In the context of the Bible, the concept of variety is evident in the diversity of creation, spiritual gifts, and the manifold wisdom of God. The Scriptures reveal a God who delights in diversity and uses it to accomplish His purposes.

Creation and Diversity

The opening chapters of Genesis highlight the variety inherent in God's creation. Genesis 1:11-12 states, "Then God said, 'Let the earth bring forth vegetation, seed-bearing plants and fruit trees, each bearing fruit with seed according to its kind.' And it was so. The earth produced vegetation, seed-bearing plants according to their kinds, and trees bearing fruit with seed according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good." This passage underscores the diversity of plant life, each created according to its kind, reflecting the Creator's intricate design.

Similarly, the animal kingdom is marked by variety. Genesis 1:24-25 records, "And God said, 'Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind.' And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good." The diversity of life forms is a testament to God's creative power and wisdom.

Spiritual Gifts and the Body of Christ

The New Testament further illustrates the concept of variety through the distribution of spiritual gifts within the body of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 , the Apostle Paul writes, "There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people." This passage emphasizes that while there is a variety of gifts, ministries, and activities, they all originate from the same divine source and serve the purpose of building up the church.

Paul continues in 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 , "The body is a unit, though it is comprised of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink. For the body does not consist of one part, but of many." The metaphor of the body illustrates how diversity within the church is essential for its proper functioning, with each member contributing uniquely to the whole.

The Manifold Wisdom of God

The variety in God's creation and the church reflects His manifold wisdom. Ephesians 3:10 declares, "His purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms." The term "manifold" suggests a rich diversity, indicating that God's wisdom is displayed in various forms and through different means.

Cultural and Ethnic Diversity

The Bible also acknowledges cultural and ethnic diversity. In Revelation 7:9 , John describes a vision of heaven: "After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands." This vision of the redeemed from every nation and language highlights the inclusivity of the gospel and the unity of believers from diverse backgrounds in worshiping God.

Conclusion

The biblical theme of variety is woven throughout Scripture, from the diversity of creation to the distribution of spiritual gifts and the inclusion of all nations in God's redemptive plan. This variety reflects the richness of God's design and His sovereign purpose in bringing together a diverse people for His glory.1. (n.) The quality or state of being various; intermixture or succession of different things; diversity; multifariousness.

2. (n.) That which is various.

3. (n.) A number or collection of different things; a varied assortment; as, a variety of cottons and silks.

4. (n.) Something varying or differing from others of the same general kind; one of a number of things that are akin; a sort; as, varieties of wood, land, rocks, etc.

5. (n.) An individual, or group of individuals, of a species differing from the rest in some one or more of the characteristics typical of the species, and capable either of perpetuating itself for a period, or of being perpetuated by artificial means; hence, a subdivision, or peculiar form, of a species.

6. (n.) In inorganic nature, one of those forms in which a species may occur, which differ in minor characteristics of structure, color, purity of composition, etc.

2564. kaleo -- to call
... Akin to the base of keleuo; to "call" (properly, aloud, but used in a variety of
applications, directly or otherwise) -- bid, call (forth), (whose, whose sur ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2564.htm - 10k

1097. ginosko -- to come to know, recognize, perceive
... A prolonged form of a primary verb; to "know" (absolutely) in a great variety of
applications and with many implications (as follow, with others not thus ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1097.htm - 12k

2064. erchomai -- to come, go
... kindred (middle voice) eleuthomai el-yoo'-thom-ahee, or (active) eltho el'-tho,
which do not otherwise occur) to come or go (in a great variety of applications ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2064.htm - 12k

1321. didasko -- to teach
... Word of God). The key role of Scripture is shown by its in the NT, and
the variety of word-forms (cognates). [This includes three ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1321.htm - 9k

3844. para -- from beside, by the side of, by, beside
... In compounds it retains the same variety of application. (par) -- 60 Occurrences.
(para) -- 134 Occurrences. 3843, 3844. para. 3845 . Strong's Numbers.
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3844.htm - 8k

1243. diairesis -- a division
... difference, diversity. From diaireo; a distinction or (concretely) variety --
difference, diversity. see GREEK diaireo. (diaireseis) -- 3 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1243.htm - 7k

5128. nua -- to quiver, wave, waver, tremble, totter
... A primitive root; to waver, in a great variety of applications, literally and
figuratively (as subjoined) -- continually, fugitive, X make, to (go) up and down ...
/hebrew/5128.htm - 6k

7971. shalach -- to send
... A primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) --
X any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, X ...
/hebrew/7971.htm - 7k

3605. kol -- the whole, all
... 20), throughout and all (1), throughout the whole (1), throughout all (1), throughout*
(1), total (6), totally (2), utter (1), variety (1), whatever (24 ...
/hebrew/3605.htm - 7k

3947. laqach -- to take
... A primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications) -- accept, bring,
buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, X many, mingle, place, receive ...
/hebrew/3947.htm - 6k

5307. naphal -- to fall, lie
... A primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or
causative, literal or figurative) -- be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out ...
/hebrew/5307.htm - 7k

4900. mashak -- to draw, drag
... A primitive root; to draw, used in a great variety of applications (including to
sow, to sound, to prolong, to develop, to march, to remove, to delay, to be ...
/hebrew/4900.htm - 6k

3045. yada -- to know
... A primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety
of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially ...
/hebrew/3045.htm - 8k

6186. arak -- to arrange or set in order
... A primitive root; to set in a row, ie Arrange, put in order (in a very wide variety
of applications) -- put (set) (the battle, self) in array, compare, direct ...
/hebrew/6186.htm - 5k

1980. halak -- to go, come, walk
... Akin to yalak; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally
and figuratively) -- (all) along, apace, behave (self), come, (on ...
/hebrew/1980.htm - 8k

5130. nuph -- to move to and fro, wave, sprinkle
... A primitive root; to quiver (ie Vibrate up and down, or rock to and fro); used in
a great variety of applications (including sprinkling, beckoning, rubbing ...
/hebrew/5130.htm - 6k

June the First the Beauty of Variety
... JUNE The First THE BEAUTY OF VARIETY. 1 1 Corinthians 12:20-31. God's
glory is expressed through the harmony of variety. We do ...
/.../jowett/my daily meditation for the circling year/june the first the beauty.htm

Of the Variety of Philosophers, and their Truth.
... The Divine Institutes. Book VII. Of a Happy Life. Chap. VII."Of the Variety
of Philosophers, and Their Truth. And because the ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap vii of the variety of.htm

The Variety of Idolatrous Cults Proves that they are False.
... Against the Heathen. Section 23. The variety of idolatrous cults proves
that they are false. But not only from these considerations ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/section 23 the variety of.htm

The Necessity of Variety in Style.
... Book IV. Chapter 22."The Necessity of Variety in Style. 51. ... We can bear the subdued
style, however, longer without variety than the majestic style. ...
/.../on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 22 the necessity of variety.htm

Signs, their Nature and Variety.
... Book II. Chapter 1."Signs, Their Nature and Variety. 1. As when I was writing
about things, I introduced the subject with a warning ...
/.../on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 1 signs their nature and.htm

The Will to Possess Blessedness is one in All, but the Variety of ...
... Book XIII. Chapter 4."The Will to Possess Blessedness is One in All, But the Variety
of Wills is Very Great Concerning that Blessedness Itself. ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 4 the will to possess.htm

How we are to Conform Ourselves to God's Will Signified unto us by ...
... CHAPTER X. HOW WE ARE TO CONFORM OURSELVES TO GOD'S WILL SIGNIFIED UNTO US BY
INSPIRATIONS, AND FIRST, OF THE VARIETY OF THE MEANS BY WHICH GOD INSPIRES US. ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter x how we are.htm

Psalm 119:08. Eighth Part. The Word of God is the Saint's Portion ...
... Psalm 119:08. Eighth Part. The word of God is the saint's portion; or, The
excellency and variety of scripture. Ver.111. paraphrased. ...
/.../watts/the psalms of david/psalm 119 8 0 eighth part the.htm

Rebuke must be Varied According to the Variety of Faults. There is ...
... A Treatise on rebuke and grace, Chapter 46 [XV.]"Rebuke Must Be Varied
According to the Variety of Faults. There is No Punishment ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 46 xv rebuke must be.htm

That in God There is but one Only Act, which is his Own Divinity.
... There is in us great diversity of faculties and habits, which produce also a great
variety of actions, and those actions an incomparable multitude of works. ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter ii that in god.htm

Variety (1 Occurrence)
... 3. (n.) A number or collection of different things; a varied assortment; as, a variety
of cottons and silks. ... Multi-Version Concordance Variety (1 Occurrence). ...
/v/variety.htm - 7k

Almond (7 Occurrences)
... Genesis 30:37), is rendered in the Revised Version "almond." It is probable that
luz denotes the wild almond, while shaked denotes the cultivated variety. ...
/a/almond.htm - 14k

Table (125 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) Hence, in a great variety of applications: A condensed statement which may
be comprehended by the eye in a single view; a methodical or systematic ...
/t/table.htm - 62k

Hyacinth (1 Occurrence)
... H. orientalis is a common variety. ... 4. (n.) A red variety of zircon, sometimes used
as a gem. See Zircon. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. HYACINTH. ...
/h/hyacinth.htm - 7k

Set (6715 Occurrences)
... Few words in the English language have such a rich variety of meaning and are used
in so rich a variety of idiomatic expression as the word "set." A glance at ...
/s/set.htm - 20k

Lions (50 Occurrences)
... 19:2; Nahum 2:11). The lion of Palestine was properly of the Asiatic variety,
distinguished from the African variety, which is larger. ...
/l/lions.htm - 26k

Flame (61 Occurrences)
... it requires only a hasty glance at the facts to bring this home even to the general
reader, because in Scripture the title is bestowed on a variety of persons ...
/f/flame.htm - 61k

Member (20 Occurrences)
... are upon the earth" (Colossians 3:5). It is the difference in character and gifts
of individual Christians which leads Paul to speak of the variety of members ...
/m/member.htm - 17k

Marble (5 Occurrences)
... (3.) Bahat, "red marble," probably the verd-antique or half-porphyry of Egypt.
(4.) Sohareth, "black marble," probably some spotted variety of marble. ...
/m/marble.htm - 13k

Beryl (12 Occurrences)
... It is a silicate of aluminium and glucinum (beryllium). The aquamarine is
a transparent, sea-green variety used as a gem. The emerald ...
/b/beryl.htm - 11k

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