The term "unfold" in a biblical context often conveys the idea of revealing, disclosing, or making known something that was previously hidden or not fully understood. This concept is significant in Scripture as it relates to the revelation of God's will, the understanding of His Word, and the unfolding of His divine plan throughout history.

Biblical Usage and Themes

1. Revelation of God's Word: The unfolding of God's Word is a central theme in the Bible. Psalm 119:130 states, "The unfolding of Your words gives light; it informs the simple." This verse highlights the enlightening power of Scripture, suggesting that as God's Word is revealed and understood, it brings wisdom and clarity to those who seek it. The process of unfolding implies a gradual revelation, where deeper understanding is gained over time through study and meditation.

2. Prophetic Revelation: The unfolding of prophecy is another significant aspect. Throughout the Old Testament, prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah and the future of Israel are gradually revealed. In the New Testament, the fulfillment of these prophecies is seen in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Book of Revelation, for instance, is an apocalyptic text that unfolds the future events leading to the ultimate victory of Christ and the establishment of God's kingdom.

3. Divine Plan and Providence: The unfolding of God's divine plan is evident throughout biblical history. From the creation narrative in Genesis to the establishment of Israel, the coming of Christ, and the spread of the Gospel, God's sovereign plan is progressively revealed. Romans 8:28 assures believers that "in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose." This verse underscores the belief that God's purposes are being unfolded in the lives of individuals and in the world at large.

4. Personal Spiritual Growth: The concept of unfolding is also applicable to personal spiritual growth and understanding. As believers grow in their faith, the truths of Scripture and the nature of God are progressively revealed to them. This is a dynamic process, as described in 2 Peter 3:18 : "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." Spiritual maturity involves the unfolding of deeper insights into God's character and His will for one's life.

5. Mysteries of the Kingdom: Jesus often spoke in parables, which required unfolding to be understood. In Matthew 13:11 , Jesus explains to His disciples, "The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them." The parables served as a means to unfold spiritual truths to those who were open to receiving them, while remaining hidden to those who were not receptive.

Conclusion

The concept of unfolding in the Bible is rich with meaning, encompassing the revelation of God's Word, the fulfillment of prophecy, the execution of His divine plan, and the personal growth of believers. It emphasizes the progressive nature of understanding and the continual unveiling of God's truth to those who earnestly seek Him.1. (v. t.) To open the folds of; to expand; to spread out; as, to unfold a tablecloth.

2. (v. t.) To open, as anything covered or close; to lay open to view or contemplation; to bring out in all the details, or by successive development; to display; to disclose; to reveal; to elucidate; to explain; as, to unfold one's designs; to unfold the principles of a science.

3. (v. t.) To release from a fold or pen; as, to unfold sheep.

4. (v. i.) To open; to expand; to become disclosed or developed.

1834. exegeomai -- to show the way
... Phonetic Spelling: (ex-ayg-eh'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I explain, make declaration
Definition: I lead, show the way; met: I unfold, narrate, declare. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1834.htm - 7k

380. anaptusso -- to unroll
... to unroll. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: anaptusso Phonetic Spelling:
(an-ap-toos'-o) Short Definition: I unroll Definition: I unroll, roll back, unfold ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/380.htm - 6k

Introductory Remarks. 1 the Term Hermeneutics (Greek...
... used by expositors in a special sense to denote something explanatory of the immediate
context.2. The expositor's office is, to ascertain and unfold the true ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxiii introductory remarks 1.htm

Love in the Blessed Ones.
... but Love is not the mere absence of selfishness, as in Adam; nor its rebuke and
blood-bought victory in the saint; in fact, Love begins to unfold and develop ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxiv love in the blessed.htm

The Dawn of Mind
... the unfolding of the Child-Mind is itself a palpable evolution; the infinitely more
significant circumstance that the Mind in a child seems to unfold in the ...
/.../drummond/the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/chapter iv the dawn of.htm

Of the Full Narration to be Employed in Catechising.
... all these word for word; or that we should put all the matters which are contained
in these volumes into our own words, and in that manner unfold and expound ...
/.../on the catechising of the uninstructed/chapter 3 of the full narration.htm

Argument. --God is Above all Things, Himself Containing all Things ...
... Moreover, we can in some degree be conscious of Him in silence, but we cannot in
discourse unfold Him as He is. ... I will at once unfold the whole. ...
/.../chapter ii argument god is above.htm

The Historical Books.
... The province of the historical books is to unfold its practiced working, and to
show how, under the divine superintendence and guidance, it accomplished the ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xx the historical books.htm

The Books of the Old Testament as a Whole. 1 the Province of ...
... Nor can we fully understand the Pentateuch as a whole except in the light of the
historical and prophetical books which follow; for these unfold the divine ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xviii the books of.htm

Some Time
... Then be content, poor heart; God's plans like lilies pure and white unfold; We must
not tear the close-shut leaves apart, Time will unfold the calyces of gold. ...
/.../orr/food for the lambs or helps for young christians/some time.htm

The Sealed Book.
... was no being in heaven among the angels, no human being on the earth, and no
disembodied spirit, or demon, under the earth, who was able to unfold the future. ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the sealed book.htm

Christ's Application of Passages from the Old Testament.
... to his use of quotations from the Old Testament, which enveloped, as it were, and
contained the germ of truths which he was fully to unfold and develope. ...
/.../section 75 christs application of.htm

Unfold (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (vt) To open the folds of; to expand; to spread out; as, to unfold a tablecloth. ...
3. (vt) To release from a fold or pen; as, to unfold sheep. ...
/u/unfold.htm - 7k

Explain (30 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v.) To flatten; to spread out; to unfold;
to expand. 2. (v.) To make plain, manifest, or intelligible ...
/e/explain.htm - 15k

Untie (10 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To free from fastening or from restraint; to let loose; to unbind. 3. (vt)
To resolve; to unfold; to clear. 4. (vi) To become untied or loosed. ...
/u/untie.htm - 9k

Unflinching (1 Occurrence)

/u/unflinching.htm - 6k

Unfolded (4 Occurrences)

/u/unfolded.htm - 7k

Display (30 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To unfold; to spread wide; to expand;
to stretch out; to spread. 2. (vt) To extend the front of ...
/d/display.htm - 15k

Mantle (35 Occurrences)
... 10. (vi) To unfold and spread out the wings, like a mantle; -- said of hawks. Also
used figuratively. 11. (vi) To spread out; -- said of wings. 12. ...
/m/mantle.htm - 21k

Solve (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To explain; to resolve; to unfold; to clear up (what is obscure or difficult
to be understood); to work out to a result or conclusion; as, to solve a ...
/s/solve.htm - 7k

Justification (6 Occurrences)
... No sooner was His person rightly estimated than He began to unfold the
necessity of His death and resurrection (Matthew 16:21). ...
/j/justification.htm - 43k

What does 2 Peter 3:8 mean when it says a thousand years are a day? | GotQuestions.org

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Unfold: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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