Jump to: Topical • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms Topical Encyclopedia Definition and Context In the biblical context, "following" often refers to the act of pursuing or adhering to a person, teaching, or path. It is a term that signifies discipleship, obedience, and commitment, particularly in relation to God and His commandments. The concept of following is central to the Christian faith, as it encapsulates the believer's journey in emulating Christ and adhering to His teachings. Old Testament Usage In the Old Testament, following is frequently associated with obedience to God's laws and commandments. For instance, in Deuteronomy 13:4 , it is written, "You are to follow the LORD your God and fear Him. Keep His commandments and listen to His voice; serve Him and hold Him fast." Here, following is synonymous with a life dedicated to God's service and adherence to His will. The Israelites were often reminded to follow God's statutes as a sign of their covenant relationship with Him. In 1 Kings 18:21 , Elijah challenges the people of Israel, saying, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him." This highlights the necessity of choosing whom to follow and the implications of that choice. New Testament Usage In the New Testament, following takes on a more personal dimension with the call to follow Jesus Christ. The Gospels frequently recount Jesus inviting individuals to follow Him, which involves a radical reorientation of one's life. In Matthew 4:19 , Jesus calls His first disciples, saying, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." This invitation to follow is not merely physical but spiritual, requiring a transformation of purpose and identity. Jesus further elaborates on the cost of following Him in Matthew 16:24 : "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me." This passage underscores the sacrificial nature of discipleship, where following Christ involves self-denial and a willingness to endure suffering for His sake. Theological Implications Following, in the biblical sense, is deeply intertwined with the concept of discipleship. It implies a relationship of trust, obedience, and imitation. To follow Christ is to commit to His teachings and to strive to live according to His example. This is evident in 1 Peter 2:21 , which states, "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps." The act of following is also linked to the work of the Holy Spirit, who guides believers in their walk with Christ. In John 16:13 , Jesus promises, "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth." The Holy Spirit empowers and directs believers, enabling them to follow Christ more faithfully. Practical Application For Christians, following Christ is a daily commitment that involves studying Scripture, prayer, and active participation in the life of the church. It requires a conscious effort to align one's actions and decisions with the teachings of Jesus. As Paul exhorts in 1 Corinthians 11:1 , "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ," believers are encouraged to follow the example of mature Christians who model Christ-like behavior. In summary, following in the biblical sense is a comprehensive commitment to God and His ways, characterized by obedience, discipleship, and a transformative relationship with Jesus Christ. Topical Bible Verses 1 Corinthians 6:9-11Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Topicalbible.org Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Follow.2. (n.) One's followers, adherents, or dependents, collectively. 3. (n.) Vocation; business; profession. 4. (a.) Next after; succeeding; ensuing; as, the assembly was held on the following day. 5. (a.) (In the field of a telescope) In the direction from which stars are apparently moving (in consequence of the earth's rotation); as, a small star, north following or south following. In the direction toward which stars appear to move is called preceding. Greek 1966. epiousa -- following, next. ... 1965, 1966. epiousa. 1967 . following, next. Part of Speech: Verb ... next day. Word Origin see epeimi. following, next. Feminine singular ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1966.htm - 6k 1836. hexes -- next 1887. epaurion -- on the next day 1778. entalma -- an injunction, ie religious precept 1897a. epeimi -- to come upon, come after 2631. katakrima -- penalty 2192. echo -- to have, hold 2602. katabole -- a laying down 1967. epiousios -- for the coming day, for subsistence 2628. katakoloutheo -- to follow after Strong's Hebrew 310. achar -- the hind or following part... 309, 310. achar. 311 . the hind or following part. Transliteration: achar Phonetic Spelling: (akh-ar') Short Definition: after. ... /hebrew/310.htm - 6k 312. acher -- another 314. acharon -- coming after or behind 1980. halak -- to go, come, walk 3602. kakah -- thus 7272. regel -- foot 3651. ken -- so, thus 4026. migdal -- a tower 5921. al -- upon, above, over 4419. mallach -- a mariner Library Quiet Talks on Following the Christ Following Christ The Following Books to be had at the Shop of John Bryce, Printer ... Heads of the Following Book. I Reject this Predestination for the Following Reasons: The Following Prayers are from the Mass for the Saint. The Spirit in which the Following Work Has Been Prosecuted, and ... Note a the Following Extract of a Letter I Received from the Rev. ... Jesus is God, Following us Up. Note to the Following Treatise 1. The Following Letter Thesaurus Following (546 Occurrences)... 3. (n.) Vocation; business; profession. 4. (a.) Next after; succeeding; ensuing; as, the assembly was held on the following day. ...Following (546 Occurrences). ... /f/following.htm - 7k Pursuit (35 Occurrences) As'ahel (17 Occurrences) Pursuing (50 Occurrences) Asahel (17 Occurrences) Follower (8 Occurrences) Rebel (35 Occurrences) Repeated (16 Occurrences) Successive (4 Occurrences) So (23977 Occurrences) Resources Why is following Christ so difficult? | GotQuestions.orgAre mono-ethnic churches, churches that focus on a specific race or ethnic group, following a biblical model? | GotQuestions.org Following God ' Article Index | GotQuestions.org Following: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Following (546 Occurrences)Following is used 546 times in 12 translations. You can narrow your search using the Advanced Bible Search. Subtopics Related Terms |