In the context of the Bible, "growths" can refer to both physical and spiritual development. The concept of growth is woven throughout Scripture, illustrating the natural progression of life and the spiritual maturation of believers.

Physical Growth:

The Bible acknowledges the natural process of physical growth as part of God's creation. In Genesis 1:28, God commands Adam and Eve to "be fruitful and multiply," indicating the importance of physical growth and expansion of humanity. The growth of plants and crops is also a recurring theme, symbolizing God's provision and the cycles of life. In Genesis 8:22, after the flood, God promises, "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall never cease."

Spiritual Growth:

Spiritual growth is a central theme in the New Testament, where believers are encouraged to mature in their faith and understanding. The Apostle Paul frequently addresses spiritual growth in his epistles. In Ephesians 4:15, he writes, "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head." This verse emphasizes the importance of growing in Christlikeness and unity within the body of Christ.

Peter also speaks to the necessity of spiritual growth. In 2 Peter 3:18, he exhorts believers to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." This growth is not merely intellectual but involves a deepening relationship with Christ and an increasing manifestation of His character in the believer's life.

Parables of Growth:

Jesus often used parables to illustrate spiritual truths, many of which involve growth. The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23) describes different types of soil representing the hearts of people and their receptivity to the Word of God. The growth of the seed depends on the condition of the soil, symbolizing how spiritual growth is contingent upon the openness and responsiveness of the heart.

Another significant parable is the Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32), where Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds but grows into the largest of garden plants. This parable highlights the potential for exponential growth from small beginnings, reflecting the expansive nature of God's kingdom.

The Role of the Holy Spirit:

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in the spiritual growth of believers. In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit, which includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These attributes are evidence of spiritual growth and maturity, cultivated by the Holy Spirit's work in the believer's life.

Community and Growth:

The early church provides a model for communal growth, as seen in Acts 2:42-47. The believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. This communal life fostered spiritual growth and resulted in the Lord adding to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:47).

Challenges to Growth:

The Bible also acknowledges challenges to growth, such as sin and spiritual immaturity. In Hebrews 5:12-14, the author rebukes the recipients for their lack of growth, stating, "By this time you ought to be teachers, but you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word." This passage underscores the expectation of growth and the need for believers to move beyond elementary teachings to maturity.

In summary, growth in the biblical sense encompasses both the natural and spiritual realms, with an emphasis on the believer's journey toward maturity in Christ. Through parables, teachings, and the work of the Holy Spirit, Scripture provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and pursuing growth in all aspects of life.

The Problem of Foreign Missions
... his Maker's work and clearing the field of all the plants that found no place in
his small European herbarium, he will rather water the growths already there ...
/.../berkhof/new evangelism and other papers/the problem of foreign missions.htm

On the Conception of Our Lady, Also on Her Birth
... I told you how man must first put away all crying sins, such as pride, impurity,
covetousness, anger, and all the evil growths of the world, with all foolish ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tauler/the inner way/sermon iii on the conception.htm

Many and One
... The same symbol loses indeed in one respect its value if we transfer it to growths
more congenial to our northern climate, and instead of the vine with its ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/many and one.htm

The Dying King's Last vision and Psalm
... So all things shall rejoice in the reign of the King, and humanity be productive,
under His glad and quickening influences, of growths of beauty and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the dying kings last vision.htm

Four Sowings and one Ripening
... up, as is plain from the very fact that the seed reached the ground, as also from
the description of them as 'springing up.' The two growths advance together. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/four sowings and one ripening.htm

Involution
... Those cases which we do not know to be growths, we do not know to be anything
else, and we may at least suspect them to be growths. ...
/.../drummond/the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/chapter x involution.htm

Mosaic Cosmogony.
... whose object is the dealing of God with man as a moral being, maintains but a shivering
existence, shouldered and jostled by the sturdy growths of modern ...
/.../temple/essays and reviews the education of the world/mosaic cosmogony.htm

A Strain of Jonah the Prophet.
... Of Sodom and Gomorrah; after fires. Penal, attested by time-frosted plains. Of ashes;
after fruitless apple-growths,. 5 Born but to feed the eye; after the death ...
/.../fathers of the third century tertullian appendix/1 a strain of jonah.htm

Ignorance of the Seed Makes no Difference.
... must be kept out, just as industriously as the farmer cultivates the useful products
of the soil, but wages continual war on weeds and all unwholesome growths. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/moody/sowing and reaping/chapter vi ignorance of the.htm

Fragment iv.
... And Judas the traitor," says he, "not believing, and asking, How shall such growths
be accomplished by the Lord?' the Lord said, They shall see who shall come ...
//christianbookshelf.org/papias/fragments of papias/fragment iv.htm

Growths (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Growths (2 Occurrences). 1 Samuel 6:4 Then they
said, What sin-offering are we to send to him? And they ...
/g/growths.htm - 7k

Leper (34 Occurrences)
... parts affected, and this, which is the commonest variety now met with in the East,
is slower in its course than those forms in which nodular growths are the ...
/l/leper.htm - 28k

Leprosy (51 Occurrences)
... parts affected, and this, which is the commonest variety now met with in the East,
is slower in its course than those forms in which nodular growths are the ...
/l/leprosy.htm - 37k

Vegetable (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (v.) of or pertaining to plants; having the nature of, or produced by, plants;
as, a vegetable nature; vegetable growths, juices, etc. ...
/v/vegetable.htm - 8k

Grub (2 Occurrences)

/g/grub.htm - 7k

Damaging (5 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 6:5 So make images of the growths caused by your disease and of the mice
which are damaging your land; and give glory to the God of Israel: it may be ...
/d/damaging.htm - 8k

Paper (5 Occurrences)
... The most extensive papyrus growths now known are in the marshes at the northern
end of the lake of Merom. Noah Webster's Dictionary. ...
/p/paper.htm - 10k

Canker (4 Occurrences)
... and often incurable disease of a horse's foot, characterized by separation of the
horny portion and the development of fungous growths; -- usually resulting ...
/c/canker.htm - 9k

Ease (46 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 6:5 So make images of the growths caused by your disease and of the mice
which are damaging your land; and give glory to the God of Israel: it may be ...
/e/ease.htm - 23k

Growth (77 Occurrences)

/g/growth.htm - 29k

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus