Topical Encyclopedia The term "perchance" is an archaic English word that means "perhaps" or "by chance." While the specific word "perchance" does not appear in the Berean Standard Bible , the concept of chance or uncertainty is present in various passages throughout the Scriptures. In the biblical context, the idea of chance is often juxtaposed with the sovereignty and providence of God, who orchestrates all events according to His divine will and purpose.Biblical Context and Usage 1. Divine Sovereignty and Human Uncertainty: The Bible frequently addresses the tension between human perception of chance and the divine orchestration of events. Proverbs 16:33 states, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD." This verse highlights that what may seem like chance to humans is ultimately under God's control. 2. Human Plans and God's Will: James 4:13-15 warns against presuming upon the future without acknowledging God's will: "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.' You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.'" This passage underscores the uncertainty of human plans and the necessity of submitting to God's sovereign will. 3. God's Providence in Apparent Chance: The account of Ruth provides a narrative example of God's providence working through what appears to be chance. Ruth 2:3 says, "So she went out and began to glean in the fields behind the harvesters. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech." The phrase "happened to come" suggests chance, yet the unfolding events reveal God's providential guidance in Ruth's life. 4. The Role of Chance in Decision-Making: In the early church, the casting of lots was used to make decisions, such as the selection of Matthias to replace Judas Iscariot as an apostle (Acts 1:26). This practice reflects a reliance on God's guidance in situations where human wisdom is insufficient, trusting that God would direct the outcome. 5. Ecclesiastes and the Uncertainty of Life: Ecclesiastes 9:11 observes, "I saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all." This verse acknowledges the unpredictability of life, yet within the broader biblical narrative, it serves to remind believers of the need to trust in God's ultimate plan. Theological Implications The concept of "perchance" or chance in the Bible serves to remind believers of the limitations of human understanding and the necessity of faith in God's sovereign plan. While humans may perceive events as random or uncertain, Scripture affirms that God is actively involved in the world, guiding and directing all things according to His purposes. This understanding calls for humility, trust, and reliance on God in all aspects of life, recognizing that what may seem like chance is ultimately part of His divine orchestration. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (adv.) By chance; perhaps; peradventure.Greek 5177. tugchano -- to hit, hit upon, meet, happen ... secure an object or end, or (intransitively) to happen (as if meeting with); but in the latter application only impersonal (with ei), ie Perchance; or (present ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5177.htm - 8k 302. an -- usually untranslatable, but generally denoting ... Library If Perchance it is not This, are victims not Slain in Sacrifice to ... If any one Perchance Thinks that we are Speaking Wicked Calumnies. ... "But Lest this Should Perchance Seem Incredible to any One... Canon Lxxxviii. No one May Drive any Beast into a Church Except ... As to the Words of St. ... But is it So, as one Remembers Carthage who Hath Seen It? No. ... Many Evils Before his Commingling with Evil are Attributed to the ... St. Ambrose Returns to the Story of the Widow of Sarepta... Epistle xv. To Marinianus, Bishop of Ravenna. The Manich??ans Inquire Whence is Evil and by this Question Think ... Thesaurus Perchance (5 Occurrences)...Perchance (5 Occurrences). ... 1 Samuel 20:10 Then said David to Jonathan, "Who shall tell me if perchance your father answers you roughly?" (WEB JPS ASV). ... /p/perchance.htm - 7k Perch (2 Occurrences) Uncertainty (4 Occurrences) Listen (441 Occurrences) Roughly (8 Occurrences) Rough (24 Occurrences) Perched (1 Occurrence) Pardoned (21 Occurrences) Perhaps (89 Occurrences) Chance (78 Occurrences) Resources Perchance: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Perchance (5 Occurrences)Mark 4:12 1 Thessalonians 3:5 Leviticus 26:41 1 Samuel 20:10 Isaiah 40:19 Subtopics Related Terms |
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