Topical Bible: Dedication: Subjects of Persons

◄ Dedication: Subjects of Persons ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical context, dedication refers to the act of setting apart individuals for a specific purpose or service to God. This concept is deeply rooted in the Scriptures and is exemplified through various narratives and instructions found throughout the Bible.

Old Testament Examples

1. The Dedication of the Firstborn: In Exodus 13:2, God commands Moses, "Consecrate to Me every firstborn male. The firstborn from every womb among the Israelites belongs to Me, both of man and beast." This dedication signifies the Israelites' acknowledgment of God's deliverance from Egypt, as the firstborn were spared during the Passover.

2. Samuel's Dedication: One of the most notable examples of personal dedication is found in the account of Hannah and her son Samuel. In 1 Samuel 1:27-28, Hannah dedicates Samuel to the Lord, saying, "I prayed for this boy, and since the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him, I now dedicate the boy to the LORD. For as long as he lives, he is dedicated to the LORD." Samuel's life of service as a prophet and judge in Israel begins with this act of dedication.

3. The Nazarite Vow: Numbers 6 outlines the Nazarite vow, a special form of dedication where individuals voluntarily set themselves apart for the Lord. This vow included abstaining from wine, avoiding contact with the dead, and not cutting one's hair. Samson, as described in Judges 13-16, is a well-known Nazarite whose life was dedicated to God from birth.

New Testament Examples

1. Jesus' Dedication: In Luke 2:22-24, Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the temple to present Him to the Lord, in accordance with the Law of Moses. This act of dedication is a fulfillment of the requirement to consecrate the firstborn to God, as stated in Exodus 13.

2. The Apostles' Dedication: The New Testament also highlights the dedication of the apostles and early Christians. In Acts 6:4, the apostles express their commitment to their calling, stating, "But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." This dedication to spiritual duties underscores the importance of prioritizing God's work.

3. Paul's Dedication: The Apostle Paul exemplifies personal dedication through his missionary journeys and epistles. In Romans 12:1, he urges believers, "Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship." Paul's life and teachings emphasize the call for believers to dedicate themselves wholly to God's service.

Theological Significance

Dedication in the biblical sense is not merely a ritualistic act but a profound commitment to live in accordance with God's will. It involves a conscious decision to set oneself apart for divine purposes, often accompanied by specific vows or practices. This dedication is a response to God's sovereignty and grace, reflecting a life oriented towards worship, service, and obedience.

Throughout Scripture, the dedication of individuals serves as a testament to their faith and devotion. It is a recurring theme that underscores the relationship between God and His people, highlighting the call to holiness and the privilege of serving the Almighty.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 22:29
You shall not delay to offer the first of your ripe fruits, and of your liquors: the firstborn of your sons shall you give to me.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Samuel 1:11
And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your handmaid, and remember me, and not forget your handmaid, but will give to your handmaid a man child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come on his head.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Dedication
... DEDICATION. ... These persons were also continually and pertinaciously importunate that
the Theses which had ... They were proposed as subjects in the last class of his ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/dedication.htm

Dedication.
... DEDICATION. ... as the world was formerly, so is it now, very full of persons in a ... use
of any phrases and the sinister distortion of particular subjects; but, on ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/dedication.htm

How Herod Celebrated the Games that were to Return Every Fifth ...
... and most sumptuous preparations made presently, in order to its dedication; for
he ... he was necessitated to be harsh to his subjects; for the persons on whom ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 5 how herod celebrated.htm

Temporal Advantages.
... Hence death and judgment are unwelcome subjects of reflection ... that in it there is
no respect of persons. ... sublime and affecting prayer at the Dedication of the ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol vii/sermon v temporal advantages.htm

The First Per??an Discourses - to the Pharisees Concerning the Two ...
... to new scenes and of new persons, but chiefly ... to Jerusalem for the Feast of the
Dedication of the ... inherent sinfulness, which makes us his subjects - and all ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xi the first peraean.htm

The Last Interview of Paul with the Elders of Ephesus.
... It deserves notice, that the same persons, who here ... and terminates in the sincere
dedication of the ... run the perpetual round of a few subjects, which exhaust ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xxiv the last interview.htm

Introduction to the Treatise on the Priesthood.
... with Basil; how they studied the same subjects together under ... It was due in some
persons to a notion ... definite renunciation of the world, and dedication of the ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/introduction to the treatise on.htm

Letter v. Prayer and Fasting.
... also, in examining the lives of persons of eminent ... and renewing afresh the solemn
dedication of ourselves ... meditations should be upon those subjects which are ...
/.../letter v prayer and fasting.htm

The Old, Old Story
... the theatres of London, and there are persons addressing them ... I do not know what
their subjects are, but I ... purging out of the old leaven, the dedication of the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/the old old story.htm

Letter of Julius to the Eusebians at Antioch.
... surely is more suitable for other subjects: in ecclesiastical ... you will denounce in
writing those persons who attempt ... with the Synod of the Dedication' held in ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/chapter ii letter of julius to.htm