The term "includes" in a biblical context often refers to the encompassing nature of God's promises, commands, and the scope of His love and salvation. While the word itself may not frequently appear in the text of the Bible, the concept is integral to understanding the comprehensive nature of God's relationship with humanity.

God's Promises and Covenants

The Bible is replete with instances where God's promises are inclusive, extending beyond immediate recipients to future generations and even to all nations. For example, in Genesis 12:3, God tells Abraham, "I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you, and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you." This promise includes not only Abraham's descendants but also all families of the earth, indicating the universal scope of God's blessing.

Salvation Through Christ

The New Testament further expands on the inclusivity of God's plan through the work of Jesus Christ. In John 3:16, it is stated, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." This verse underscores the inclusivity of salvation, available to "everyone who believes," regardless of ethnic, social, or cultural background.

The Body of Christ

The Apostle Paul frequently addresses the inclusive nature of the Church, the Body of Christ. In Galatians 3:28, he writes, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." This passage highlights the breaking down of barriers and distinctions within the Christian community, emphasizing unity and equality among believers.

The Great Commission

The Great Commission, as recorded in Matthew 28:19-20, is another example of the inclusive nature of the Christian mission: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you." The directive to make disciples of "all nations" reflects the universal call to spread the Gospel, including every people group in the scope of God's redemptive plan.

God's Love and Mercy

The inclusivity of God's love and mercy is a recurring theme throughout Scripture. In 1 Timothy 2:4, it is stated that God "wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." This desire for all to be saved reflects the inclusive nature of God's love, which is not limited to a select few but extends to all humanity.

Conclusion

The concept of "includes" in the Bible is a testament to the expansive and all-encompassing nature of God's love, promises, and salvation. From the covenants with the patriarchs to the universal call of the Gospel, the Scriptures consistently reveal a God who desires to include all people in His redemptive plan.5241. huperentugchano -- to intercede, to make petition for
... Lord's . The content of these intercessions goes beyond human language,
and includes bringing into our daily walk with Christ. Word ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5241.htm - 7k

4165. poimaino -- to act as a shepherd
... 4165 () focuses on "" ("" 274), which includes guarding, guiding, and folding the
flock and is only provided (ultimately) by Jesus Christ -- Shepherd, who ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4165.htm - 8k

2271. hesuchia -- stillness
... Cognate: 2271 (from , "quiet, stillness") -- quietness, implying calm; for the believer,
2271 () is used of their which includes an inner tranquility that ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2271.htm - 7k

4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... Faith (4102) is also used – of all the times God has revealed (given the of) His
will, which includes the full (Jude 3). Indeed, God the Lord that all of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4102.htm - 18k

4283. proeuaggelizomai -- to announce good news beforehand
... [4283 (), like its root (2097 ), includes the Gospel -- ie all of God's good news
that He offers, from initial salvation to glorification. See 2097 ().]. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4283.htm - 7k

3815. paizo -- to play as a child
... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: paizo Phonetic Spelling: (paheed'-zo) Short
Definition: I play, sport Definition: I play, sport (includes singing and ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3815.htm - 6k

1321. didasko -- to teach
... [This includes three noun-forms, two adjectival forms, and one verb, totaling
about 220 occurrences in the NT).]. Word Origin a redupl. caus. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1321.htm - 9k

3804. pathema -- that which befalls one, ie a suffering, a passion
... See 3958 (). [3804 ("strong feeling") includes affliction (suffering), which should
always (ideally) in knowing God's -- like going through difficulties ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3804.htm - 8k

458. anomia -- lawlessness
... and living Word). 458 ("lawlessness") includes the of -- ie its negative
influence on a person's ( before God). Word Origin from ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/458.htm - 7k

1012. boule -- counsel
... It always also includes the Lord's in them -- and hence arranging all the physical
scenes of history before creation (Ps 139:16; Jn 1:3).]. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1012.htm - 7k

Whether Every Sin Includes an Action?
... EVIL HABITS, ie VICES AND SINS (QQ -89) Whether every sin includes an action?
Objection 1: It would seem that every sin includes an action. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether every sin includes an.htm

How God's Providence Includes Everything
... Chapter 16 How God's Providence includes everything. Certainly if we are
to come directly, safely and nakedly to our Lord God without ...
/.../albert/on cleaving to god/chapter 16 how gods providence.htm

The Command to Love God and Our Neighbor Includes a Command to ...
... Book I. Chapter 26."The Command to Love God and Our Neighbor Includes
a Command to Love Ourselves. 27. Seeing, then, that there ...
/.../on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 26 the command to love.htm

First, I am to Consider what the Keeping of the Heart Supposes and ...
... This includes in it six particulars: ... 2. It includes deep humiliation for heart evils
and disorders; thus Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/flavel/on keeping the heart/first i am to consider.htm

Love and Discernment.
... It is more than sentiment, though of course it includes that; it is more than emotion,
though undoubtedly it includes that; it is more than desire, though ...
/.../thomas/the prayers of st paul/ix love and discernment.htm

Annunciation of the Birth of Jesus.
... no earthly father]: 33 and he shall reign over the house of Jacob [That is, over
the family or descendants of Jacob; but the expression includes his spiritual ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/vi annunciation of the birth.htm

Practical Righteousness
... The 'righteousness' of the New Testament, though it embraces a great deal more,
includes within its map all the territories which belong to morality or to ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/practical righteousness.htm

The Theology of Grace.
... [155] This includes, of course, an injury to our will. Augustin, writing for
the popular eye, treats this subject in popular language. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/iv the theology of grace.htm

Whether Presumption Relies on God, or on One's Own Power
... On the second point: the presumption with which one presumes on God in an inordinate
manner includes the love of oneself whereby one inordinately desires one's ...
/.../aquinas/nature and grace/article one whether presumption relies.htm

The Greatest Prayer.
... Charles II and Cromwell cannot remain in London together. "Thy kingdom come," of
necessity includes this, "the other kingdom ... Each statement includes the other. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on prayer/the greatest prayer.htm

Includes (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Includes (1 Occurrence). 2 Thessalonians 1:10
when He comes on that day to be glorified in His people and ...
/i/includes.htm - 6k

Nations (683 Occurrences)
... Another such difficulty touches the question of time, which, whether it includes
five centuries or twenty, is met by the principle that to the prophets ...
/n/nations.htm - 58k

Include (7 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To confine within; to hold; to contain; to shut up; to enclose; as, the
shell of a nut includes the kernel; a pearl is included in a shell. ...
/i/include.htm - 8k

Features (3 Occurrences)
... The lowland or Shephelah (the King James Version "vale, valley, plain, or low
country") includes the maritime plain and the western foothills. ...
/f/features.htm - 12k

Dictionaries
... Crerar Library list of encyclopedias forms an excellent guide to the literature
of general encyclopedias within its scope, which includes chiefly technology ...
/d/dictionaries.htm - 38k

Deuterocanonical
... This second Canon includes Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Ecclusiasticus, 2 Esdras, 1 Maccabees
and 2 Maccabees of the Old Testament, and Hebrews, James, 2 Peter, 2 ...
/d/deuterocanonical.htm - 14k

Deutero-canonical
... This second Canon includes Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Ecclusiasticus, 2 Esdras, 1 Maccabees
and 2 Maccabees of the Old Testament, and Hebrews, James, 2 Peter, 2 ...
/d/deutero-canonical.htm - 14k

Psalms (44 Occurrences)
... Psalm 136 is generally called "the great hallel." But the Talmud includes also Psalm
120-135. ... This title includes secular as well as sacred song. ...
/p/psalms.htm - 54k

Adoration
... It thus includes both the subjective sentiments, or feelings of the soul, in the
presence of some superior object or person, and the appropriate physical ...
/a/adoration.htm - 20k

Table (125 Occurrences)
... 14. (n.) A stringcourse which includes an offset; esp., a band of stone, or the
like, set where an offset is required, so as to make it decorative. ...
/t/table.htm - 62k

What are the books of the Bible? What does it mean that the Bible is composed of different books? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Torah? | GotQuestions.org

Is the original Bible still in existence? | GotQuestions.org

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