The concept of ownership in the Bible encompasses both material possessions and spiritual truths. Ownership is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, reflecting God's sovereignty, human stewardship, and the relational dynamics between God and His people.

Divine Ownership

The Bible begins with the assertion of God's ultimate ownership over all creation. In Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth," we see that everything originates from God, establishing His authority and ownership over the universe. Psalm 24:1 further emphasizes this: "The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein." This verse underscores the belief that all things belong to God, and humans are merely stewards of His creation.

Human Stewardship

While God is the ultimate owner, He entrusts humanity with the stewardship of His creation. In Genesis 1:28, God commands Adam and Eve to "fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth." This mandate implies a responsibility to manage and care for the earth, reflecting God's character and purposes.

The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 illustrates the principle of stewardship. The servants are given resources by their master and are expected to manage them wisely. This parable highlights the expectation that humans will use what they have been given to further God's kingdom and purposes.

Material Possessions

The Bible addresses the ownership of material possessions, often warning against the dangers of wealth and the love of money. In 1 Timothy 6:10, Paul writes, "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil." This warning serves as a reminder that while owning possessions is not inherently wrong, the love and pursuit of wealth can lead to spiritual downfall.

Proverbs 3:9-10 encourages believers to honor God with their possessions: "Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine." This passage suggests that acknowledging God's ownership through giving and generosity leads to His blessing.

Spiritual Ownership

In the New Testament, the concept of ownership extends to spiritual truths. Believers are described as being "bought at a price" (1 Corinthians 6:20), referring to the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. This purchase signifies that Christians belong to God and are called to live in a manner that honors Him.

Ephesians 1:13-14 speaks of believers being "sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession." This sealing indicates that believers are owned by God and are assured of their future inheritance in Christ.

Relational Dynamics

Ownership in the Bible also reflects the relational dynamics between God and His people. In Exodus 19:5, God declares to Israel, "Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations." This covenant relationship establishes Israel as God's own, highlighting the special bond and responsibilities that come with being owned by God.

Similarly, in the New Testament, 1 Peter 2:9 describes believers as "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession." This identity as God's possession calls Christians to live distinctively, proclaiming His excellencies and reflecting His glory in the world.

Conclusion

The biblical concept of ownership encompasses God's ultimate authority, human stewardship, the management of material possessions, and the spiritual relationship between God and His people. Through understanding ownership in these contexts, believers are called to live responsibly, acknowledging God's sovereignty and reflecting His character in all aspects of life.(imp. & p. p.) of Own.5225. huparcho -- to begin, to be ready or at hand, to be
... to begin, to be ready or at hand, to be NASB Word Usage been (2), being (9), belonging
(1), exist (1), existed (1), gone (1), live (1), owned (1), possess (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5225.htm - 8k

2192. echo -- to have, hold
... 3), kept (1), maintain (1), maintained (1), maintaining (1), meets (1), nearby
(1), next (2), obliged* (1), obtain (2), obtained (1), owned (3), possess (2 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2192.htm - 11k

168. ohel -- a tent
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition a tent NASB Word Usage home
(1), owned (1), side pillar (1), tent (285), tents (56). ...
/hebrew/168.htm - 6k

3426. yesh -- being, substance, existence, is
... of uncertain derivation Definition being, substance, existence, is NASB Word Usage
any (1), Gaddi (1), going (1), had (1), has (4), have (17), owned (3), owns ...
/hebrew/3426.htm - 6k

What Kind of Things Even their Worshippers have Owned they have ...
... Book IV. Chapter 30."What Kind of Things Even Their Worshippers Have Owned
They Have Thought About the Gods of the Nations. Cicero ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 30 what kind of things.htm

The Life of Mr. Walter Smith.
... Lanerk to Glasgow, and from thence taken to Edinburgh, where, upon the 15th of July,
he was brought before the council, and there examined if he owned the king ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr walter 2.htm

The Old Testament Scriptures, and those Written by Moses in ...
... And thy life shall be hanging before thine eyes, and thou wilt not believe thy life."
[3926] And again, "Has not this same one thy Father owned thee, and made ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter x the old testament scriptures.htm

Slaves and Free
... man who has, of his own volition, given himself for a time to do specific work and
get wages for it; but it means 'a bond-slave,' a chattel owned by another. ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/slaves and free.htm

Thou Didst Seek the Gloom,
... Resting in the tomb". On that dark and woful day,. Hades owned Thy kingly sway.
II. Victor! ... On that glad and glorious day,. Hades owned Thy kingly sway. III. ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the greek church/thou didst seek the gloom.htm

Invitation.
... 2 Hark, it is thy Saviour's voice! "Welcome, pilgrim, to thy rest." Now within the
gate rejoice, Safe, and owned, and bought and blest" Safe"from all the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/adams/hymns for christian devotion/270 invitation.htm

Love and Law.
... last representative of an old family, and had come into possession, on attaining
his majority, of a large landed estate immediately adjoining that owned by Mr ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arthur/words for the wise/love and law.htm

The Life of Mr. Angus Macbean.
... with greater force upon his conscience, so that he could not overcome them; that
he was convinced presbytery was the only government God owned in these nations ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr angus.htm

Appendix iv. An Abstract of Jewish History from the Reign of ...
... [6326] It was not only that his destruction of the Persian empire put an end to
the easy and peaceful allegiance which Jud??a had owned to it for about two ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix iv an abstract of.htm

The Love of the Brethren
... Such men owned one another, and found one another out, and took sweet counsel together,
even though some were "Brethren," and some still went by the name of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bevan/three friends of god/chapter vi the love of.htm

Owned (18 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Owned (18 Occurrences). Matthew 19:22 On hearing those
words the young man went away much cast down; for he had much property. ...
/o/owned.htm - 11k

Share (138 Occurrences)
... 4. (v.) Especially, the part allotted or belonging to one, of any property or interest
owned by a number; a portion among others; an apportioned lot; an ...
/s/share.htm - 37k

Jubilee (25 Occurrences)
... sojourners with me." The same rule was to be applied to dwelling-houses outside
of the walled cities (Leviticus 25:31), and also to the houses owned by Levites ...
/j/jubilee.htm - 27k

Minor (2 Occurrences)
... The central plateau has always been famous for its vast flocks of sheep. King Amyntas
of Galatia owned enormous flocks which pastured on the Lycaonian plain. ...
/m/minor.htm - 62k

Asia (22 Occurrences)
... The central plateau has always been famous for its vast flocks of sheep. King Amyntas
of Galatia owned enormous flocks which pastured on the Lycaonian plain. ...
/a/asia.htm - 71k

Ought (130 Occurrences)
... something. 2. (imp., pp, or auxiliary) Was or were under obligation to
pay; owed. 3. (imp., pp, or auxiliary) Owned; possessed. 4 ...
/o/ought.htm - 36k

Own (5782 Occurrences)

/o/own.htm - 7k

Jebus (5 Occurrences)
... name, and possibly they may have imagined an earlier name, for Jerusalem from JEBUSITE
(which see), the name of the local tribe who owned the district in the ...
/j/jebus.htm - 13k

Judas (42 Occurrences)
... evil of his nature probably gradually unfolded itself till "Satan entered into him"
(John 13:27), and he betrayed our Lord (18:3). Afterwards he owned his sin ...
/j/judas.htm - 45k

Inheritance (263 Occurrences)
... In order that there might not be any respecter of persons in the division, the lot
was to determine the specific piece to be owned by each family head (Numbers ...
/i/inheritance.htm - 45k

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