Institution
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In the context of the Bible, the term "institution" refers to the establishment of practices, laws, or systems ordained by God or established by human authority under divine guidance. Institutions play a significant role in the biblical narrative, serving as frameworks through which God's purposes are realized and His covenantal relationship with humanity is expressed.

Divine Institutions

1. Marriage: The institution of marriage is one of the earliest and most significant institutions established by God. In Genesis 2:24, it is written, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." This institution is foundational for family life and is upheld throughout Scripture as a sacred covenant reflecting the relationship between Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:31-32).

2. Sabbath: The Sabbath is another divine institution, established by God as a day of rest and worship. Genesis 2:3 states, "Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished." The Sabbath serves as a sign of the covenant between God and His people, as reiterated in Exodus 31:16-17.

3. Government: The Bible acknowledges the institution of government as ordained by God to maintain order and justice. Romans 13:1-2 instructs, "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God." This institution is seen as a means to promote good and restrain evil.

Religious Institutions

1. The Priesthood: The institution of the priesthood was established to mediate between God and the people of Israel. The Levitical priesthood, as detailed in Exodus 28-29, was responsible for offering sacrifices and maintaining the tabernacle. Hebrews 5:1 explains, "Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins."

2. The Temple: The temple in Jerusalem was a central religious institution for the Israelites, serving as the dwelling place of God's presence and the focal point of worship. Solomon's construction of the temple is detailed in 1 Kings 6, and its significance is underscored in 2 Chronicles 7:16, where God declares, "For now I have chosen and consecrated this house so that My Name may be there forever."

3. The Church: In the New Testament, the Church emerges as a new institution, the body of Christ, composed of believers who are called to worship, fellowship, and spread the Gospel. Matthew 16:18 records Jesus' words, "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it." The Church is described as a living organism, with Christ as the head (Ephesians 1:22-23).

Social Institutions

1. Family: The family is a fundamental social institution in the Bible, designed for companionship, procreation, and the nurturing of children. Ephesians 6:1-4 emphasizes the roles within the family, instructing children to obey their parents and fathers to bring up their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

2. Community: The concept of community is integral to biblical teaching, with the people of God called to live in unity and mutual support. Acts 2:42-47 describes the early Christian community as devoted to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer, sharing their possessions and caring for one another's needs.

Institutions in the Bible are divinely ordained structures that provide order, facilitate worship, and promote the flourishing of human relationships in accordance with God's will. They are integral to understanding the unfolding of God's redemptive plan throughout Scripture.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) The act or process of instituting; as: (a) Establishment; foundation; enactment; as, the institution of a school.

2. (n.) Instruction; education.

3. (n.) The act or ceremony of investing a clergyman with the spiritual part of a benefice, by which the care of souls is committed to his charge.

4. (n.) That which instituted or established

5. (n.) Established order, method, or custom; enactment; ordinance; permanent form of law or polity.

6. (n.) An established or organized society or corporation; an establishment, especially of a public character, or affecting a community; a foundation; as, a literary institution; a charitable institution; also, a building or the buildings occupied or used by such organization; as, the Smithsonian Institution.

7. (n.) Anything forming a characteristic and persistent feature in social or national life or habits.

8. (n.) That which institutes or instructs; a textbook; a system of elements or rules; an institute.

Greek
1296. diatage -- institution, ordinance
... institution, ordinance. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: diatage
Phonetic Spelling: (dee-at-ag-ay') Short Definition: ordaining, ordinance ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1296.htm - 6k

2937. ktisis -- creation (the act or the product)
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: ktisis Phonetic Spelling:
(ktis'-is) Short Definition: creation, creature, institution Definition: (often ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2937.htm - 7k

3548. nomothesia -- legislation, lawgiving
... giving of the law. From nomothetes; legislation (specially, the institution of
the Mosaic code) -- giving of the law. see GREEK nomothetes. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3548.htm - 6k

4521. sabbaton -- the Sabbath, ie the seventh day (of the week)
... Of Hebrew origin (shabbath); the Sabbath (ie Shabbath), or day of weekly repose
from secular avocations (also the observance or institution itself); by ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4521.htm - 7k

Library

The Institution of Deacons, and the History of Stephen.
... LECTURES LECTURE VIII. THE INSTITUTION OF DEACONS, AND THE HISTORY OF
STEPHEN. Chap. vi. "YE have the poor always with you, but ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture viii the institution of.htm

The Institution of the Eucharist. (Luke, xxii. , 17-20. )
... CHAPTER II. THE LAST SUPPER OF JESUS WITH THE DISCIPLES. Section 268. The
Institution of the Eucharist. (Luke, xxii., 17-20.). The ...
/.../section 268 the institution of.htm

Whether the Institution of this Sacrament was Appropriate?
... OF THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST (SIX ARTICLES) Whether the institution
of this sacrament was appropriate? Objection 1: It seems ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the institution of this.htm

On Certain Modern Writers and the Institution of the Family
... XIV. On Certain Modern Writers and the Institution of the Family. The family may
fairly be considered, one would think, an ultimate human institution. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/heretics/xiv on certain modern writers.htm

Excellency of the Christian Institution.
... ADDITIONAL DISCOURSES. SECT. VI. EXCELLENCY OF THE CHRISTIAN INSTITUTION. "Aptissima
qu??que dabunt dii Charior est illis homo, quam sibi"Juv. S.10 I.345. ...
/.../sect vi excellency of the.htm

Meditation viii. Institution of the Holy Eucharist.
... MEDITATION VIII. Institution of the Holy Eucharist. By command of our Lord,
the major-domo had again laid out the table, which he ...
/.../meditation viii institution of the.htm

Later Institution of Baptism as an Initiatory Rite.
... CHAPTER IV. THE CHURCH AND BAPTISM. Section 83. Later Institution of Baptism
as an Initiatory Rite. As for Baptism, we certainly ...
/.../section 83 later institution of.htm

The Paschal Supper - the Institution of the Lord's Supper.
... CHAPTER X. THE PASCHAL SUPPER - THE INSTITUTION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. ... We now approach
the most solemn part of that night: The Institution of the Lord's Supper. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter x the paschal supper.htm

Institution of the Lord's Supper.
... RELIGIOUS EXULTATION. 677. " Institution of the Lord's Supper. 677. LM
Watts. Institution of the Lord's Supper. 1 'Twas on that ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/677 institution of the.htm

P??dobaptism. Its Accordance with the Institution of Christ, and ...
... ITS ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSTITUTION OF CHRIST, AND THE NATURE OF THE SIGN. ... ITS
ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSTITUTION OF CHRIST, AND THE NATURE OF THE SIGN. ...
/.../chapter 16 paedobaptism its accordance.htm

Thesaurus
Institution (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The act or process of instituting; as: (a)
Establishment; foundation; enactment; as, the institution of a school. ...
/i/institution.htm - 7k

Pentecost (3 Occurrences)
... writers. And thus a view of the Jewish Pentecost has been originated, which
is wholly foreign to the scope of the ancient institution. ...
/p/pentecost.htm - 21k

Wife (437 Occurrences)
... tou adelphou = "the brother's wife" (Mark 6:18)): A brother's wife occupies a unique
position in Hebrew custom and law, by virtue of the institution of the ...
/w/wife.htm - 42k

Deaconess (1 Occurrence)
... It behooves us to inquire whether and where they occur in a technical sense
sufficiently defined to denote the institution of a special ecclesiastical office ...
/d/deaconess.htm - 12k

Purim (5 Occurrences)
... It became a national institution by the common consent of the Jews, and is observed
by them to the present day, on the 14th and 15th of the month Adar, a month ...
/p/purim.htm - 16k

Pur (3 Occurrences)
... It became a national institution by the common consent of the Jews, and is observed
by them to the present day, on the 14th and 15th of the month Adar, a month ...
/p/pur.htm - 15k

Brother's (46 Occurrences)
... tou adelphou = "the brother's wife" (Mark 6:18)): A brother's wife occupies a unique
position in Hebrew custom and law, by virtue of the institution of the ...
/b/brother's.htm - 23k

School (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) A place for learned intercourse and instruction; an institution for learning;
an educational establishment; a place for acquiring knowledge and mental ...
/s/school.htm - 9k

Deacon (4 Occurrences)
... It behooves us to inquire whether and where they occur in a technical sense
sufficiently defined to denote the institution of a special ecclesiastical office ...
/d/deacon.htm - 14k

Sacraments
... from the characteristics of the rites classed together under this name, they found
the distinguishing marks of sacraments (1) in their institution by Christ, (2 ...
/s/sacraments.htm - 19k

Resources
If marriage is so difficult, why should I even consider it? | GotQuestions.org

Why should I get married? | GotQuestions.org

Summary of the Book of Esther - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org

Institution: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Institution (1 Occurrence)

1 Peter 2:13
Be in subjection therefore to every human institution for the Lord's sake; whether to the king as supreme,
(DBY NAS RSV)

Subtopics

Institution

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Apprentice (1 Occurrence)

Aquila (7 Occurrences)

Aright (14 Occurrences)

Spiced (1 Occurrence)

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Suborn

Instituted
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