Worthiness
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Definition and Concept
Worthiness in the biblical context refers to the state or quality of being deserving of certain recognition, honor, or reward. It is often associated with moral and spiritual integrity, aligning one's life with God's standards and commands. Worthiness is not merely about external actions but also involves the condition of the heart and one's relationship with God.

Biblical References
The concept of worthiness is woven throughout Scripture, emphasizing both human unworthiness due to sin and the worthiness that comes through faith and obedience to God.

1. Human Unworthiness: The Bible acknowledges the inherent unworthiness of humanity due to sin. Romans 3:23 states, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." This verse highlights the universal need for redemption and the inability of humans to attain worthiness on their own.

2. Christ's Worthiness: In contrast to human unworthiness, Christ is depicted as supremely worthy. Revelation 5:12 declares, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!" Jesus' sacrificial death and resurrection affirm His worthiness to redeem and judge.

3. Believers' Worthiness: Through faith in Christ, believers are called to live lives worthy of their calling. Ephesians 4:1 urges, "I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received." This involves living in humility, gentleness, patience, and love, reflecting the character of Christ.

4. Worthy Conduct: Philippians 1:27 instructs, "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." Worthy conduct is characterized by steadfastness in faith, unity among believers, and a life that reflects the transformative power of the gospel.

5. Judgment and Worthiness: Worthiness is also a theme in the context of judgment. In Matthew 10:37-38, Jesus speaks of the cost of discipleship, stating, "Anyone who loves their father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me." Here, worthiness is linked to prioritizing Christ above all else.

Theological Implications
Worthiness in the biblical sense is not about earning salvation through works but about responding to God's grace with a life that honors Him. It is a call to reflect the holiness and righteousness of God in every aspect of life. The pursuit of worthiness is a response to the worthiness of Christ, who empowers believers to live in a way that pleases God.

Practical Application
Believers are encouraged to examine their lives in light of Scripture, seeking to align their actions, thoughts, and attitudes with God's will. This involves regular self-reflection, repentance, and a commitment to spiritual growth. Worthiness is demonstrated through love, service, and obedience to God's commands, ultimately pointing others to the worthiness of Christ.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(n.) The quality or state of being worthy; desert; merit; excellence; dignity; virtue; worth.
Library

Of the Profit and Worthiness of Prayer and Meditation
... THE FIRE OF LOVE. BOOK I CHAPTER XX OF THE PROFIT AND WORTHINESS OF PRAYER
AND MEDITATION. Constant prayer helps mickle to get and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter xx of the profit.htm

How the Work of this Book Shall be Wrought, and of the Worthiness ...
... HERE BEGINNETH THE THIRD CHAPTER How the work of this book shall be wrought,
and of the worthiness of it before all other works. ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the third chapter.htm

That God's Love is to be Mingled with Ilk Time and Deed nor Fails ...
... BOOK II CHAPTER X THAT GOD'S LOVE IS TO BE MINGLED WITH ILK TIME AND DEED NOR FAILS
NOT FOR WEAL OR WOE, AND OF THE WORTHINESS AND THE GAINING THEREOF: AND OF ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter x that gods love.htm

The Marcionites Depreciate the Creation, Which, However, is a ...
... Chapter XIII."The Marcionites Depreciate the Creation, Which, However, is a Worthy
Witness of God This Worthiness Illustrated by References to the Heathen ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xiii the marcionites depreciate the.htm

Approbation and Blessing.
... counted worthy." Hooker's well-known words about justification may be quoted in
this connection as illustrating the thought of worthiness in sanctification. ...
/.../thomas/the prayers of st paul/iii approbation and blessing.htm

Because the Rapture is the Consummation of Our Salvation and ...
... OF OUR SALVATION and therefore, being an integral and essential part of our salvation
it cannot, in anywise, be determined by our personal worthiness. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/2 because the rapture is.htm

Unworthy of Life
... I. What constitutes worthiness and unworthiness. There are two meanings to the
word 'worthy'"deserving or fit. ... This then is the worthiness. II. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/unworthy of life.htm

Effectual Calling
... It is not because some are more worthy to partake of the heavenly calling than others,
for we were all in our blood.' Ezekiel 16:6. What worthiness is in us? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/2 effectual calling.htm

Worthy-Not Worthy
... narrative itself. I. And, first, we have here the shallow plea of worthiness.
These elders did not think loftily of Jesus Christ. The ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/worthy-not worthy.htm

Of Preparation.
... This preparation consists in the serious consideration of three things: First, Of
the worthiness of the sacrament, which is termed, to discern the Lord's body ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bayly/the practice of piety/i of preparation.htm

Thesaurus
Worthiness (3 Occurrences)
... (n.) The quality or state of being worthy; desert; merit; excellence; dignity; virtue;
worth. Multi-Version Concordance Worthiness (3 Occurrences). ...
/w/worthiness.htm - 7k

Superadd (1 Occurrence)
... 2 Peter 1:5 And this same also -- all diligence having brought in besides, superadd
in your faith the worthiness, and in the worthiness the knowledge, (YLT). ...
/s/superadd.htm - 6k

Supplement (1 Occurrence)
... 2 Peter 1:5 And this same also -- all diligence having brought in besides, superadd
in your faith the worthiness, and in the worthiness the knowledge, (See RSV ...
/s/supplement.htm - 7k

Worthily (8 Occurrences)

/w/worthily.htm - 9k

Worship (332 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (a.) Excellence of character; dignity; worth;
worthiness. 2. (a.) Honor; respect; civil deference. ...
/w/worship.htm - 66k

Excellently (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (adv.) In an excellent manner; well in a high degree. 2. (adv.) In a high or
superior degree; -- in this literal use, not implying worthiness. ...
/e/excellently.htm - 6k

Piety (21 Occurrences)
... His divine power (the things pertaining unto life and piety) hath given, through
the acknowledgement of him who did call us through glory and worthiness, (YLT). ...
/p/piety.htm - 13k

Praise (487 Occurrences)
... type may be seen in the representation given in the Apocalypse of the adoration
of God and of the Lamb, which is inspired by a sense of their worthiness to be ...
/p/praise.htm - 47k

Praiseworthy (3 Occurrences)
... as many as 'are' grave, as many as 'are' righteous, as many as 'are' pure, as many
as 'are' lovely, as many as 'are' of good report, if any worthiness, and if ...
/p/praiseworthy.htm - 7k

Pertaining (17 Occurrences)
... divine power (the things pertaining unto life and piety) hath given, through the
acknowledgement of him who did call us through glory and worthiness, (YLT NAS). ...
/p/pertaining.htm - 11k

Resources
Should communion be open or closed? | GotQuestions.org

Spiritual gifts survey - what are the different spiritual gifts the Bible mentions? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about child sexual abuse? | GotQuestions.org

Worthiness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Worthiness (3 Occurrences)

Philippians 4:8
As to the rest, brethren, as many things as are true, as many as 'are' grave, as many as 'are' righteous, as many as 'are' pure, as many as 'are' lovely, as many as 'are' of good report, if any worthiness, and if any praise, these things think upon;
(YLT)

2 Peter 1:3
As all things to us His divine power (the things pertaining unto life and piety) hath given, through the acknowledgement of him who did call us through glory and worthiness,
(YLT)

2 Peter 1:5
And this same also -- all diligence having brought in besides, superadd in your faith the worthiness, and in the worthiness the knowledge,
(YLT)

Subtopics

Worthiness

Related Terms

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Raca (1 Occurrence)

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Ill-natured (3 Occurrences)

Fruits (109 Occurrences)

Refuse (103 Occurrences)

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Dross (7 Occurrences)

Streams (80 Occurrences)

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Collected (55 Occurrences)

Fellows (30 Occurrences)

Fool (95 Occurrences)

Folly (68 Occurrences)

Proved (49 Occurrences)

Base (127 Occurrences)

Worthlessness (14 Occurrences)

Willing (152 Occurrences)

Yields (21 Occurrences)

Vile (59 Occurrences)

Villainy (4 Occurrences)

Vain (141 Occurrences)

Notions (6 Occurrences)

Unfaithful (58 Occurrences)

Utterly (170 Occurrences)

Ungodly (41 Occurrences)

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Ore (5 Occurrences)

Offal (6 Occurrences)

Opposed (23 Occurrences)

Outside (215 Occurrences)

Onesimus (2 Occurrences)

Judgement-seat (1 Occurrence)

Jotham (26 Occurrences)

Gear (3 Occurrences)

Grapes (74 Occurrences)

Will-worship (1 Occurrence)

Willworship

Worthiness (3 Occurrences)

Wild (147 Occurrences)

Withstand (22 Occurrences)

Wretched (14 Occurrences)

Irresolute (1 Occurrence)

Is'the (1 Occurrence)

Indecisive (1 Occurrence)

Futile (12 Occurrences)

Furrows (8 Occurrences)

Faithlessness (9 Occurrences)

Fishermen (8 Occurrences)

Fable

Faithless (46 Occurrences)

Fault (42 Occurrences)

Thinks (20 Occurrences)

Tender-hearted (2 Occurrences)

Timid (8 Occurrences)

Tight (9 Occurrences)

Terrify (27 Occurrences)

Tenderhearted (3 Occurrences)

Resist (23 Occurrences)

Rejected (96 Occurrences)

Rubbish (5 Occurrences)

Rogue (2 Occurrences)

Reckless (8 Occurrences)

Rip (3 Occurrences)

Rudimentary (3 Occurrences)

Rascally (1 Occurrence)

Regarded (52 Occurrences)

Raiding (11 Occurrences)

Religious (13 Occurrences)

Rein (3 Occurrences)

Eli (36 Occurrences)

Enslaved (18 Occurrences)

Ever-living (20 Occurrences)

Evil (1503 Occurrences)

Deserts (18 Occurrences)

Worthily
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