The concept of "filling-up" in the Bible often refers to the idea of completion, fulfillment, or being made full in a spiritual or physical sense. This term can be understood in various contexts, including the fulfillment of prophecy, the filling of the Holy Spirit, and the completion of joy or suffering.

Fulfillment of Prophecy

In the biblical narrative, "filling-up" is frequently associated with the fulfillment of God's promises and prophecies. The New Testament often references the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. For instance, Matthew 5:17 records Jesus saying, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them." Here, "fulfill" implies bringing to completion the prophecies and laws given in the Old Testament.

Filling of the Holy Spirit

The concept of being "filled" with the Holy Spirit is a significant theme in the New Testament. This filling is not merely a one-time event but an ongoing process of being empowered and guided by the Spirit. In Acts 2:4 , it is recorded, "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." This event marks the beginning of the Church's mission, empowered by the Spirit's presence.

Ephesians 5:18 further instructs believers, "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." This verse contrasts being under the influence of alcohol with being under the influence of the Holy Spirit, emphasizing a continuous state of being filled.

Completion of Joy and Suffering

The idea of "filling-up" also extends to the completion of joy and suffering in the believer's life. In John 15:11 , Jesus tells His disciples, "I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete." Here, the completion of joy is linked to abiding in Christ and His teachings.

Conversely, the Apostle Paul speaks of "filling up" what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of the Church. In Colossians 1:24 , Paul writes, "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of His body, which is the church." This passage suggests that believers participate in Christ's sufferings, contributing to the Church's growth and maturity.

Spiritual Fullness in Christ

The fullness of life in Christ is a recurring theme in Paul's letters. In Colossians 2:9-10 , Paul declares, "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form. And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority." This passage emphasizes that believers find their spiritual completeness in Christ, who embodies the fullness of God.

Conclusion

The biblical concept of "filling-up" encompasses a range of meanings, from the fulfillment of divine promises to the spiritual fullness found in Christ. It highlights the transformative work of the Holy Spirit and the believer's participation in the life and mission of the Church.4138. pleroma -- fullness, a filling up
... fullness, a filling up. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: pleroma Phonetic
Spelling: (play'-ro-mah) Short Definition: fullness, fulfillment ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4138.htm - 7k

4140. plesmone -- a filling up
... a filling up. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: plesmone Phonetic
Spelling: (place-mon-ay') Short Definition: satisfaction, indulgence Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4140.htm - 6k

466. antanapleroo -- to fill up in turn
... 466 (from 473 , "corresponding" and 378 , "fulfill") -- properly, to ,
especially in of (in of); to , filling up what is (). 466 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/466.htm - 7k

378. anapleroo -- to fill up
... As a strengthened form of 4137 ("fulfill"), 378 () is " the filling up of a perfect
vacancy, as with the simple 4137 -- but rather the of what is lacking ; the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/378.htm - 8k

The Servant-Lord
... He, our Brother, is the King of kings and the Lord of the Universe, are all used
by Him for this great, blessed purpose of gladdening and filling up the needs ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/the servant-lord.htm

April 18. "They Shall Mount up with Wings" (Isa. Xl. 31).
... Let us live as self-unconsciously as possible, filling up each moment with faithful
service, and trusting Him to stir the springs at His will, and as we go on ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /april 18 they shall mount.htm

The Little Foxes.
... You can shut him out by removing the self-plank and filling up with Jesus only.
Another bad little fox is, "I haven't power." Be sure and catch him. ...
/.../orr/food for the lambs or helps for young christians/the little foxes.htm

The Second State of Prayer. Its Supernatural Character.
... and in the difference there is, as I said just now, between this joy and delight
and all the joys of earth; for He seems to be filling up the void in our souls ...
/.../teresa/the life of st teresa of jesus/chapter xiv the second state.htm

That it was Before Predicted that the World Would Hold us in ...
... in a sinful nation." [3782] What, indeed, do we find in the Maccabees of seven brethren,
equals alike in their lot of birth and virtues, filling up the number ...
/.../cyprian/the treatises of cyprian/11 that it was before.htm

Preface.
... It is hoped that by thus filling up the interval between the New and Old Testaments,
that children may thus be fairly able to understand what they read in the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/preface.htm

Introductory Notice
... Introductory Notice. [ad100-200.] The Apostolic Fathers are here understood
as filling up the second century of our era. Iren??us ...
/.../clement/the first epistle of clement to the corinthians/introductory notice.htm

No Less Evils have Arisen from the Same Source in the Most Recent ...
... [29] Archbishop Wake here reads "scourged." We have followed the most recent
critics in filling up the numerous lacun?? in this chapter. ...
/.../chapter v no less evils have.htm

The Temple of Solomon did not Take Forty-Six Years to Build. With ...
... to my whole power I have prepared for the house of my God, gold, silver, brass,
and iron, wood, stones of Soom, and stones for filling up, and precious stones ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/22 the temple of solomon.htm

Epistle ix. To the Neapolitans.
... The filling up of the See of Naples appears to have been a cause of great anxiety
to Gregory, probably because of the party feeling prevailing in the city. ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle ix to the neapolitans.htm

Filling-up (1 Occurrence)
Filling-up. Fillings, Filling-up. Fills . Multi-Version Concordance
Filling-up (1 Occurrence). Mark 2:21 No one sews ...
/f/filling-up.htm - 6k

Filling (29 Occurrences)
... Matthew 9:16 But no one puts a patch of new cloth on an old garment, for its filling
up takes from the garment and a worse rent takes place. (DBY YLT). ...
/f/filling.htm - 14k

Takes (380 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Matthew 9:16 But no one puts a patch of new cloth on an old garment, for
its fillingup takes from the garment and a worse rent takes place. (DBY). ...
/t/takes.htm - 34k

Fills (20 Occurrences)

/f/fills.htm - 11k

Lacking (53 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 9:12 Because the ministration of this service is not only filling
up the measure of what is lacking to the saints, but also abounding by many ...
/l/lacking.htm - 22k

Fullness (31 Occurrences)
... the fulfilling) of the law"; that is, love is not a partial fulfillment, by obedience
to this or that commandment, but a complete fillingup of what the law ...
/f/fullness.htm - 22k

Fillings (1 Occurrence)

/f/fillings.htm - 6k

Results (16 Occurrences)
... Matthew 9:16 And no one doth put a patch of undressed cloth on an old garment, for
its fillingup doth take from the garment, and a worse rent is made. ...
/r/results.htm - 11k

Dike
... 4. (n.) A wall-like mass of mineral matter, usually an intrusion of igneous
rocks, fillingup rents or fissures in the original strata. ...
/d/dike.htm - 7k

Mart (2 Occurrences)
... No doubt, the central place soon fillingup, the people thronged the adjoining streets,
and so in time each street thus used came to be called agora ...
/m/mart.htm - 11k

What does it mean to stir up the gift (2 Timothy 1:6)? | GotQuestions.org

How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit? | GotQuestions.org

How can I become more like Christ? | GotQuestions.org

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