In the context of the Bible, "slowness" can refer to both a physical and a spiritual state. It is often associated with patience, deliberation, and sometimes a lack of urgency or responsiveness. The concept of slowness is addressed in various ways throughout Scripture, highlighting both its virtues and its potential pitfalls.

Divine Slowness

One of the most significant aspects of slowness in the Bible is God's patience and long-suffering nature. In 2 Peter 3:9 , it is written, "The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." Here, slowness is portrayed as a divine attribute, emphasizing God's desire for all to have the opportunity for repentance and salvation. This divine slowness is not a delay but a demonstration of God's mercy and grace.

Human Slowness

In contrast to divine slowness, human slowness can sometimes be seen in a negative light, particularly when it pertains to responsiveness to God's call or commands. In Exodus 4:10 , Moses expresses his own slowness of speech: "But Moses replied to the LORD, 'Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent—neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant—for I am slow of speech and tongue.'" Here, slowness is associated with a perceived inadequacy or reluctance to act.

Similarly, in Proverbs 19:2 , it is noted, "Even zeal is no good without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark." This suggests that while slowness can be a hindrance, haste without understanding is equally problematic. The balance between slowness and haste is a recurring theme, urging believers to seek wisdom and discernment.

Slowness in Speech and Anger

The Bible also addresses slowness in the context of speech and anger. James 1:19 advises, "My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger." This passage highlights the virtue of being deliberate and thoughtful in communication and emotional responses. Slowness in this sense is a mark of wisdom and self-control, aligning with the fruit of the Spirit as described in Galatians 5:22-23.

Slowness and Patience

Slowness is often synonymous with patience, a quality highly esteemed in Scripture. Romans 2:4 speaks of God's patience: "Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?" Patience, as a form of slowness, is a reflection of God's character and is encouraged among believers as a virtue to be cultivated.

Conclusion

In summary, slowness in the Bible is a multifaceted concept. It can reflect God's merciful patience, a human reluctance or inadequacy, or a wise and deliberate approach to life. Understanding the context and application of slowness is essential for discerning its role in the life of faith.(n.) The quality or state of being slow.1022. bradutes -- slowness
... slowness. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: bradutes Phonetic Spelling:
(brad-oo'-tace) Short Definition: tardiness, slowness Definition: tardiness ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1022.htm - 6k

Whether the Bodies of the Damned Will Rise Again with their ...
... But such are their deformities. Therefore, etc. Objection 3: Further, just as deformity
is a defect of the passible body, so is slowness of movement. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the bodies of the 2.htm

The Patient Teacher, and the Slow Scholars
... unusual"perhaps I may say unique"hail of questions which indicate how deeply moved
from His ordinary calm He was by this strange slowness of apprehension ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the patient teacher and the.htm

A Calm Evening, Promising a Bright Morning
... How much happiness they had lost by their slowness to believe in Joseph's
love! Is there nothing like this in our thoughts of God? ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/a calm evening promising a.htm

(On the Lord's Ascension, I. )
... Let us give thanks to the Divine management and the holy Fathers' necessary slowness
of belief. Others doubted, that we might not doubt. II. ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/sermon lxxiii on the lords.htm

Whether Negligence is Opposed to Prudence?
... Reply to Objection 1: Negligence is a defect in the internal act, to which choice
also belongs: whereas idleness and laziness denote slowness of execution, yet ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether negligence is opposed to.htm

Whether Precipitation is a Sin Included in Imprudence?
... vi, 9. Therefore there is no reason for reckoning precipitation as a sin contained
under imprudence, rather than slowness, or something else of the kind ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether precipitation is a sin.htm

Christ's Lament Over Our Faithlessness
... and the converse with their unworthy successors"made Christ feel more sharply and
poignantly than He ordinarily did His disciples' slowness of apprehension ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture d/christs lament over our faithlessness.htm

A Coffin in Egypt
... their ideals realised, forget that 'raw haste' is 'half-sister to delay' and are
indignant with man for his sluggishness and with God for His majestic slowness ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/a coffin in egypt.htm

Christian Perfection
... Such are the weakness or slowness of understanding, dulness or confusedness of
apprehension, incoherency of thought, irregular quickness or heaviness of ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 40 christian perfection.htm

Requiting God
... It is a cup of salvations, however hard it is sometimes to believe it. Of how much
blessing and happiness we all rob ourselves by our slowness to feel that! ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/requiting god.htm

Slowness (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The quality or state of being slow.
Multi-Version Concordance Slowness (1 Occurrence). 2 Peter 3:9 ...
/s/slowness.htm - 6k

Sluggard (14 Occurrences)

/s/sluggard.htm - 11k

Slowly (7 Occurrences)

/s/slowly.htm - 8k

Longsuffering (17 Occurrences)
... It is attributed to God (Romans 2:4; Romans 9:22 2 Peter 3:9), of His bearing
long with sinners and slowness to execute judgment on them. ...
/l/longsuffering.htm - 16k

Wanting (27 Occurrences)
... 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness;
but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all ...
/w/wanting.htm - 14k

Fulfilling (14 Occurrences)
... well. (See NAS). 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in fulfilling His promise,
in the sense in which some men speak of slowness. But ...
/f/fulfilling.htm - 10k

Forbearing (10 Occurrences)
... 2 Peter 3:9 the Lord is not slow in regard to the promise, as certain count slowness,
but is long-suffering to us, not counselling any to be lost but all to ...
/f/forbearing.htm - 9k

Tedious (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Involving tedium; tiresome from continuance, prolixity,
slowness, or the like; wearisome. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/t/tedious.htm - 6k

Dullness (1 Occurrence)
... (n.) The state of being dull; slowness; stupidity; heaviness; drowsiness; bluntness;
obtuseness; dimness; want of luster; want of vividness, or of brightness. ...
/d/dullness.htm - 6k

Drag (19 Occurrences)
... 16. (vt) Hence, anything that retards; a clog; an obstacle to progress or enjoyment.
17. (vt) Motion affected with slowness and difficulty, as if clogged. 18. ...
/d/drag.htm - 14k

Summary of the Book of 2 Peter - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org

What sort of prayers should we pray for unbelievers? | GotQuestions.org

Is Jesus coming soon? | GotQuestions.org

Slowness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus