In biblical terms, "endowment" refers to the gifts, abilities, or blessings bestowed by God upon individuals or groups for the purpose of fulfilling His divine will. This concept is woven throughout Scripture, illustrating how God equips His people for service, leadership, and the advancement of His kingdom.

Old Testament Context

The idea of endowment is evident in the Old Testament, where God bestows specific skills and wisdom upon individuals for His purposes. For example, in Exodus 31:2-5, God endows Bezalel with the Spirit of God, granting him wisdom, understanding, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship to construct the Tabernacle: "See, I have appointed by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in all kinds of craftsmanship, to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every craft."

Similarly, in 1 Kings 3:12, Solomon is endowed with unparalleled wisdom to govern Israel: "Behold, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has never been nor will ever be another like you."

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of endowment is closely associated with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. These spiritual gifts are given to believers to edify the church and to carry out the mission of spreading the Gospel. In 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, Paul writes: "There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."

The Apostle Paul further elaborates on these spiritual endowments in Romans 12:6-8, emphasizing the diversity and purpose of these gifts: "We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one's gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith; if it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully."

Theological Implications

Theologically, endowment underscores the sovereignty and generosity of God in equipping His people. It highlights the belief that God provides what is necessary for His purposes to be accomplished. This divine provision is not limited to spiritual gifts but extends to all aspects of life, including wisdom, strength, and material resources.

Endowment also implies responsibility. Those who are endowed with gifts are called to use them faithfully and for the benefit of others, as seen in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). This parable illustrates the expectation that God's gifts should be actively employed in service to Him and His kingdom.

Practical Application

In practical terms, believers are encouraged to seek and recognize their God-given endowments, to develop them, and to use them in service to the church and the world. This involves prayerful discernment, study of Scripture, and active participation in the life of the Christian community. By doing so, believers fulfill their role in the body of Christ, contributing to its growth and effectiveness in fulfilling the Great Commission.1. (n.) The act of bestowing a dower, fund, or permanent provision for support.

2. (n.) That which is bestowed or settled on a person or an institution; property, fund, or revenue permanently appropriated to any object; as, the endowment of a church, a hospital, or a college.

3. (n.) That which is given or bestowed upon the person or mind; gift of nature; accomplishment; natural capacity; talents; -- usually in the plural.

5486. charisma -- a gift of grace, a free gift
... 5486 (from "grace," 5485 ) -- properly, the operation of (divine ), ie a to edify
the Church (note the suffix, focusing on the of the endowment of grace). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5486.htm - 7k

5545. chrisma -- an anointing, unction
... anointing, unction. From chrio; an unguent or smearing, ie (figuratively) the special
endowment ("chrism") of the Holy Spirit -- anointing, unction. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5545.htm - 7k

2065. zebed -- endowment, gift
... 2064, 2065. zebed. 2066 . endowment, gift. Transliteration: zebed Phonetic
Spelling: (zeh'-bed) Short Definition: gift. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/2065.htm - 6k

5990. Ammizabad -- "my kinsman has bestowed," an Israelite
... NASB Word Usage Ammizabad (1). Ammizabad. From am and zabad; people of endowment;
Ammizabad, an Israelite -- Ammizabad. see HEBREW am. see HEBREW zabad. ...
/hebrew/5990.htm - 6k

Concerning the Reason of Our Endowment with Free-Will.
... Book II. Chapter XXVII."Concerning the reason of our endowment with
Free-will. We hold, therefore, that free-will [1882] comes ...
/.../exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter xxvii concerning the reason of.htm

Synopsis. --Biblical Miracles the Effluence of Extraordinary Lives ...
... lives."Life the world's magician and miracle worker; its miracles now termed
prodigies."Miracle the natural product of an extraordinary endowment of life ...
/.../v synopsis biblical miracles the effluence.htm

Carey's Christian University for the People of India
... For lack of an endowment sufficient to maintain the teaching staff required, and
to establish the necessary scholarships, the College has never been fully ...
/.../smith/the life of william carey/chapter xv careys christian university.htm

Lutherans in vibginia.
... In 1734 he and two members of his congregation, Michael Schmidt and Michael Holden,
went to Europe to collect a fund for the endowment of their church. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bente/american lutheranism/lutherans in vibginia.htm

On Angels in General and in Particular
... sons of God." This image, we say, consists partly in those things which belong to
their natures, and partly in those things which are of supernatural endowment ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation xxv on angels in.htm

Whether any Gifts Should be Assigned as Dowry to the Blessed?
... to the corporeal marriage, but according to the manner of speaking whereby any
perfection or adornment of any person whatever is called an endowment; thus a ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether any gifts should be.htm

The Foundation of the House of St. Joseph. The Observation of Holy ...
... But when I saw what the rule required, and that poverty was the more perfect
way, I could not persuade myself to allow an endowment. ...
/.../teresa/the life of st teresa of jesus/chapter xxxv the foundation of.htm

Reception Christ Met With.
... All the endowment possessed by man as a moral being, capable of self-determination
and of choosing what is morally good, springs from the one fountain of life ...
/.../ii reception christ met with.htm

Recapitulation. Definition of the Soul.
... will which we just now mentioned, and its dominion over the works of nature, and
its occasional gift of divination, independently of that endowment of prophecy ...
/.../a treatise on the soul/chapter xxii recapitulation definition of the.htm

Epistle xii. To Castorius, Bishop of Ariminum.
... the jurisdiction of thy city, and if it is known that no body has been buried there,
then, after reception in the first place of a legitimate endowment, that is ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle xii to castorius bishop.htm

Endowment (1 Occurrence)
... n.) That which is bestowed or settled on a person or an institution; property, fund,
or revenue permanently appropriated to any object; as, the endowment of a ...
/e/endowment.htm - 7k

Foundation (82 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) A donation or legacy appropriated to support a charitable institution,
and constituting a permanent fund; endowment. 5. (n ...
/f/foundation.htm - 36k

Faculty (1 Occurrence)
... activity; psychical or soul capacity; capacity for any of the leading kinds of soul
activity, as knowledge, feeling, volition; intellectual endowment or gift ...
/f/faculty.htm - 8k

Grace (277 Occurrences)
... misfortune. 6. (n.) Inherent excellence; any endowment or characteristic
fitted to win favor or confer pleasure or benefit. 7. (n ...
/g/grace.htm - 64k

Timothy (28 Occurrences)
... Paul (2 Timothy 1:6), are not mutually exclusive, especially since the former is
mentioned merely as an accompanying circumstance of his endowment with special ...
/t/timothy.htm - 38k

Gift (148 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) Some quality or endowment given to man by God; a preeminent and special
talent or aptitude; power; faculty; as, the gift of wit; a gift for speaking. ...
/g/gift.htm - 59k

Will (64996 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The power of choosing; the faculty or endowment of the soul by which it
is capable of choosing; the faculty or power of the mind by which we decide to ...
/w/will.htm - 13k

Intelligence (45 Occurrences)
... understanding. 2. (n.) The capacity to know or understand; readiness of
comprehension; the intellect, as a gift or an endowment. 3 ...
/i/intelligence.htm - 19k

Talent (16 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) Intellectual ability, natural or acquired; mental endowment or capacity;
skill in accomplishing; a special gift, particularly in business, art, or the ...
/t/talent.htm - 14k

Rudiments (5 Occurrences)
... not save him from sin. They were "beggarly," for they brought no endowment
of the heavenly riches. By these epithets Paul signifies ...
/r/rudiments.htm - 13k

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