Topical Bible: Half-way

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The concept of being "half-way" is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, but the idea can be inferred through various scriptural principles and narratives that emphasize the importance of wholeheartedness in one's relationship with God. The notion of being "half-way" often implies a lack of full commitment or a divided heart, which is addressed in several biblical passages.

Wholehearted Devotion

The Bible frequently calls for complete devotion to God, warning against a half-hearted approach. In Deuteronomy 6:5, the Israelites are commanded, "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." This command underscores the expectation of total commitment to God, leaving no room for a "half-way" attitude.

Divided Allegiances

The danger of divided allegiances is highlighted in the account of the Israelites' repeated struggles with idolatry. In 1 Kings 18:21, the prophet 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 call to decision illustrates the peril of being "half-way" in one's faith, as wavering between God and idols leads to spiritual instability.

Lukewarmness

The concept of being "half-way" is vividly depicted in the message to the church in Laodicea in Revelation 3:15-16: "I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other! So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of My mouth." This passage warns against spiritual complacency and the dangers of a lukewarm faith, which is neither fully committed nor entirely rejecting.

Double-mindedness

James 1:8 speaks to the instability of a "half-way" mindset: "He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." This verse highlights the importance of single-minded devotion and the pitfalls of being divided in one's loyalty to God.

The Call to Full Commitment

Throughout Scripture, believers are encouraged to pursue a full and undivided commitment to God. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus teaches, "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." This teaching emphasizes the impossibility of a "half-way" allegiance, urging believers to choose God wholeheartedly.

Conclusion

While the term "half-way" is not directly used in the Bible, the concept is addressed through various teachings and narratives that call for complete devotion to God. The dangers of divided loyalties, lukewarmness, and double-mindedness serve as warnings against a "half-way" approach to faith, urging believers to commit fully to their relationship with the Lord.

Greek

3322. mesoo -- to be in the middle
... be in the middle. From mesos; to form the middle, ie (in point of time), to be
half-way over -- be about the midst. see GREEK mesos. (mesouses) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3322.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

2677. chatsi -- half
... Word Origin from chatsah Definition half NASB Word Usage half (76), half-tribe
(1), half-tribe* (32), halfway (2), middle (6), midnight* (3), midst (2), two ...
/hebrew/2677.htm - 6k

Library

Thus the Word Condescended to Man's Engrossment in Corporeal ...
... All man's superstitions He met halfway; whether men were inclined to worship Nature,
Man ... Man walks among men and meets the senses of all men half-way [241] , to ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/section 15 thus the word.htm

The Cambridge Platform and the Half-Way Covenant
... THE DEVELOPMENT OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN CONNECTICUT CHAPTER IV THE CAMBRIDGE
PLATFORM AND THE HALF-WAY COVENANT. It is always right ...
/.../chapter iv the cambridge platform.htm

Abraham's Four Surrenders
... Then he came to Haran, which is about half-way between the valley of the
Euphrates and the valley of the Jordan. ... HE CAME HALF-WAY,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/men of the bible/i abrahams four surrenders.htm

Mountain-Ranges. October 8.
... We fancy there are many independent sciences, because we stand half-way up on different
mountain-peaks, calling to each other from isolated stations. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/daily thoughts /mountain-ranges october 8.htm

Discouragements and Courage
... Verse 6 tells us that the wall was completed 'unto the half of it'; that is, to
one-half the height, and half-way through is just the critical time in all ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/discouragements and courage.htm

Christ Our Mediator.
... Jesus. His divinity reaches half-way from heaven to earth, and His humanity
half-way from earth to heaven, and the two unite in Him. ...
/.../ix christ our mediator.htm

Explanation of Ungenerate,' and a Study' of Eternity.
... an end are opposed each to each; the meanings of each differ as widely as the other
diametric oppositions [233] , where there is no half-way proposition below ...
/.../section 42 explanation of ungenerate.htm

Shall we Go?
... not. Half-way following, part-way following, has become very common in
some of the other parts of the world, where we don't live. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on following the christ/shall we go.htm

The Holidays at Thagaste
... was most eager to do this for his son, who at Madaura had shewn himself a very
brilliant pupil and ought not therefore to be pulled up half-way down the course ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/bertrand/saint augustin/vi the holidays at thagaste.htm

Appendix
... CHAPTER IV. THE CAMBRIDGE PLATFORM AND THE HALF-WAY COVENANT. ... 37, Results of
Half-Way Covenant Convention, Prop.4. See W. Walker, Creeds and Platforms, p.296. ...
/.../greene/the development of religious liberty in connecticut/appendix.htm

Thesaurus

Grating (6 Occurrences)
... Its position is well defined: "Thou shalt put it under the ledge round the altar
beneath, that the net may reach halfway up the altar" (Exodus 27:5; compare ...
/g/grating.htm - 10k

Network (19 Occurrences)
... the network under the shelf round the altar so that the net comes half-way up the ...
of a network of brass, under the ledge around it beneath, reaching halfway up ...
/n/network.htm - 14k

Ledge (7 Occurrences)
... Ledge (7 Occurrences). Exodus 27:5 You shall put it under the ledge around the
altar beneath, that the net may reach halfway up the altar. ...
/l/ledge.htm - 10k

Grate (6 Occurrences)
... Its position is well defined: "Thou shalt put it under the ledge round the altar
beneath, that the net may reach halfway up the altar" (Exodus 27:5; compare ...
/g/grate.htm - 10k

Assur (2 Occurrences)
... Apparently about 2000 BC a colony of Babylonians migrated northward along the Tigris
River and settled upon the right shore about halfway between the Upper and ...
/a/assur.htm - 13k

Asshur (133 Occurrences)
... Apparently about 2000 BC a colony of Babylonians migrated northward along the Tigris
River and settled upon the right shore about halfway between the Upper and ...
/a/asshur.htm - 46k

Sherghat
... Apparently about 2000 BC a colony of Babylonians migrated northward along the Tigris
River and settled upon the right shore about halfway between the Upper and ...
/s/sherghat.htm - 12k

Beneath (73 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). Exodus 27:5 You shall put it under the ledge
around the altar beneath, that the net may reach halfway up the altar. ...
/b/beneath.htm - 29k

Halfway (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (adv.) In the middle; at half the distance; imperfectly;
partially; as, he halfway yielded. ...Halfway (4 Occurrences). ...
/h/halfway.htm - 7k

Half-way (3 Occurrences)
Half-way. Halfway, Half-way. Halhul . Multi-Version Concordance Half-way (3
Occurrences). ... (BBE). Halfway, Half-way. Halhul . Reference Bible.
/h/half-way.htm - 7k