Topical Encyclopedia In the context of biblical literature and theology, the term "faculty" refers to the inherent abilities or powers that God has endowed upon human beings. These faculties include intellectual, moral, and spiritual capacities that enable individuals to fulfill their God-given purposes. The Bible provides numerous insights into the nature and use of these faculties, emphasizing their divine origin and the responsibility of humans to steward them wisely.Intellectual Faculties The intellectual faculties pertain to the mind's ability to reason, understand, and acquire knowledge. Scripture highlights the importance of wisdom and understanding as gifts from God. Proverbs 2:6 states, "For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding." This verse underscores the belief that true wisdom and intellectual capacity are divinely bestowed and should be sought through a relationship with God. The New Testament also emphasizes the renewal of the mind as a crucial aspect of Christian life. Romans 12:2 instructs believers, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." This transformation involves aligning one's intellectual faculties with God's truth, allowing for discernment and righteous living. Moral Faculties Moral faculties refer to the ability to discern right from wrong and to make ethical decisions. The Bible teaches that humans are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), which includes a moral dimension. This moral faculty is evident in the conscience, which acts as an internal guide. Romans 2:15 speaks of the Gentiles who "show the work of the law written in their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness." The moral faculties are intended to guide individuals in living according to God's commandments. Jesus summarized the moral law in Matthew 22:37-39 , saying, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" These commandments highlight the moral faculties' role in fostering love and righteousness. Spiritual Faculties Spiritual faculties involve the capacity to relate to God and engage in spiritual practices such as prayer, worship, and meditation on Scripture. The Bible emphasizes the importance of spiritual faculties in developing a relationship with God. In John 4:24 , Jesus declares, "God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." This statement points to the necessity of engaging one's spiritual faculties in authentic worship. The Apostle Paul frequently discusses the role of the Holy Spirit in empowering believers' spiritual faculties. In 1 Corinthians 2:12 , he writes, "We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us." The Holy Spirit enhances the believer's spiritual faculties, enabling a deeper understanding of divine truths and a closer walk with God. Stewardship of Faculties The Bible calls for the responsible stewardship of all faculties. Believers are encouraged to use their intellectual, moral, and spiritual capacities for God's glory and the edification of others. In 1 Peter 4:10 , it is written, "As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another." This stewardship involves cultivating one's faculties through study, prayer, and obedience to God's Word, ensuring they are used in alignment with His will. In summary, the concept of faculty in the Bible encompasses the God-given abilities that enable humans to think, discern, and relate to the divine. These faculties are to be nurtured and employed in service to God and others, reflecting the image of the Creator in every aspect of life. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (n.) Ability to act or perform, whether inborn or cultivated; capacity for any natural function; especially, an original mental power or capacity for any of the well-known classes of mental activity; psychical or soul capacity; capacity for any of the leading kinds of soul activity, as knowledge, feeling, volition; intellectual endowment or gift; power; as, faculties of the mind or the soul.2. (n.) Special mental endowment; characteristic knack. 3. (n.) Power; prerogative or attribute of office. 4. (n.) Privilege or permission, granted by favor or indulgence, to do a particular thing; authority; license; dispensation. 5. (n.) A body of a men to whom any specific right or privilege is granted; formerly, the graduates in any of the four departments of a university or college (Philosophy, Law, Medicine, or Theology), to whom was granted the right of teaching (profitendi or docendi) in the department in which they had studied; at present, the members of a profession itself; as, the medical faculty; the legal faculty, etc. 6. (n.) The body of person to whom are entrusted the government and instruction of a college or university, or of one of its departments; the president, professors, and tutors in a college. Greek 189. akoe -- hearing, the sense of hearing ... hearing, the sense of hearing. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: akoe Phonetic Spelling: (ak-o-ay') Short Definition: hearing, faculty of hearing ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/189.htm - 7k 145. aistheterion -- organ of perception 619. apolausis -- enjoyment 3563. nous -- mind, understanding, reason 1271. dianoia -- the mind, disposition, thought 4457. porosis -- a covering with a callous, fig. blindness 5486. charisma -- a gift of grace, a free gift 3775. ous -- the ear 990. blemma -- a look 3056. logos -- a word (as embodying an idea), a statement, a ... Library The Faculty of Faith. Whether Anger is in the Concupiscible Faculty? Man is Endowed with the Faculty of Distinguishing Good and Evil ... Whether Prudence is in the Cognitive or in the Appetitive Faculty? Whether the Subject of Pride is the Irascible Faculty? "Now Besides These Organs of Sense, He Has a Power or Faculty of ... Men are Possessed of Free Will, and Endowed with the Faculty of ... Whether the Irascible Passions Precede the Concupiscible Passions ... Prayer in the Unconverted. Introduction to 'epinoia Thesaurus Faculty (1 Occurrence)... profitendi or docendi) in the department in which they had studied; at present, the members of a profession itself; as, the medical faculty; the legal faculty... /f/faculty.htm - 8k Reason (438 Occurrences) Conscience (36 Occurrences) Understanding (248 Occurrences) Will (64996 Occurrences) Judgment (430 Occurrences) Gift (148 Occurrences) Imagination (20 Occurrences) Invention (4 Occurrences) Faculties (5 Occurrences) Resources Who was Oswald Chambers? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Norman Geisler? | GotQuestions.org What is the Fellowship Bible Church movement (Gene Getz)? | GotQuestions.org Faculty: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Faculty (1 Occurrence)Acts 17:29 Subtopics Related Terms |
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