Necessity
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In the context of the Bible, "necessity" often refers to the essential needs and requirements of life, as well as the moral and spiritual obligations that believers are called to fulfill. The concept of necessity is woven throughout Scripture, highlighting both the physical needs of humanity and the spiritual imperatives that guide Christian living.

Physical Necessities

The Bible acknowledges the basic physical necessities of life, such as food, clothing, and shelter. In Matthew 6:31-33 , Jesus addresses these needs, saying, "Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." Here, Jesus emphasizes that while physical necessities are important, they should not overshadow the pursuit of God's kingdom and righteousness.

The Apostle Paul also speaks to the issue of necessity in terms of work and provision. In 2 Thessalonians 3:10 , he writes, "For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat." This underscores the principle that individuals have a responsibility to work and provide for their own needs, as well as the needs of their families.

Spiritual Necessities

Beyond physical needs, the Bible places a strong emphasis on spiritual necessities. The necessity of faith in Jesus Christ for salvation is a central theme. In John 3:7 , Jesus tells Nicodemus, "Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’" This spiritual rebirth is presented as a necessity for entering the kingdom of God.

The necessity of love is another critical aspect of Christian teaching. In 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 , Paul writes about the indispensable nature of love, stating, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing." Love is portrayed as a necessity that underpins all other spiritual gifts and actions.

Moral and Ethical Necessities

The Bible also outlines moral and ethical necessities for believers. Micah 6:8 succinctly captures this, stating, "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" This verse highlights the necessity of justice, mercy, and humility in the life of a believer.

In the New Testament, the necessity of obedience to God's commandments is emphasized. Jesus says in John 14:15 , "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." Obedience is presented as a necessary expression of love for Christ and a reflection of genuine faith.

Necessity in Ministry

The concept of necessity also extends to the ministry and mission of the church. Paul speaks of the necessity laid upon him to preach the gospel in 1 Corinthians 9:16 , saying, "Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!" This sense of divine compulsion underscores the urgency and importance of spreading the message of salvation.

In summary, the Bible presents necessity as encompassing both the physical and spiritual realms, urging believers to prioritize their spiritual obligations while trusting God to meet their physical needs. The call to love, obey, and serve is portrayed as essential to the Christian life, reflecting the transformative power of faith in action.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) The quality of being needed, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite; inevitableness; indispensableness.

2. (n.) The condition of being needy or necessitous; pressing need; indigence; want.

3. (n.) That which is necessary; a necessary; a requisite; something indispensable; -- often in the plural.

4. (n.) That which makes an act or an event unavoidable; irresistible force; overruling power; compulsion, physical or moral; fate; fatality.

5. (n.) The negation of freedom in voluntary action; the subjection of all phenomena, whether material or spiritual, to inevitable causation.

Greek
318. anagke -- necessity
... necessity. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: anagke Phonetic Spelling:
(an-ang-kay') Short Definition: necessity, constraint, compulsion Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/318.htm - 7k

1876. epanagkes -- necessary, of necessity
... necessary, of necessity. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: epanagkes Phonetic
Spelling: (ep-an'-ang-kes) Short Definition: necessarily Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1876.htm - 7k

5532. chreia -- need, business
... need, business. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: chreia Phonetic
Spelling: (khri'-ah) Short Definition: need, necessity, business Definition: need ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5532.htm - 6k

3195. mello -- to be about to
... intend, ie Be about to be, do, or suffer something (of persons or things, especially
events; in the sense of purpose, duty, necessity, probability, possibility ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3195.htm - 9k

27. agapetos -- beloved
... Jude 3: " (27 ), while I was making every effort to write you about our common
salvation, I had [a sense of] necessity to write to you, exhorting [you] to ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/27.htm - 8k

5535. chrezo -- to need, have need of
... have need. From chreia; to make (ie Have) necessity, ie Be in want of -- (have)
need. see GREEK chreia. (chrezei) -- 1 Occurrence. (chrezete) -- 2 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5535.htm - 6k

316. anagkaios -- necessary
... necessary, needful. From anagke; necessary; by implication, close (of kin) -- near,
necessary, necessity, needful. see GREEK anagke. (anankaia) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/316.htm - 7k

2192. echo -- to have, hold
... not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold,
keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2192.htm - 11k

384. anaskeuazo -- to pack up baggage, dismantle
... destroy by ). [In one papyrus, means "" (P Oxy IV. 745.5, ad . 1): "and we without
any necessity" (, 37).]. 384 ("subversively rearranging ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/384.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew
2819. chashchuwth -- things needed
... be needful From a root corresponding to chashach; necessity -- be needful. see HEBREW
chashach. 2818, 2819. chashchuwth. 2819a . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/2819.htm - 5k
Library

The Necessity of Prayer
The Necessity of Prayer. <. The Necessity of Prayer Edward M. Bounds. Table
of Contents. Title Page. The Necessity of Prayer. FOREWORD. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/the necessity of prayer/

Whether the Will is Moved, of Necessity, by Its Object?
... OF THE MANNER IN WHICH THE WILL IS MOVED (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether the will
is moved, of necessity, by its object? Objection 1: It ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the will is moved 8.htm

Whether the Will is Moved of Necessity by the Exterior Mover which ...
... OF THE MANNER IN WHICH THE WILL IS MOVED (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether the will
is moved of necessity by the exterior mover which is God? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the will is moved 10.htm

Whether the Will Desires of Necessity, Whatever it Desires?
... OF THE WILL (FIVE ARTICLES) Whether the will desires of necessity, whatever it desires? ...
Therefore it seems that the will's object moves it of necessity. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the will desires of.htm

Whether the Will Desires Something of Necessity?
... OF THE WILL (FIVE ARTICLES) Whether the will desires something of necessity? ...
Therefore nothing that the will desires is desired of necessity. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the will desires something.htm

The Necessity of Divine Influences.
... SERMONS. THE NECESSITY OF DIVINE INFLUENCES. ... And the history of Christianity
evinces both the necessity and reality of Divine influences. ...
/.../shedd/sermons to the natural man/the necessity of divine influences.htm

Whether the Will is Moved, of Necessity, by the Lower Appetite?
... OF THE MANNER IN WHICH THE WILL IS MOVED (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether the will
is moved, of necessity, by the lower appetite? Objection ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the will is moved 9.htm

The Scripture a Necessity.
... Fourth Chapter. THE HOLY SCRIPTURE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. XIII. The Scripture
a Necessity. "For whatsoever things were written aforetime ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xiii the scripture a necessity.htm

Whether Christ was of Necessity Subject to These Defects?
... OF THE DEFECTS OF BODY ASSUMED BY THE SON OF GOD (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether Christ
was of necessity subject to these defects? ... But will is opposed to necessity. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christ was of necessity.htm

Whether the Will of God Imposes Necessity on the Things Willed?
... THE WILL OF GOD (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether the will of God imposes necessity
on the things willed? Objection 1: It seems that the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the will of god 4.htm

Thesaurus
Necessity (22 Occurrences)
...Necessity (22 Occurrences). ... for there is a necessity for the stumbling-blocks to
come, but wo to that man through whom the stumbling-block doth come! (YLT). ...
/n/necessity.htm - 13k

Exaltation (9 Occurrences)
... OF OUR LORD 1. Its Actuality 2. General Doctrine of the Church 3. Lutheran Doctrine
4. Theory of Laying Aside the Existence-Form of God 5. Necessity III. ...
/e/exaltation.htm - 27k

Targum
... With the arrival of Ezra there was a revival of the study of the Law, and with that
the necessity for the interpretation of it in language which the people ...
/t/targum.htm - 38k

Need (914 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A state that requires supply or relief; pressing
occasion for something; necessity; urgent want. ... 7. (adv.) of necessity. ...
/n/need.htm - 7k

Necessarily (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) In a necessary manner; by necessity; unavoidably;
indispensably. Multi-Version Concordance Necessarily (3 Occurrences). ...
/n/necessarily.htm - 7k

Nicodemus (5 Occurrences)
... by night (John 3:1-21) for the purpose of learning more of his doctrines, which
our Lord then unfolded to him, giving prominence to the necessity of being ...
/n/nicodemus.htm - 14k

Behoove
... 1. (vt) To be necessary for; to be fit for; to be meet for, with respect to
necessity, duty, or convenience; -- mostly used impersonally. ...
/b/behoove.htm - 7k

Compulsion (8 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 9:16 For if I preach the Good News, I have nothing to boast about;
for necessity is laid on me; but woe is to me, if I don't preach the Good News ...
/c/compulsion.htm - 8k

Shall (64703 Occurrences)
... 3. (vi & auxiliary.) As an auxiliary, shall indicates a duty or necessity whose
obligation is derived from the person speaking; as, you shall go; he shall go ...
/s/shall.htm - 7k

Purity (16 Occurrences)
... They were interpretative of something spiritual-were a parable way of illustrating
the necessity of purity of heart in order to gain acceptance with God. ...
/p/purity.htm - 30k

Resources
What is Occam's Razor? Does Occam's Razor disprove the existence of God? | GotQuestions.org

What is prevenient grace? | GotQuestions.org

What is Reformed Theology? | GotQuestions.org

Necessity: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Necessity (22 Occurrences)

Matthew 18:7
Wo to the world from the stumbling-blocks! for there is a necessity for the stumbling-blocks to come, but wo to that man through whom the stumbling-block doth come!
(YLT)

Mark 2:25
"Have you never read," Jesus replied, "what David did when the necessity arose and he and his men were hungry:
(WEY)

Luke 14:18
"But they all without exception began to excuse themselves. The first told him, "'I have purchased a piece of land, and must of necessity go and look at it. Pray hold me excused.'
(WEY)

Luke 23:17
(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)
(KJV DBY)

Luke 24:26
Was there not a necessity for the Christ thus to suffer, and then enter into His glory?"
(WEY)

Acts 6:3
look out, therefore, brethren, seven men of you who are well testified of, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may set over this necessity,
(YLT)

Acts 20:21
and urging upon both Jews and Greeks the necessity of turning to God and of believing in Jesus our Lord.
(WEY)

Romans 12:13
Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
(KJV WBS)

1 Corinthians 7:26
I think then that this is good, on account of the present necessity, that it is good for a man to remain so as he is.
(DBY YLT)

1 Corinthians 7:37
But he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own heart, to keep his own virgin, does well.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT RSV)

1 Corinthians 9:16
For if I preach the Good News, I have nothing to boast about; for necessity is laid on me; but woe is to me, if I don't preach the Good News.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

1 Corinthians 11:19
For there must of necessity be differences of opinion among you, in order that it may be plainly seen who are the men of sterling worth among you.
(WEY)

2 Corinthians 9:7
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
(KJV ASV DBY YLT)

Philippians 4:16
For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
(KJV WBS)

1 Thessalonians 3:7
because of this we were comforted, brethren, over you, in all our tribulation and necessity, through your faith,
(YLT)

Philemon 1:14
But I was willing to do nothing without your consent, that your goodness would not be as of necessity, but of free will.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Hebrews 7:12
For the priesthood being changed, there is of necessity a change made also in the law.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Hebrews 7:27
who, unlike other High Priests, is not under the necessity of offering up sacrifices day after day, first for His own sins, and afterwards for those of the people; for this latter thing He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
(WEY YLT)

Hebrews 8:3
For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.
(KJV WBS)

Hebrews 9:16
For where a last will and testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him who made it.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS NAS)

1 Peter 5:2
shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising oversight, not by necessity, but willingly; not for base gain, but readily;
(DBY)

Jude 1:3
Beloved, all diligence using to write to you concerning the common salvation, I had necessity to write to you, exhorting to agonize for the faith once delivered to the saints,
(YLT NAS)

Subtopics

Necessity

Related Terms

Pharaoh-necho (1 Occurrence)

Ashurbanipal (1 Occurrence)

Nechoh (1 Occurrence)

Nebuchadnezzar (90 Occurrences)

Josiah (51 Occurrences)

Pharaohnecoh

Pharaoh-necoh (3 Occurrences)

Necessity (22 Occurrences)

Jehoahaz (22 Occurrences)

Zerah (22 Occurrences)

Karkemish (2 Occurrences)

Jehoiakim (37 Occurrences)

Tirhakah (2 Occurrences)

Riblah (12 Occurrences)

Esdraelon

Pharaohnecho (1 Occurrence)

Pharaohnechoh (3 Occurrences)

Charchemish (1 Occurrence)

Carshemish (1 Occurrence)

Carchemish (3 Occurrences)

Car'chemish (3 Occurrences)

Shallum (27 Occurrences)

Nebuchadrez'zar (31 Occurrences)

Arranged (32 Occurrences)

Egypt (596 Occurrences)

Jehoi'akim (34 Occurrences)

Josi'ah (50 Occurrences)

Pharaoh (245 Occurrences)

Causeth (209 Occurrences)

Necessities
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