The concept of "willingly" in the Bible is often associated with the heart's disposition towards God, His commandments, and service to others. It reflects a voluntary and eager attitude, contrasting with actions performed out of obligation or compulsion. This entry explores the biblical understanding of willingness, highlighting key scriptures and themes.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, willingness is frequently connected to offerings and service to God. The Israelites were encouraged to give offerings willingly as an expression of their devotion and gratitude. In Exodus 35:5, Moses instructs the people, "Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Let everyone whose heart is willing bring an offering to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze." This verse underscores the importance of a willing heart in worship and giving.

The construction of the Tabernacle also involved willing participation. Exodus 35:21 states, "And everyone whose heart stirred him and whose spirit moved him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments." Here, willingness is portrayed as a response to God's call, driven by an inner stirring of the heart.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, willingness is emphasized in the context of Christian service and generosity. The Apostle Paul, in his letters, often speaks of the importance of a willing spirit in serving others and giving to the work of the church. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul writes, "Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver." This passage highlights that God values the attitude behind the action, preferring gifts given willingly and joyfully.

Willingness is also a key aspect of discipleship. Jesus calls His followers to willingly take up their cross and follow Him, as seen in Matthew 16:24: "Then Jesus told His disciples, 'If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.'" This call to self-denial and commitment is a voluntary act of devotion and surrender to Christ.

Theological Implications

Theologically, willingness is tied to the concept of free will and the human response to God's grace. It reflects the believer's freedom to choose obedience and service out of love for God, rather than mere duty. This voluntary aspect of faith is seen as a reflection of God's own willingness to offer salvation through Jesus Christ. In John 10:18, Jesus speaks of His willing sacrifice: "No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from My Father."

Practical Application

In practical terms, believers are encouraged to cultivate a willing heart in all aspects of their spiritual lives. This includes worship, service, giving, and daily obedience to God's commands. A willing spirit is seen as a mark of genuine faith and love for God, leading to a life that honors Him and blesses others.

Conclusion

While this entry does not include a conclusion, it is evident that the biblical concept of willingness is deeply rooted in the heart's response to God. It is a theme that permeates both the Old and New Testaments, calling believers to serve and give with joy and eagerness, reflecting the willing nature of Christ's own sacrifice.(adv.) In a willing manner; with free will; without reluctance; cheerfully.1596. hekousios -- voluntarily
... voluntarily. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: hekousios Phonetic Spelling:
(hek-oo-see'-ose) Short Definition: willingly Definition: willingly, of one's ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1596.htm - 6k

1635. hekon -- of one's own free will, voluntary
... own free will, voluntary. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: hekon Phonetic
Spelling: (hek-own') Short Definition: willing, willingly Definition: willing ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1635.htm - 6k

2130. eumetadotos -- ready to impart
... ready to impart. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: eumetadotos Phonetic
Spelling: (yoo-met-ad'-ot-os) Short Definition: willingly sharing, ready to ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2130.htm - 7k

1595. hekousios -- of free will, voluntary
... willingly. Neuter of a derivative from hekon; voluntariness -- willingly. see GREEK
hekon. (ekousion) -- 1 Occurrence. 1594, 1595. hekousios. 1596 . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1595.htm - 6k

4290. prothumos -- eagerly
... Word Origin adverb from prothumos Definition eagerly NASB Word Usage eagerness
(1). willingly. Adverb from prothumos; with alacrity -- willingly. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4290.htm - 6k

2210. zemioo -- to damage, suffer loss
... the irony of how . As a person grows in knowing Christ they willingly
"lose" their "right" to be #NAME? eternal significance in ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2210.htm - 8k

5483. charizomai -- to show favor, give freely
... one receiving forgiveness. [5483 () literally means, "to exercise , show ,"
ie willingly ("graciously") .]. Word Origin from charis ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5483.htm - 8k

4879. sunapago -- to lead away with, fig. to be carried away with ...
... I lead away with, condescend to Definition: I lead away with, carry along with
(in good or bad sense according to context); mid: I conform myself willingly to. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4879.htm - 7k

5043. teknon -- a child (of either sex)
... heavenly Father. 5043 () emphasizes the childlike ( child) that willingly
(gladly) submits to the Father's plan. We profoundly learn ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5043.htm - 7k

5068. nadab -- to incite, impel
... 5067b, 5068. nadab. 5069 . to incite, impel. Transliteration: nadab Phonetic
Spelling: (naw-dab') Short Definition: willingly. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/5068.htm - 6k

3820. leb -- inner man, mind, will, heart
... 3), spirits (1), stouthearted* (1), stubborn-minded* (1), tenderly (2), thought
(3), understanding (7), undivided* (1), well (2), willingly* (1), wisdom (2 ...
/hebrew/3820.htm - 7k

5069. nedab -- to volunteer, offer freely
... Aramaic) corresponding to nadab Definition to volunteer, offer freely NASB Word
Usage freely offered (1), freewill offering (1), offered willingly (1), willing ...
/hebrew/5069.htm - 6k

2974. yaal -- to show willingness, be pleased, determine ...
... undertook (1), ventured (2), willing (5). assay, begin, be content, please,
take upon, willingly, would. A primitive root (probably rather ...
/hebrew/2974.htm - 6k

5071. nedabah -- voluntariness, freewill offering
... freewill offering NASB Word Usage freely (1), freewill offering (12), freewill
offerings (9), plentiful (1), voluntarily (1), volunteer freely (1), willingly ( ...
/hebrew/5071.htm - 6k

4480. min -- from
... throughout* (1), too (51), top* (2), toward (6), toward* (3), under (3), unless*
(1), when (3), where* (1), wherever* (1), whether (7), willingly* (1), within ...
/hebrew/4480.htm - 8k

2656. chephets -- delight, pleasure
... thing; hence (by extension) a matter (as something in mind) -- acceptable,
delight(-some), desire, things desired, matter, pleasant(-ure), purpose, willingly. ...
/hebrew/2656.htm - 6k

5414. nathan -- to give, put, set
... shew, shoot forth (up), + sing, + slander, strike, (sub-)mit, suffer, X surely,
X take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, + weep, + willingly, + withdraw, + would (to ...
/hebrew/5414.htm - 9k

Whether we Can Suffer Injustice Willingly?
... OF INJUSTICE (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether we can suffer injustice willingly? Objection
1: It would seem that one can suffer injustice willingly. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether we can suffer injustice.htm

That all Good Men Ought Willingly to Hear Rebuke.
... Third Book. 102. That all good men ought willingly to hear rebuke. In Solomon, in
the Proverbs: "He who reproveth a wicked man shall be hated by him. ...
/.../cyprian/three books of testimonies against the jews/102 that all good men.htm

The Passion. "If Thou Knowest not How to Meditate on High and ...
... THE PASSION. "If thou knowest not how to meditate on high and heavenly things, rest
on the Passion of Christ, and willingly dwell in his sacred wounds. ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/the passion if thou knowest.htm

Whether the Gods Use the Demons as Messengers and Interpreters ...
... Chapter 21."Whether the Gods Use the Demons as Messengers and Interpreters, and
Whether They are Deceived by Them Willingly, or Without Their Own Knowledge. ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 21 whether the gods use.htm

In this Passage all Room for Doubt is Removed. In the Former ...
... Lord, the universal creation, of things heavenly, earthly and infernal, will consist
of persons subjected to him in two different ways, some willingly, some by ...
/.../32 in this passage all.htm

The Love, Fear, Trust, and Honour which are Due from Man to God
... The love of God is a dutiful act of man, by which he knowingly and willingly prefers,
before all other things, the union of himself with God and obedience to ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation lxxii the love fear.htm

The Twelfth Chapter: the Royal Road of the Holy Cross
... harder to hear that final word: "Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire."
[21] Those who hear the word of the cross and follow it willingly now, need ...
/.../kempis/the imitation of christ/the twelfth chapter the royal.htm

"The Age of Every Man Shall be Acknowledged Before Him in Heaven ...
... [66]. God shewed three degrees of bliss that every soul shall have in Heaven
that willingly hath served God in any degree in earth. ...
/.../julian/revelations of divine love/chapter xiv the age of.htm

In Time. The Beginning of Creation.
... and travaileth in pain together until now," and perhaps the following is about the
same: "The creation was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but on ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/17 -2 in time the.htm

Of the Union of Our Will to the Divine Good-Pleasure in Spiritual ...
... Now resignation is practised with a certain effort of submission: one would willingly
live instead of dying, yet since it is God's pleasure that die we must ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter iii of the union.htm

Willingly (27 Occurrences)
...Willingly (27 Occurrences). John 6:21 Then they willingly received him into the
ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went. (KJV WBS). ...
/w/willingly.htm - 14k

Volunteered (4 Occurrences)
... Volunteered (4 Occurrences). Judges 5:2 "Because the leaders took the lead in Israel,
because the people offered themselves willingly, be blessed, Yahweh! ...
/v/volunteered.htm - 7k

Freely (101 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 2:12), "the things that are freely given," the American Standard Revised
Version has "were" for "are." (2) Willingly, spontaneously: nedhabhah ...
/f/freely.htm - 39k

Voluntary (17 Occurrences)
... 1 Maccabees 2:42 has "voluntarily" as part of the translation of hekousiazo, the
Revised Version (British and American) "willingly.". Multi-Version Concordance ...
/v/voluntary.htm - 14k

Volunteer (2 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 17:16 and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered
himself to Yahweh; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor. ...
/v/volunteer.htm - 8k

Zichri (12 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 27:16). (4) Father of Amasiah, "who willingly offered himself
unto Yahweh" (2 Chronicles 17:16). (5) Father of Elishaphat ...
/z/zichri.htm - 12k

Uprightness (46 Occurrences)
... As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things:
and now have I seen with joy your people, that are present here, offer ...
/u/uprightness.htm - 19k

Joyously (8 Occurrences)
... As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things;
and now have I seen with joy Thy people, that are present here, offer ...
/j/joyously.htm - 8k

Wholeheartedly (15 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 29:9 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because
with a whole heart they offered willingly to the LORD; and David the king ...
/w/wholeheartedly.htm - 10k

Free-will-offering (9 Occurrences)
... the continual burnt-offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of
the LORD that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a free ...
/f/free-will-offering.htm - 9k

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