Eagerness, as a concept in the Bible, is often associated with a zealous and enthusiastic pursuit of spiritual goals, righteous living, and the fulfillment of God's will. This fervent attitude is encouraged among believers as a means to demonstrate their commitment and devotion to God.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, eagerness is frequently linked to the pursuit of wisdom and understanding. Proverbs 2:1-5 highlights the importance of seeking wisdom with an eager heart: "My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you, if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding, if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, if you seek it like silver and search it out like hidden treasure, then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God."

The eagerness to follow God's commandments is also evident in the life of King David, who expressed his fervent desire to adhere to God's laws. In Psalm 119:20 , David declares, "My soul is consumed with longing for Your judgments at all times."

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, eagerness is often associated with the readiness to embrace the teachings of Christ and to live out the Christian faith. The Apostle Paul frequently exhorts believers to be eager in their spiritual pursuits. In Romans 12:11 , Paul instructs, "Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord."

The early Christians in Berea are commended for their eagerness to receive the word of God. Acts 17:11 states, "Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true."

Eagerness is also linked to the anticipation of Christ's return. In 2 Peter 3:12 , believers are encouraged to live in a state of readiness: "as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat."

Practical Application

Eagerness in the Christian life is not merely an emotional response but is demonstrated through action and commitment. Believers are called to eagerly pursue good works and to serve others as an expression of their faith. Titus 2:14 speaks of Christ, "who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds."

Furthermore, eagerness is a reflection of a heart transformed by the Holy Spirit, leading to a life characterized by love, service, and a deep desire to grow in the knowledge of God. This attitude is essential for spiritual growth and for the effective witness of the Gospel to the world.1. (n.) The state or quality of being eager; ardent desire.

2. (n.) Tartness; sourness.

4288. prothumia -- eagerness
... eagerness. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: prothumia Phonetic Spelling:
(proth-oo-mee'-ah) Short Definition: inclination, readiness Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4288.htm - 7k

147. aischrokerdos -- from eagerness for base gain
... from eagerness for base gain. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: aischrokerdos
Phonetic Spelling: (ahee-skhrok-er-doce') Short Definition: greedily ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/147.htm - 6k

1939. epithumia -- desire, passionate longing, lust
... lust. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: epithumia Phonetic Spelling:
(ep-ee-thoo-mee'-ah) Short Definition: desire, eagerness for, inordinate ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1939.htm - 7k

2205. zelos -- to have warmth of feeling for or against, to be ...
... or jealous. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine; Noun, Neuter Transliteration: zelos
Phonetic Spelling: (dzay'-los) Short Definition: eagerness, zeal, rivalry ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2205.htm - 7k

4290. prothumos -- eagerly
... Word Origin adverb from prothumos Definition eagerly NASB Word Usage eagerness
(1). willingly. Adverb from prothumos; with alacrity -- willingly. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4290.htm - 6k

4710. spoude -- haste, diligence
... From speudo; "speed", ie (by implication) despatch, eagerness, earnestness -- business,
(earnest) care(-fulness), diligence, forwardness, haste. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4710.htm - 7k

Letter x. --Restraint of Over-Eagerness.
... THIRD BOOK. ON THE OBSTACLES TO ABANDONMENT. Letter X."Restraint of Over-Eagerness.
To the same person. On eagerness to read good books. ...
/.../abandonment to divine providence/letter x restraint of over-eagerness.htm

Joseph's Eagerness to Help Others
... THE OLD TESTAMENT JOSEPH'S EAGERNESS TO HELP OTHERS. Joseph was taken down
to Egypt, and Potiphar, an Egyptian, one of Pharaoh's ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/josephs eagerness to help others.htm

How they Leave Off Every Kind of Work at the Sound of Some one ...
... Prolegomena. Chapter XII. How they leave off every kind of work at the sound of
some one knocking at the door, in their eagerness to answer at once. ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xii how they leave.htm

Philippians iii. 13, 14
... And this comes from great eagerness, from much warmth; thus the runner should run
with great earnestness, with so great eagerness, without relaxation. ...
/.../homily xii philippians iii 13.htm

Of the Tyranny of Eugenius and the victory Won through Faith by ...
... apostle.". After he had seen this vision the emperor ceased not his
supplication, but pursued it with still greater eagerness. The ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter xxiv of the tyranny of.htm

On the Public Shows.
... are translated by them into pleas for vice; because those things are written of,
not that they should be gazed upon, but that a greater eagerness might be ...
/.../on the public shows.htm

Zeal.
... No doubt whatever that we ought to show just as great eagerness to gain
the Kingdom of Heaven, as did that man to buy the field. ...
/.../baring-gould/the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/l zeal.htm

Continuation of the Discourse on the Holy Ghost.
... as far as may be, of those which remain out of the New Testament: and as then to
keep within due limit of your attention we restrained our eagerness (for there ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture xvii continuation of the.htm

Love's Triumph Over Sin
... For when the two friends who had met Christ at Emmaus came back in the night with
their strange tidings, their eagerness to tell their joyful news is ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/loves triumph over sin.htm

Letter viii. --On Natural Activity.
... 2nd. To repress your excessive exterior activity by performing all your actions
without eagerness or hurry, quite gently and quietly, as St. ...
/.../abandonment to divine providence/letter viii on natural activity.htm

Eagerness (6 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The state or quality of being eager; ardent desire. 2. (n.) Tartness;
sourness. Multi-Version Concordance Eagerness (6 Occurrences). ...
/e/eagerness.htm - 8k

Gaze (46 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To fix the eyes in a steady and earnest look; to look with eagerness or
curiosity, as in admiration, astonishment, or with studious attention. ...
/g/gaze.htm - 19k

Rush (35 Occurrences)
... 4. (vi) To enter into something with undue haste and eagerness, or without due
deliberation and preparation; as, to rush business or speculation. ...
/r/rush.htm - 20k

Eagerly (36 Occurrences)

/e/eagerly.htm - 15k

Vie (2 Occurrences)
... 1 Thessalonians 4:11 and to vie with one another in eagerness for peace, every one
minding his own business and working with his hands, as we ordered you to do ...
/v/vie.htm - 7k

Vindication (14 Occurrences)
... 7:11 For mark the effects of this very thing--your having sorrowed with a godly
sorrow--what earnestness it has called forth in you, what eagerness to clear ...
/v/vindication.htm - 10k

Zeal (45 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Passionate ardor in the pursuit of anything; eagerness in favor of a person
or cause; ardent and active interest; engagedness; enthusiasm; fervor. ...
/z/zeal.htm - 21k

Long (2810 Occurrences)
... 17. (v.) To feel a strong or morbid desire or craving; to wish for something with
eagerness; -- followed by an infinitive, or by after or for. 18. ...
/l/long.htm - 8k

Lust (42 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Pleasure. 2. (n.) Inclination; desire. 3. (n.) Longing desire; eagerness
to possess or enjoy; -- in a had sense; as, the lust of gain. ...
/l/lust.htm - 24k

Gasp (5 Occurrences)
... violently. 2. (vi) To pant with eagerness; to show vehement desire. 3. (vt)
To emit or utter with gasps; -- with forth, out, away, etc. ...
/g/gasp.htm - 8k

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