Adequacy, in a biblical context, refers to the sufficiency and capability provided by God to fulfill His purposes and commands. It is the assurance that believers have in God's provision, strength, and guidance to meet the demands of life and faith. The concept of adequacy is deeply rooted in the understanding that human ability is limited, but divine empowerment is limitless.

Biblical Foundation

The Bible consistently emphasizes that human adequacy is not derived from personal strength or wisdom but from God. In 2 Corinthians 3:5, the Apostle Paul writes, "Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God." . This verse highlights the belief that true adequacy is a gift from God, enabling believers to carry out His will.

Divine Provision

Throughout Scripture, God demonstrates His ability to provide for His people, ensuring they have what they need to accomplish His purposes. In Philippians 4:19, Paul assures the church, "And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." . This promise of provision underscores the belief that God equips His followers with the necessary resources, both physical and spiritual, to live a life pleasing to Him.

Strength in Weakness

The theme of strength in weakness is a recurring motif in the Bible, illustrating that God's power is made perfect in human frailty. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul recounts God's words to him: "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness." . This passage reassures believers that their inadequacies are opportunities for God's strength to be displayed, fostering reliance on His grace rather than personal capability.

Empowerment by the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in providing believers with the adequacy needed for spiritual life and ministry. Acts 1:8 states, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." . The empowerment of the Holy Spirit enables Christians to fulfill the Great Commission and live out their faith with boldness and effectiveness.

Faith and Trust

Adequacy in the Christian life is closely linked to faith and trust in God's promises. Hebrews 11, often referred to as the "Faith Chapter," recounts numerous examples of individuals who, despite their limitations, accomplished great things through faith in God's adequacy. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see." . This assurance is rooted in the confidence that God is both willing and able to provide what is necessary for His purposes.

Conclusion

The biblical concept of adequacy challenges believers to shift their focus from self-reliance to dependence on God. It is a call to trust in His provision, strength, and guidance, recognizing that He equips His people for every good work. Through faith, the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, and the sufficiency of God's grace, Christians are made adequate to fulfill their divine calling.(n.) The state or quality of being adequate, proportionate, or sufficient; a sufficiency for a particular purpose; as, the adequacy of supply to the expenditure.2426. hikanotes -- sufficiency
... This noun is only used in 2 Cor 3:5. See 2425 (). Word Origin from hikanos
Definition sufficiency NASB Word Usage adequacy (1). sufficiency. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2426.htm - 6k

842. autarkes -- self-sufficient, sufficient
... 842 ("sufficiency within") occurs only in Phil 4:11 where it refers to self-sufficiency
( adequacy) -- ie that comes through the indwelling power of Christ. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/842.htm - 7k

Foreword
... "To scholarship of the first rank [Denney] brought a burning conviction of the truth
and adequacy of the Gospel, and he would have no truck with those who ...
//christianbookshelf.org/denney/the death of christ/foreword.htm

Gordon -- Man in the Image of God
... Nowhere is the divineness of Christ more obvious than in the ease and adequacy with
which He, and He alone, is able to read the meaning of the human situation. ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume 10/gordon man in the.htm

The Importance of the Death of Christ in Preaching and in Theology
... IF the series of studies which we have now completed has reproduced with any adequacy
or accuracy the mind of the New Testament writers, certain conclusions of ...
/.../denney/the death of christ/chapter 6 the importance of.htm

The World-Wide Commission
... whole race. There are profound truths embodied in this relation. (a) There
is implied the adequacy of Christ for all. He is for ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the world-wide commission.htm

Preface.
... As for adequacy of language, the far wider range of his subject-matter puts Gregory
of Nyssa to a severer test; but he does not fail under it. ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/preface.htm

The Dramatic Element in Speaking
... communicating themselves to voice and face, to hand and arm, to posture and walk,
satisfy and impress the hearer by a sense of adequacy and completeness. ...
/.../kleiser/talks on talking/the dramatic element in speaking.htm

The Saviour Lifted Up, and the Look of Faith.
... healing virtues. So was Christ. The Father testifies to the perfect adequacy
of Jesus Christ as a remedy for sin. Jesus Christ must ...
/.../finney/sermons on gospel themes/iv the saviour lifted up.htm

God's Need of Men who Pray
... praying habits. Yet the entire fabric of the work in which they are engaged
has, perforce, to depend on the adequacy of prayer. This ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/the weapon of prayer/iv gods need of men.htm

Jesus Baptized by John in the Jordan.
... life, of his works, of the Baptist, and of the Scriptures might have been sufficient;
but when the Father himself speaks, who shall doubt the adequacy of the ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xviii jesus baptized by john.htm

Thwarting God's Purpose
... says 'It is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth,' he is
laying down no limitation of the universality or of the adequacy of that power ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/thwarting gods purpose.htm

Adequacy (1 Occurrence)
... (n.) The state or quality of being adequate, proportionate, or sufficient; a
sufficiency for a particular purpose; as, the adequacy of supply to the expenditure ...
/a/adequacy.htm - 6k

Competency (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The state of being competent; fitness; ability;
adequacy; power. 2. (n.) Property or means sufficient ...
/c/competency.htm - 7k

Adequate (4 Occurrences)

/a/adequate.htm - 7k

A'den (1 Occurrence)
A'den. Addus, A'den. Adequacy . Multi-Version Concordance A'den (1 Occurrence).
Luke ... WEB). Addus, A'den. Adequacy . Reference Bible.
/a/a'den.htm - 6k

Sufficiency (18 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Adequacy; ample supply or provision.
2. (n.) Qualification for any purpose; ability; capacity. ...
/s/sufficiency.htm - 12k

Ethics
... Questions as to existence, evolution and adequacy of a moral faculty (see CONSCIENCE);
as to the relation of pleasure and desire; as to the meaning of validity ...
/e/ethics.htm - 70k

Forgiveness (124 Occurrences)
... The atonement of Christ is, however, of permanent adequacy, and became retroactive
in the sense that it unified in Christ the Divine arrangement for saving ...
/f/forgiveness.htm - 68k

Miracle (15 Occurrences)
... Of the adequacy of that cause, if present; there can be no doubt; and the only
antecedent improbability which can be ascribed to the miracle is the ...
/m/miracle.htm - 44k

Separate (115 Occurrences)
... The adequacy of Christ to meet every kind of need is shown in a characteristic passage
which reveals docetic traits: "He will comfort you that you may love Him ...
/s/separate.htm - 71k

With all of the different religions, how can I know which one is correct? | GotQuestions.org

Adequacy: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus