Definition and General Understanding:
Open-mindedness refers to the willingness to consider new ideas, perspectives, and arguments. It involves a readiness to listen to others, weigh evidence, and be receptive to change when warranted. In a biblical context, open-mindedness is often associated with humility, wisdom, and discernment, allowing individuals to grow in understanding and faith.

Biblical References and Principles:

1. Humility and Teachability:
Open-mindedness in the Bible is closely linked to humility and a teachable spirit. Proverbs 1:5 states, "Let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel." This verse emphasizes the importance of being open to learning and receiving guidance, which is a hallmark of an open-minded individual.

2. Discernment and Testing:
While being open-minded, the Bible also encourages discernment. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 advises, "but test all things. Hold fast to what is good." This suggests that open-mindedness should not lead to gullibility but should be accompanied by careful evaluation and testing of ideas against the truth of Scripture.

3. Seeking Wisdom:
James 1:5 highlights the importance of seeking wisdom from God: "Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." An open-minded person recognizes their limitations and seeks divine wisdom to navigate complex issues and decisions.

4. Avoiding Prejudice:
Open-mindedness involves avoiding prejudice and being willing to engage with those who hold different views. Acts 17:11 describes the Bereans as "more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true." The Bereans exemplify open-mindedness by eagerly receiving new teachings while diligently verifying them against Scripture.

5. Unity and Understanding:
Open-mindedness can foster unity and understanding within the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:2-3 encourages believers to "be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love, and make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." By being open to different perspectives and showing love and patience, Christians can maintain unity and peace.

6. Avoiding Deception:
While open-mindedness is valuable, the Bible warns against being led astray by false teachings. Colossians 2:8 cautions, "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, rather than according to Christ." Open-mindedness should be balanced with a firm grounding in biblical truth to avoid deception.

Practical Application:
In practice, open-mindedness involves listening to others, being willing to learn, and engaging with different viewpoints while remaining anchored in biblical truth. It requires humility, discernment, and a commitment to seeking God's wisdom. By embodying these qualities, believers can grow in their faith, build stronger relationships, and contribute to a more unified and understanding Christian community.6612a. pethi -- simple, perhaps open-minded
... 6612, 6612a. pethi. 6612b . simple, perhaps open-minded. Transliteration:
pethi Short Definition: naive. Word Origin from pathah ...
/hebrew/6612a.htm - 5k

6612. pthiy -- simple, perhaps open-minded
... 6611, 6612. pthiy. 6612a . simple, perhaps open-minded. Transliteration: pthiy
Phonetic Spelling: (peth-ee') Short Definition: one. foolish, simplicity, one ...
/hebrew/6612.htm - 5k

The Poor in Spirit
... need. They do not think they "know it all;" they appreciate their own
insufficiency. They are open-minded and impressionable. Now ...
/.../peabody/mornings in the college chapel/xxii the poor in spirit.htm

The First Disciples.
... which they felt drawn to make, we see much that is significant and illustrative
of the allegiance He evokes from age to age in humble and open-minded men. ...
/.../the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol i/iv the first disciples.htm

The Eclipse and Rediscovery of the Old Testament
... At least many open-minded people might have been saved from the supreme error of
writing, either consciously or unconsciously, Ichabod across the pages of ...
/.../i the eclipse and rediscovery.htm

The Contemptuous Rejection.
... Yet always to the earnest, sincere inquirer there was authority enough. In His acts,
an open-minded doctor of the law could read the stamp of God's approval. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks about jesus/the contemptuous rejection.htm

Daily Bread
... around you. Be sincere; be a man. Keep open-minded to all knowledge, and
keep humble in the sense of your ignorance. Seek the company ...
//christianbookshelf.org/merriam/the chief end of man/v daily bread.htm

The Final Controversies in Jerusalem
... If they had been open-minded they might have inferred from this that perhaps the
man before them was not so impossible a Messiah as they thought. ...
/.../rhees/the life of jesus of nazareth/vi the final controversies in.htm

Passing Years
... He had made more than one effort to win over to Christianity his old tutor, Libanius;
but the sophist, though he was an honourable and open-minded man, could ...
/.../chapter x passing years.htm

The Cross as a Social Principle
... problem. Today the Church is on the whole free from graft, and as openminded
as the state of public intelligence permits it to be. ...
/.../rauschenbusch/the social principles of jesus/chapter xi the cross as.htm

His Missionary Travels
... first. At Beroea he even met with a generous and open-minded synagogue
of Jews"the rarest occurrence in his experience. 99. Women ...
/.../stalker/the life of st paul/chapter vi his missionary travels.htm

Open-minded (1 Occurrence)
Open-minded. Openly, Open-minded. Openness . Multi-Version
Concordance Open-minded (1 Occurrence). Proverbs 14:6 The ...
/o/open-minded.htm - 6k

Openly (52 Occurrences)

/o/openly.htm - 21k

Narrow-minded (1 Occurrence)
... Narrowly, Narrow-minded. Narrowness . Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Lacking
tolerance; petty -- opposed to openminded; mean. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/n/narrow-minded.htm - 6k

Openness (2 Occurrences)

/o/openness.htm - 7k

Readily (22 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Proverbs 14:6 The hater of authority, searching for wisdom, does not get
it; but knowledge comes readily to the open-minded man. (BBE). ...
/r/readily.htm - 13k

Simple (40 Occurrences)
... Like the English word "simple" (etymologically "of one fold"), the Hebrew pethi
is used sometimes in a good sense, ie "open-minded" (Psalm 19:7; Psalm 116:6 ...
/s/simple.htm - 21k

Hater (72 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Proverbs 14:6 The hater of authority, searching for wisdom, does not get
it; but knowledge comes readily to the open-minded man. (BBE). ...
/h/hater.htm - 26k

Searching (111 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Proverbs 14:6 The hater of authority, searching for wisdom, does not get
it; but knowledge comes readily to the open-minded man. (BBE). ...
/s/searching.htm - 35k

Vain (141 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Proverbs 14:6 The hater of authority, searching for wisdom, does not get
it; but knowledge comes readily to the open-minded man. (See RSV). ...
/v/vain.htm - 36k

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