In the context of the Bible, the concept of being "admired" is often associated with qualities or actions that reflect God's character, wisdom, and righteousness. Admiration in the biblical sense is not merely about external appearances or worldly achievements but is deeply rooted in spiritual virtues and godly living.

Biblical Instances and Themes

1. Admiration of God's Creation: The Bible frequently calls believers to admire the handiwork of God. In Psalm 19:1 , it is written, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." This admiration is not just for the beauty of creation but for the revelation of God's power and majesty through it.

2. Admiration of God's Wisdom and Works: The wisdom and works of God are often subjects of admiration. In Romans 11:33 , Paul exclaims, "O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and untraceable His ways!" This admiration is a response to the profound and incomprehensible nature of God's plans and purposes.

3. Admiration of Righteousness and Virtue: The Bible encourages admiration for those who live righteously and uphold God's commandments. Proverbs 31:30 states, "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." Here, admiration is directed towards the fear of the Lord and the virtues that stem from it.

4. Admiration of Christ: Jesus Christ is the ultimate figure of admiration in the New Testament. His life, teachings, and sacrificial death are central to Christian faith. In 2 Thessalonians 1:10 , it is said, "On that day He will come to be glorified in His saints and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed." The admiration of Christ is both a present reality and a future expectation.

5. Admiration in the Community of Believers: The early church is depicted as a community that inspired admiration among outsiders due to their love and unity. Acts 2:47 notes that they were "praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." This admiration was a testament to the transformative power of the Gospel.

Theological Reflections

Admiration in the biblical sense is closely tied to the recognition of God's attributes and the reflection of those attributes in the lives of believers. It is not self-centered but God-centered, directing glory and honor to the Creator. The admiration of God and His works leads to worship, while the admiration of godly individuals encourages the pursuit of holiness and righteousness.

In summary, biblical admiration is a response to the divine and the virtuous, fostering a deeper appreciation for God's presence and work in the world and in the lives of His people.1. (imp. & p. p.) of Admire.

2. (a.) Regarded with wonder and delight; highly prized; as, an admired poem.

3. (a.) Wonderful; also, admirable.

But No; the Pythian, So Much Admired among the Greeks...
... Chapter VI. But no; the Pythian, so much admired among the Greeks? But
no; the Pythian, so much admired among the Greeks, judged ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen against celsus/chapter vi but no the.htm

The Meeting Between Ambrose and Augustin
... The young professor admired in Bishop Ambrose all the glory that he was
ambitious of, and all that he already believed himself to be. ...
/.../bertrand/saint augustin/iii the meeting between ambrose.htm

Messiah Despised, and Rejected of Men
... And ^* Brutus, one of the most admired characters of antiquity, confessed, just
before he put an end to his own life, that having long been enamoured of virtue ...
/.../newton/messiah vol 1/sermon xvii messiah despised and.htm

The Penitent Thief
... He had heard, I suppose, of Christ's miracles and mercy, of his teaching, of his
being the friend of publicans and sinners, had admired the Lord Jesus, and ...
/.../kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xxxi the penitent thief.htm

Instability
... and despise their idea; but they have stuck to it, and we have said, "Well, there
is nothing like a man standing to a thing," and we have admired even the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/instability.htm

The Sculptor's Work
... that what would be left of the stone after the sculptor had completed his work would
go to adorn some fine building and to be looked upon and admired by many ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk fifty the sculptors work.htm

Because the Church Epistles Plainly Teach that all Believers Will ...
... with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels **
when He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all ...
/.../pink/the redeemers return/9 because the church epistles.htm

Dedication
... he was in the act of performing his duty to the University, were themselves either
not far from the scene of action, or openly beheld and admired his daily and ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/dedication.htm

Of the Right of Bishops not to be Accused or Hurt by Detraction.
... And as the former should not be admired by the latter, so the latter should not
be admired by the former: for as the conversation of the priests of the Lord ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/ii of the right of.htm

Hatred Without Cause
... The demagogue, who is admired by the poor, must expect to be despised by the rich;
and he who labours for the aristocracy, of course meets with the contempt of ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/hatred without cause.htm

Admired (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (imp. & pp) of Admire. 2. (a.) Regarded with wonder and delight; highly prized;
as, an admired poem. ... Multi-Version Concordance Admired (1 Occurrence). ...
/a/admired.htm - 7k

Delilah (7 Occurrences)
... The account indicates that for beauty, personal charm, mental ability, self-command,
nerve, she was quite a wonderful woman, a woman to be admired for some ...
/d/delilah.htm - 10k

Marvel (20 Occurrences)
... 17:7)' "the marvel" for a "marvellous thing" (John 9:30); "marvelled" for "wondered"
(Luke 8:25; Luke 11:14); "marvelled at" for "admired" (2 Thessalonians 1:10 ...
/m/marvel.htm - 16k

Marvelous (30 Occurrences)
... 17:7)' "the marvel" for a "marvellous thing" (John 9:30); "marvelled" for "wondered"
(Luke 8:25; Luke 11:14); "marvelled at" for "admired" (2 Thessalonians 1:10 ...
/m/marvelous.htm - 18k

Admiring (1 Occurrence)

/a/admiring.htm - 7k

Admire (1 Occurrence)

/a/admire.htm - 7k

Admiration (2 Occurrences)
... suited to convey the various kinds of surprise, wonder, admiration, expressed, by
this fertile word: namely, in 2 Thessalonians 1:10, "to be admired," reads in ...
/a/admiration.htm - 8k

Marveled (31 Occurrences)
... 2 Thessalonians 1:10 when he comes to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired
among all those who have believed (because our testimony to you was believed ...
/m/marveled.htm - 14k

Glorified (60 Occurrences)
... 2 Thessalonians 1:10 when he comes to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired
among all those who have believed (because our testimony to you was believed ...
/g/glorified.htm - 25k

Syriac (2 Occurrences)
... The translation of the New Testament is careful, faithful and literal, and the
simplicity, directness and transparency of the style are admired by all Syriac ...
/s/syriac.htm - 26k

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