotle speaks as mere movement or succession)
is the Time measured by the clock; developing or living Time (which is ...
/.../rolt/dionysius the areopagite/chapter x concerning omnipotent ancient.htm

The Earliest Chapters in Divine Revelation
... Euphrates to the Nile; the rich alluvial soil, which supported a dense population
when properly drained and cultivated; and the necessity of developing in a ...
/.../iii the earliest chapters in.htm

Successful Methods of Public Speaking
... Edmund Burke. Edmund Burke recommended debate as one of the best means for
developing facility and power in public speaking. Himself ...
/.../successful methods of public speaking/successful methods of public speaking.htm

The Essential Elements of Christian Experience.
... The alternations of demand and supply commence and go on while health continues"
all the time developing the strength of this class of appetites. ...
/.../finney/sermons on gospel themes/xxiv the essential elements of.htm

'The Chief Corner-Stone'
... meaning has been all but lost, but which still, rightly understood, presents the
Christian life as one continuous effort after developing Christian character. ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/the chief corner-stone.htm

Developing (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Develop. Multi-Version
Concordance Developing (1 Occurrence). Deuteronomy 31:21 It ...
/d/developing.htm - 7k

Unripe (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Not ripe; as, unripe fruit. 2. (a.) Developing
too early; premature. Multi-Version Concordance Unripe (6 Occurrences). ...
/u/unripe.htm - 8k

Female (95 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A plant which produces only that kind of reproductive organs which are capable
of developing into fruit after impregnation or fertilization; a ...
/f/female.htm - 38k

Ethnography
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) That branch of knowledge which has for its subject
the characteristics of the human family, developing the details with which ...
/e/ethnography.htm - 6k

Developed (2 Occurrences)

/d/developed.htm - 7k

Develops (1 Occurrence)

/d/develops.htm - 6k

Principality (3 Occurrences)
... to serve the purposes of metaphysical theology and ethics, such as appears among
the Gnostics, although they evidently believed they were developing his thought ...
/p/principality.htm - 12k

Style (5 Occurrences)
... 10. (vt) Mode of presentation, especially in music or any of the fine arts; a
characteristic of peculiar mode of developing in idea or accomplishing a result. ...
/s/style.htm - 9k

Sabbatical (1 Occurrence)
... suspension. This means that the children of Israel were now developing
from a purely agricultural people to a commercial nation. ...
/s/sabbatical.htm - 16k

Creation (35 Occurrences)
... immanent in its evolution. For God is the Absolute Reason, always immanent
in the developing universe. Apart from the cosmogonic ...
/c/creation.htm - 34k

What is biblical womanhood? | GotQuestions.org

Can a person be born gay? | GotQuestions.org

What is spiritual direction? What is a spiritual director? | GotQuestions.org

Developing: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus