The term "transitory" refers to that which is temporary, fleeting, or not permanent. In the context of the Bible, it often highlights the contrast between the temporal nature of earthly life and the eternal nature of God and His promises. The Scriptures frequently remind believers of the transient nature of worldly possessions, human life, and earthly glory, urging them to focus on the eternal and the divine.

Biblical References:

1. Human Life's Transience:
The Bible often compares human life to a vapor or a fleeting shadow, emphasizing its brevity. James 4:14 states, "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." Similarly, Psalm 144:4 declares, "Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow."

2. Earthly Wealth and Glory:
Earthly wealth and glory are also depicted as transitory. Proverbs 23:5 warns, "When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky." This serves as a reminder that material possessions are not lasting and should not be the focus of one's life.

3. The Temporal vs. the Eternal:
The Apostle Paul contrasts the temporary nature of earthly struggles with the eternal glory that awaits believers. In 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 , he writes, "For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that is far beyond comparison. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

4. The World and Its Desires:
The transient nature of the world and its desires is highlighted in 1 John 2:17 : "The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever." This verse encourages believers to pursue God's will, which leads to eternal life, rather than the fleeting pleasures of the world.

5. The Eternal Word of God:
In contrast to the transitory nature of human life and worldly things, the Word of God is eternal. Isaiah 40:8 affirms, "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." This underscores the enduring truth and reliability of God's promises.

Theological Implications:

The concept of transitoriness in the Bible serves as a call to prioritize the eternal over the temporal. Believers are encouraged to live with an eternal perspective, investing in what lasts beyond this life. This includes cultivating a relationship with God, adhering to His commandments, and seeking His kingdom and righteousness. The transient nature of earthly life and possessions is a reminder of the need for spiritual readiness and the importance of storing up treasures in heaven, where they are imperishable (Matthew 6:19-20).

In summary, the Bible's portrayal of transitory elements serves to direct the believer's focus toward the eternal, encouraging a life of faith, obedience, and hope in the promises of God.(a.) Continuing only for a short time; not enduring; fleeting; evanescent.3153. mataiotes -- vanity, emptiness
... frailty; false religion. Cognate: 3153 (a noun) -- due to lacking or any
meaningful end; nonsense because transitory. Word Origin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3153.htm - 6k

3152. mataios -- vain, useless
... or ground") -- properly, (vain), without purpose; (figuratively) without profit
because without basis, ie fleeting (transitory), ineffectual ("groundless"). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3152.htm - 7k

1892. hebel -- vapor, breath
... Or (rarely in the abs.) Habel {hab-ale'}; from habal; emptiness or vanity; figuratively,
something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as an adverb -- X ...
/hebrew/1892.htm - 6k

The Abiding Gift and Its Transitory Accompaniments
... THE ABIDING GIFT AND ITS TRANSITORY ACCOMPANIMENTS. 'And when the day of
Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/the abiding gift and its.htm

Nature Transitory --The Soul Immortal.
... LIFE, DEATH AND FUTURITY. 554. " Nature Transitory"the Soul Immortal. 554.
CM Sir JE Smith. Nature Transitory"the Soul Immortal. ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/554 nature transitorythe soul.htm

Faith is Necessary, that Man May at Some Time be Blessed, which He ...
... who have endured these evils, either in wishing to have or in fearing to lose what
they loved, whether wickedly or laudably, have thought of them as transitory ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 7 faith is necessary that.htm

John Chapter vii. 14-18
... be sounded by syllables and fleeting, but abiding with the Father, to which abiding
doctrine let us be converted, being admonished by the transitory sounds of ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xxix john chapter vii.htm

Cannot and Can
... These gather themselves mainly round two contrasts, a transitory 'cannot' soon to
be changed into a permanent 'can'; and a momentary seeking, soon to be ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/cannot and can.htm

The Heart with the Treasure.
... thief.". "Does the Lord then mean that the reason for not laying up such
treasures is their transitory and corruptible nature?". "No. ...
/.../macdonald/unspoken sermons/the heart with the treasure.htm

Sanctification
... The man who is wholly sanctified is so drawn towards the Eternal, that no transitory
thing may move him, no corporeal thing affect him, no earthly thing ...
//christianbookshelf.org/eckhart/meister eckharts sermons/vi sanctification.htm

Unfruitful Works of Darkness
... And thus the most fleeting of our deeds, which in one aspect is as transitory as
the snow upon the great plains when the sun rises, leaves everlasting traces ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/unfruitful works of darkness.htm

The Thirty-First Chapter: to Find the Creator, Forsake all ...
... The reason why so few contemplative persons are found, is that so few know how to
separate themselves entirely from what is transitory and created. ...
/.../kempis/the imitation of christ/the thirty-first chapter to find.htm

Verse 1. Let Him Kiss Me with the Kisses of his Mouth.
... powers and essential union. Either of them may be transitory, and for a
few moments only, or permanent and lasting. The union of ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/verse 1 let him kiss.htm

Transitory (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Continuing only for a short time; not enduring; fleeting;
evanescent. Multi-Version Concordance Transitory (2 Occurrences). ...
/t/transitory.htm - 7k

Transient (3 Occurrences)
... perception and then disappearing; of short duration; not permanent; not lasting
or durable; not stationary; passing; fleeting; brief; transitory; as, transient ...
/t/transient.htm - 7k

Cloud (119 Occurrences)
... A cloud is the figure of that which is transitory (Job 30:15; Hosea 6:4). A bright
cloud is the symbolical seat of the Divine presence (Exodus 29:42, 43; 1 ...
/c/cloud.htm - 51k

Translate (3 Occurrences)

/t/translate.htm - 8k

Vapor (6 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) Wind; flatulence. 4. (n.) Something unsubstantial, fleeting, or transitory;
unreal fancy; vain imagination; idle talk; boasting. ...
/v/vapor.htm - 11k

Vastly (1 Occurrence)
... 2 Corinthians 4:17 For this our light and transitory burden of suffering is achieving
for us a preponderating, yes, a vastly preponderating, and eternal weight ...
/v/vastly.htm - 6k

Glimpse (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A short, hurried view; a transitory or fragmentary
perception; a quick sight. 2. (n.) A sudden flash; transient luster. ...
/g/glimpse.htm - 7k

Grass (92 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) The season of fresh grass; spring. 4. (n.) Metaphorically used for
what is transitory. 5. (vt) To cover with grass or with turf. ...
/g/grass.htm - 43k

Gaze (46 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 3:13 who used to throw a veil over his face to hide from the gaze
of the children of Israel the passing away of what was but transitory. (WEY). ...
/g/gaze.htm - 19k

Gazing (11 Occurrences)
... (WEY). 2 Corinthians 3:13 who used to throw a veil over his face to hide from the
gaze of the children of Israel the passing away of what was but transitory. ...
/g/gazing.htm - 9k

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