Topical Encyclopedia The term "profess" in the biblical context often refers to the act of declaring or affirming one's faith, beliefs, or allegiance, particularly in relation to God and the teachings of Jesus Christ. This concept is significant in both the Old and New Testaments, where the act of professing one's faith is seen as a vital component of a believer's relationship with God.Old Testament Context While the specific term "profess" is not frequently used in the Old Testament, the concept is present in the form of declarations of faith and allegiance to God. The Israelites were often called to profess their faith in Yahweh through their words and actions. For example, in Deuteronomy 6:4-5, known as the Shema, the Israelites are commanded to declare their love and commitment to God: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." New Testament Context In the New Testament, the act of professing one's faith becomes more explicit, particularly in the teachings of Jesus and the writings of the apostles. The Greek word often translated as "profess" is "homologeo," which means to confess, declare, or acknowledge openly. One of the most significant passages regarding profession is found in Romans 10:9-10 : "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved." Here, the apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of both internal belief and external profession as integral to salvation. In the pastoral epistles, Paul encourages Timothy to hold fast to his profession of faith. In 1 Timothy 6:12 , Paul writes, "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." This passage highlights the public nature of professing faith and its role in the believer's spiritual journey. The Role of Profession in the Early Church The early Christian community placed a strong emphasis on the public profession of faith, often through baptism and the recitation of creeds. Baptism served as an outward sign of an inward transformation and a public declaration of allegiance to Christ. The Apostles' Creed and other early creeds functioned as formal statements of faith that believers professed to affirm their commitment to the core tenets of Christianity. Warnings Against False Profession The New Testament also warns against false professions of faith. In Matthew 7:21-23 , Jesus cautions, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!'" This passage underscores the necessity of genuine faith and obedience, rather than mere verbal acknowledgment. Conclusion The act of professing one's faith is a central theme in the Bible, serving as both a declaration of belief and a commitment to live according to God's will. It is a vital expression of the believer's relationship with God, encompassing both the heart's conviction and the mouth's confession. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (v. t.) To make open declaration of, as of one's knowledge, belief, action, etc.; to avow or acknowledge; to confess publicly; to own or admit freely.2. (v. t.) To set up a claim to; to make presence to; hence, to put on or present an appearance of. 3. (v. t.) To present to knowledge of, to proclaim one's self versed in; to make one's self a teacher or practitioner of, to set up as an authority respecting; to declare (one's self to be such); as, he professes surgery; to profess one's self a physician. 4. (v. i.) To take a profession upon one's self by a public declaration; to confess. 5. (v. i.) To declare friendship. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia PROFESS; PROFESSIONpro-fes', pro-fesh'-un (naghadh; homologeo, homologia): "Profess" means literally "to own before," hence, to make open or public announcement; it occurs only once in the Old Testament as the translation of naghadh, "to put before," often "to tell," "to show," "to declare" (Deuteronomy 26:3); in the New Testament it is the translation of homologeo, "to speak or say together in common," "to assent," "to confess publicly" (Matthew 7:23, "Then will I profess unto them, I never knew you"; 1 Timothy 6:12, the Revised Version (British and American) "didst confess the good confession"; Titus 1:16, "They profess that they know God"); of epaggellomai, "to announce one's self," "to make profession" (1 Timothy 2:10; 1 Timothy 6:21); of phasko, "to say," "to assert" (Romans 1:22). "Profession" is the translation of homologia (2 Corinthians 9:13 1 Timothy 6:12 Hebrews 3:1, the King James Version "the High Priest of our profession" (of our professed faith); Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 10:23; in each instance the Revised Version (British and American) has "confession"). "Profess" occurs in the King James Version of Ecclesiasticus 3:25, but the verse is omitted by the Revised Version (British and American); margin "Most authorities omit verse 25." Greek 3670. homologeo -- to speak the same, to agree ... same, to agree. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: homologeo Phonetic Spelling: (hom-ol-og-eh'-o) Short Definition: I confess, profess, acknowledge, praise ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3670.htm - 8k 5335. phasko -- to affirm, assert 1861. epaggellomai -- to proclaim, to promise 1843. exomologeo -- to agree, confess 3687. onomazo -- to name, to give a name Strong's Hebrew 5046. nagad -- to be conspicuous... to expose, predict, explain, praise -- bewray, X certainly, certify, declare(-ing), denounce, expound, X fully, messenger, plainly, profess, rehearse, report ... /hebrew/5046.htm - 6k Library The Pelagians Profess that the Only Grace which is not Given ... If any Persons who Profess virginity Shall Disregard their ... May any who Profess the Faith, and Desire to Come to the Lord's ... Further Exposition of the Heresy of the Naasseni; Profess to ... This, You Will Say, is Ridiculous, Whereas all Profess to Hold and ... "Ye Shall Know them by their Fruits. " 1 So Let Our Lips and Lives ... Certain Articles to be Diligently Examined and Weighed. Because ... After the Death of Procopius Valens Constrains those who Composed ... Exposition of the Prophecy of Isaiah Quoted by Jesus. "Who Walk not after the Flesh, but after the Spirit. " Thesaurus Profess (9 Occurrences)... self a teacher or practitioner of, to set up as an authority respecting; to declare (one's self to be such); as, he professes surgery; to profess one's self a ... /p/profess.htm - 11k Profession (9 Occurrences) Church (110 Occurrences) Utterly (170 Occurrences) Unfit (3 Occurrences) Worthless (103 Occurrences) Invitation (4 Occurrences) Falsely (72 Occurrences) Fix (36 Occurrences) Followers (37 Occurrences) Resources What is a profession of faith? | GotQuestions.orgWhy do so many Christians fail the “practice what you preach” standard? | GotQuestions.org Why are there so many fake Christians? | GotQuestions.org Profess: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Profess (9 Occurrences)Matthew 7:23 1 Timothy 2:10 1 Timothy 6:12 Titus 1:16 Hebrews 3:1 Hebrews 4:14 Hebrews 10:23 1 John 1:6 Deuteronomy 26:3 Subtopics Related Terms |
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