Definition and Context:
Diminution refers to the act or process of diminishing or reducing in size, quantity, or importance. In a biblical context, diminution can relate to the reduction of resources, influence, or spiritual standing. It often carries a negative connotation, implying a loss or decrease that is contrary to God's intended abundance or blessing.

Biblical References and Themes:

1. Levitical Law and Offerings:
In the Old Testament, the concept of diminution is addressed in the context of offerings and sacrifices. Leviticus 27:18 states, "But if he consecrates his field after the Jubilee, the priest shall calculate the price for him according to the years remaining until the next Jubilee, and the price shall be reduced." Here, diminution is applied to the valuation of property, reflecting a decrease in worth over time.

2. Spiritual Diminution:
The Bible warns against spiritual diminution, which occurs when individuals or nations turn away from God. In Revelation 2:4-5 , the church in Ephesus is admonished: "But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love. Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first." This passage highlights the spiritual decline that results from forsaking one's devotion to God.

3. Diminution of Blessings:
The Israelites experienced diminution of blessings when they disobeyed God's commandments. In Deuteronomy 28, the blessings and curses are outlined, with disobedience leading to a reduction in prosperity and protection. Deuteronomy 28:15 warns, "But if you do not obey the LORD your God by carefully following all His commandments and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you."

4. Moral and Ethical Diminution:
Proverbs 13:11 states, "Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied." This verse underscores the principle that ill-gotten gains will diminish, while honest labor leads to increase. The moral lesson is that ethical behavior aligns with God's design for growth and prosperity.

5. Diminution in Leadership:
The Bible records instances where leaders experienced diminution due to their actions. King Saul, for example, faced a reduction in his authority and favor with God due to disobedience. 1 Samuel 15:26 recounts Samuel's words to Saul: "I will not return with you, because you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you as king over Israel."

6. Restoration from Diminution:
Despite the negative aspects of diminution, the Bible also offers hope for restoration. Joel 2:25 promises, "I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts—the swarming locust, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust—My great army that I sent against you." This assurance of restoration highlights God's mercy and the possibility of recovery from loss.

Theological Implications:
Diminution serves as a reminder of the consequences of straying from God's will and the importance of maintaining faithfulness. It emphasizes the need for repentance and the potential for divine restoration. The concept also illustrates the broader biblical theme of sowing and reaping, where actions aligned with God's principles lead to growth, while those contrary result in reduction.1. (n.) Reduction in size, quantity, or degree; the act of diminishing, or of making or becoming less; state of being diminished; -- opposed to augmentation or increase.

2. (n.) The act of lessening dignity or consideration, or the state of being deprived of dignity; a lowering in estimation; degradation; abasement.

3. (n.) Omission, inaccuracy, or defect in a record.

4. (n.) In counterpoint, the imitation of, or reply to, a subject, in notes of half the length or value of those the subject itself.

The Destruction of Evil by the Immission of virtue Rejected ...
... Chapter XII."The Destruction of Evil by the Immission of Virtue Rejected; Because
from It Arises No Diminution of Evil; Zeno's Opinion Discarded, that the ...
/.../alexander/of the manichaeans/chapter xii the destruction of evil.htm

Whether Evil Corrupts the Whole Good?
... The diminution, however, of this kind of good is not to be considered by way of
subtraction, as diminution in quantity, but rather by way of remission, as ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether evil corrupts the whole.htm

Letter iii. (AD 387. )
... Wherefore, seeing that we do not admit that any particle is so small as to be
insusceptible of further diminution, what compels us to admit that any assemblage ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter iii a d 387.htm

St. Ambrose Deprecates any Praise of his Own Merits...
... Christ: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God;" [2077] for it is enough
to know His Divine Generation, without division or diminution, being neither ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xv st ambrose deprecates.htm

Hermogenes Held to his Theory in Order that Its Absurdity May be ...
... with Him, who is a greater and superior Being, I meet him with this prescription,
that what is eternal and unborn is incapable of any diminution and inferiority ...
/.../tertullian/against hermogenes/chapter vii hermogenes held to his.htm

Eighth Tractate. Why Distant Objects Appear Small.
... Still the colours seen from a distance are faint; but they are not small as the
masses are. True; but there is the common fact of diminution. ...
/.../plotinus/the six enneads/eighth tractate why distant objects.htm

Whether Sin Diminishes the Good of Nature?
... the good of nature be diminished. Objection 3: Further, sin is an action,
while diminution is a passion. Now no agent is passive ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether sin diminishes the good.htm

Whether a Habit is Corrupted or Diminished through Mere Cessation ...
... Therefore neither are habits diminished or corrupted through cessation from act.
Objection 2: Further, corruption and diminution are changes. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether a habit is corrupted.htm

Whether the Whole Good of Human Nature Can be Destroyed by Sin
... Since this natural good is found to be continually diminished by sin, some have
sought to illustrate the diminution of it by the continuous reduction of a ...
/.../aquinas/nature and grace/article two whether the whole.htm

Whether the Entire Good of Human Nature Can be Destroyed by Sin?
... end. Consequently its diminution may be understood in two ways: first, on
the part of its rood, secondly, on the part of its term. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the entire good of.htm

Diminution (1 Occurrence)
... subject itself. Multi-Version Concordance Diminution (1 Occurrence). Romans
11:12 and if the fall of them 'is' the riches of a world ...
/d/diminution.htm - 7k

Offset (3 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) A horizontal ledge on the face of a wall, formed by a diminution of its
thickness, or by the weathering or upper surface of a part built out from it ...
/o/offset.htm - 8k

Loss (90 Occurrences)
... 8. (vt) Destruction or diminution of value, if brought about in a manner provided
for in the insurance contract (as destruction by fire or wreck, damage by ...
/l/loss.htm - 37k

Lose (59 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To cease to have; to possess no longer; to suffer diminution of;
as, to lose one's relish for anything; to lose one's health. ...
/l/lose.htm - 24k

Wane (2 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) The decrease of the illuminated part of the moon to the eye of a spectator.
5. (n.) Decline; failure; diminution; decrease; declension. ...
/w/wane.htm - 7k

Wear (56 Occurrences)
... 11. (n.) The act of wearing, or the state of being worn; consumption by
use; diminution by friction; as, the wear of a garment. 12. ...
/w/wear.htm - 25k

Impair (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (vt) To grow worse; to deteriorate. 3. (a.) Not fit or appropriate. 4. (n.)
Diminution; injury. Multi-Version Concordance Impair (1 Occurrence). ...
/i/impair.htm - 7k

Full (1047 Occurrences)
... 10. (adv.) Quite; to the same degree; without abatement or diminution; with the
whole force or effect; thoroughly; completely; exactly; entirely. 11. ...
/f/full.htm - 36k

Fulfillment (19 Occurrences)
... (WEB). Romans 11:12 and if the fall of them 'is' the riches of a world, and the
diminution of them the riches of nations, how much more the fulness of them? ...
/f/fulfillment.htm - 11k

Remission (18 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) Diminution of intensity; abatement; relaxation. 5. (n.) The act of sending
back. 6. (n.) Act of sending in payment, as money; remittance. Int. ...
/r/remission.htm - 13k

What is the definition of evil? | GotQuestions.org

Diminution: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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