Nearsightedness, also known as myopia, is a common vision condition where distant objects appear blurry while close objects can be seen clearly. Although the Bible does not explicitly mention nearsightedness as a physical condition, the concept can be metaphorically related to spiritual insight and perception.

Biblical References and Symbolism:

1. Spiritual Blindness and Insight:
The Bible often uses physical blindness as a metaphor for spiritual blindness or lack of understanding. In the New Testament, Jesus heals the blind, symbolizing the restoration of spiritual sight. For instance, in John 9:39 , Jesus says, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind." This passage highlights the contrast between physical sight and spiritual insight.

2. Short-Sightedness in Faith:
The Apostle Peter warns against spiritual nearsightedness in 2 Peter 1:9 : "But whoever lacks these qualities is nearsighted and blind, having forgotten his purification from his past sins." Here, Peter emphasizes the importance of cultivating virtues such as faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love. A lack of these qualities results in spiritual myopia, where one loses sight of the transformative work of Christ in their life.

3. Focus on Eternal Perspective:
The Bible encourages believers to maintain an eternal perspective rather than being consumed by immediate, worldly concerns. In 2 Corinthians 4:18 , Paul writes, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." This passage urges Christians to look beyond the temporal and focus on the eternal truths of God's kingdom, avoiding the spiritual nearsightedness that comes from focusing solely on earthly matters.

4. Wisdom and Understanding:
Proverbs 3:5-6 advises, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." This wisdom literature underscores the importance of relying on God's understanding rather than our limited human perspective, which can be likened to spiritual nearsightedness.

Theological Implications:

Nearsightedness, when viewed through a biblical lens, serves as a reminder of the need for spiritual clarity and vision. It calls believers to seek God's wisdom and guidance, ensuring that their spiritual sight is not clouded by sin or worldly distractions. The metaphor of nearsightedness challenges Christians to cultivate a deeper relationship with God, allowing His light to illuminate their path and provide clear vision for their spiritual journey.(a.) Seeing distinctly at short distances only; shortsighted.

The Era of Persecution
... Renan thus pictures him: "As he was nearsighted, he used to put to his eye on such
occasions a concave lens of 'emerald,' which served him as an eyeglass. ...
/.../brittain/women of early christianity/iii the era of persecution.htm

Nearsighted (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Seeing distinctly at short distances only;
shortsighted. Multi-Version Concordance Nearsighted (1 Occurrence). ...
/n/nearsighted.htm - 6k

Near-tumult (1 Occurrence)
Near-tumult. Nearsighted, Near-tumult. Nebai . Multi-Version Concordance ... (See
NAS). Nearsighted, Near-tumult. Nebai . Reference Bible.
/n/near-tumult.htm - 6k

Nearness (2 Occurrences)

/n/nearness.htm - 7k

Shortsighted (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Not able to see far; nearsighted; myopic.
See Myopia. 2. (a.) Fig.: Not able to look far into ...
/s/shortsighted.htm - 7k

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