Topical Bible: Arts

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The concept of "arts" in the Bible encompasses a wide range of creative expressions, including music, craftsmanship, and literature. While the Bible does not provide a systematic theology of the arts, it offers numerous examples and principles that highlight the significance and value of artistic endeavors in the life of God's people.

Music and Song

Music holds a prominent place in biblical worship and expression. The Psalms, often referred to as the hymnbook of ancient Israel, are replete with songs of praise, lament, and thanksgiving. King David, a skilled musician, is credited with composing many of these psalms. In 1 Samuel 16:23, we read about David playing the harp to soothe King Saul: "Whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take his harp and play, and relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him."

The New Testament also emphasizes the role of music in worship. Ephesians 5:19 encourages believers to "speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord." This underscores the importance of music as a means of edification and worship within the Christian community.

Craftsmanship and Visual Arts

The Bible acknowledges the value of skilled craftsmanship and artistry. In the construction of the Tabernacle, God specifically appointed Bezalel and Oholiab, filling them with the Spirit of God to enable them to create beautiful and intricate designs. Exodus 31:3-5 states, "And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in all kinds of craftsmanship, to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze, to cut gemstones for settings, and to carve wood, so that he may be a master of every craft."

The Temple built by Solomon also reflects the importance of artistic excellence. The detailed descriptions of its construction in 1 Kings 6-7 highlight the use of fine materials and skilled labor to create a place worthy of God's presence.

Literature and Storytelling

The Bible itself is a literary masterpiece, composed of various genres including history, poetry, prophecy, and epistles. The use of parables by Jesus is a prime example of storytelling as an art form. Through parables, Jesus conveyed profound spiritual truths in a manner that was both engaging and accessible. Matthew 13:34 notes, "Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables. He did not tell them anything without using a parable."

Theological Reflections on the Arts

From a biblical perspective, the arts are seen as a reflection of God's creativity and beauty. Humanity, created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), is endowed with the ability to create and appreciate beauty. The arts can serve as a means of glorifying God, edifying the church, and expressing the full range of human emotions and experiences.

While the Bible warns against idolatry and the misuse of artistic expression (Exodus 20:4-5), it also affirms the potential of the arts to inspire worship and draw people closer to God. Philippians 4:8 encourages believers to focus on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable, which can certainly include the arts: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things."

In summary, the Bible presents the arts as a valuable and integral part of human life, capable of reflecting God's glory and enhancing the worship and spiritual growth of His people.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ARTS

See CRAFTS.

Greek

3451. mousikos -- skilled in the arts (esp. music)
... mousikos. 3452 . skilled in the arts (esp. ... Word Origin from Mousa (a Muse) Definition
skilled in the arts (esp. music) NASB Word Usage musicians (1). musician. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3451.htm - 6k

4021. periergos -- overly careful, curious, meddling, subst. a ...
... magical Definition: of persons: over-careful; curious, meddling, a busy-body; of
things: over-wrought; superfluous; curious, uncanny; subst: curious arts, magic ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4021.htm - 7k

5331. pharmakeia -- the use of medicine, drugs or spells
... enchantment. 5331 (from , "administer drugs") -- properly, drug-related sorcery,
like the practice of magical-arts, etc. (AT Robertson). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5331.htm - 7k

3095. mageia -- magic
... Word Origin from mageuo Definition magic NASB Word Usage magic arts (1). sorcery.
From mageuo; "magic" -- sorcery. see GREEK mageuo. (mageiais) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3095.htm - 6k

4238. prasso -- to do, practice
... single act); by implication, to execute, accomplish, etc.; specially, to collect
(dues), fare (personally) -- commit, deeds, do, exact, keep, require, use arts ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4238.htm - 9k

Strong's Hebrew

3909. lat -- secrecy, mystery
... 3908, 3909. lat. 3910 . secrecy, mystery. Transliteration: lat Phonetic
Spelling: (lawt) Short Definition: arts. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/3909.htm - 6k

Library

Further, as to the Remaining Arts, Whether those by which ...
... Book 2 Chapter 47. Further, as to the remaining arts, whether those by which
something is made which? 47. Further, as to the remaining ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books/chapter 47 further as to.htm

The Sophistical Arts Useless.
... The Stromata, or Miscellanies: Book I Chapter VIII."The Sophistical Arts Useless.
But the art of sophistry, which the Greeks cultivated ...
/.../the stromata or miscellanies/chapter viii the sophistical arts useless.htm

The Arts by which Origen Studies to Keep Gregory and his Brother ...
... Argument VI."The Arts by Which Origen Studies to Keep Gregory and His Brother
Athenodorus with Him, Although It Was Almost Against Their Will; And the Love ...
/.../the oration and panegyric addressed to origen/argument vi the arts by which.htm

Inventors of Useful Arts Unworthy of Deification they Would be the ...
... Book II. Chapter XVI."Inventors of Useful Arts Unworthy of Deification
They Would Be the First to Acknowledge a Creator. The Arts ...
/.../tertullian/ad nationes/chapter xvi inventors of useful arts.htm

Of the Illicit Arts Connected with Demonolatry, and of which the ...
... Book X. Chapter 9."Of the Illicit Arts Connected with Demonolatry, and of Which
the Platonist Porphyry Adopts Some, and Discards Others. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 9 of the illicit arts.htm

Flight, and Magic Arts of Licinius.
... Book II. Chapter XI."Flight, and Magic Arts of Licinius. In these
circumstances their commander, finding himself bereft of the ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter xi flight and magic arts.htm

Human Arts as Well as Divine Knowledge Proceed from God.
... The Stromata, or Miscellanies: Book I Chapter IV."Human Arts as Well as
Divine Knowledge Proceed from God. Homer calls an artificer ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter iv human arts as well.htm

Great Miracles Wrought by Magic Arts.
... Book III. Chapter 7."Great Miracles Wrought by Magic Arts. 12. I see
here what may occur to a weak judgment, namely, why such ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 7 great miracles wrought by.htm

That Astrology, Soothsaying, and Similar Arts are the Invention of ...
... the divine institutes. Book II. Of the Origin of Error. Chap. XVII."That Astrology,
Soothsaying, and Similar Arts are the Invention of Demons. ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xvii that astrology soothsaying and.htm

Other Arts Made Subservient to Idolatry. Lawful Means of Gaining a ...
... Chapter VIII."Other Arts Made Subservient to Idolatry. Lawful ... neighbour. The
veins of the arts are many as are the concupiscences of men. ...
/.../tertullian/on idolatry/chapter viii other arts made subservient.htm

Thesaurus

Arts (48 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ARTS. See CRAFTS. Multi-Version Concordance
Arts (48 Occurrences). Acts 8:9 But a certain man, by ...
/a/arts.htm - 22k

Wonder-workers (16 Occurrences)
... Exodus 7:11 Then Pharaoh sent for the wise men and the wonder-workers, and they,
the wonder-workers of Egypt, did the same with their secret arts. (BBE). ...
/w/wonder-workers.htm - 12k

Users (9 Occurrences)
... But you have knowledge of what Saul has done, how he has put away out of the land
those who have control of spirits and the users of secret arts: why would you ...
/u/users.htm - 9k

Readers (9 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 18:14 For these nations, whose land you are taking, give attention to
readers of signs and to those using secret arts: but the Lord your God will ...
/r/readers.htm - 9k

Enchantment (4 Occurrences)
... The act of enchanting; the production of certain wonderful effects by the aid of
demons, or the agency of supposed spirits; the use of magic arts, spells, or ...
/e/enchantment.htm - 16k

Curious (18 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Curious arts. (Acts 19:19), magical arts; jugglery
practised by the Ephesian conjurers. Ephesus was noted ...
/c/curious.htm - 14k

Astrology
... SYSTEMS OF ASTROLOGY 1. Names of the WeekDays, Due to an Astrological System 2.
Origin of Modern Astrology 3. "Curious Arts" of Ephesus LITERATURE I. The ...
/a/astrology.htm - 38k

Witch (2 Occurrences)
... On the woman reminding him how Saul had cut off from the land those who practiced
these arts-a proof of the existence and operation of the laws against ...
/w/witch.htm - 24k

Expert (59 Occurrences)
... Exodus 35:35 To them he has given knowledge of all the arts of the handworker, of
the designer, and the expert workman; of the maker of needlework in blue and ...
/e/expert.htm - 25k

Powers (43 Occurrences)
... in what is false. (BBE). Exodus 22:18 Any woman using unnatural powers or
secret arts is to be put to death. (BBE). 2 Chronicles 33 ...
/p/powers.htm - 20k

Resources

Is it right for a Christian to be involved in martial arts? | GotQuestions.org

What expertise does GotQuestions.org possess? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Francis Schaeffer? | GotQuestions.org

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Concordance

Arts (48 Occurrences)

Acts 8:9
But a certain man, by name Simon, had been before in the city, using magic arts, and astonishing the nation of Samaria, saying that himself was some great one.
(DBY)

Acts 8:11
And they gave heed to him, because that for a long time he had astonished them by his magic arts.
(DBY NAS)

Acts 19:19
Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. They counted the price of them, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Revelation 9:21
And they had no regret for putting men to death, or for their use of secret arts, or for the evil desires of the flesh, or for taking the property of others.
(BBE NIV)

Revelation 21:8
and to fearful, and unstedfast, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all the liars, their part 'is' in the lake that is burning with fire and brimstone, which is a second death.'
(See NIV)

Revelation 22:15
Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
(See NIV)

Exodus 7:11
Then Pharaoh sent for the wise men and the wonder-workers, and they, the wonder-workers of Egypt, did the same with their secret arts.
(BBE JPS NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 7:22
And the wonder-workers of Egypt did the same with their secret arts: but Pharaoh's heart was made hard, and he would not give ear to them, as the Lord had said.
(BBE JPS NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 8:7
And the wonder-workers did the same with their secret arts, making frogs come up over the land of Egypt.
(BBE JPS NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 8:18
And the wonder-workers with their secret arts, attempting to make insects, were unable to do so: and there were insects on man and on beast.
(BBE JPS NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 22:18
Any woman using unnatural powers or secret arts is to be put to death.
(BBE)

Exodus 35:35
To them he has given knowledge of all the arts of the handworker, of the designer, and the expert workman; of the maker of needlework in blue and purple and red and the best linen, and of the maker of cloth; in all the arts of the designer and the trained workman they are expert.
(BBE)

Leviticus 19:26
Nothing may be used for food with its blood in it; you may not make use of strange arts, or go in search of signs and wonders.
(BBE)

Numbers 23:23
No evil power has effect against Jacob, no secret arts against Israel; at the right time it will be said of Jacob and of Israel, See what God has done!
(BBE)

Numbers 24:1
Now when Balaam saw that it was the Lord's pleasure to give his blessing to Israel, he did not, as at other times, make use of secret arts, but turning his face to the waste land,
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 18:10
Let there not be seen among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter go through the fire, or anyone using secret arts, or a maker of strange sounds, or a reader of signs, or any wonder-worker,
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 18:14
For these nations, whose land you are taking, give attention to readers of signs and to those using secret arts: but the Lord your God will not let you do so.
(BBE)

1 Samuel 6:2
And the Philistines sent for the priests and those who were wise in secret arts, and said to them, What are we to do with the ark of the Lord? How are we to send it away to its place?
(BBE)

1 Samuel 15:23
For to go against his orders is like the sin of those who make use of secret arts, and pride is like giving worship to images. Because you have put away from you the word of the Lord, he has put you from your place as king.
(BBE)

1 Samuel 28:3
Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel, after weeping for him, had put his body in its last resting-place in Ramah, his town. And Saul had put away from the land all those who had control of spirits and who made use of secret arts.
(BBE)

1 Samuel 28:9
And the woman said to him, But you have knowledge of what Saul has done, how he has put away out of the land those who have control of spirits and the users of secret arts: why would you, by a trick, put me in danger of death?
(BBE)

2 Kings 9:22
Now when Joram saw Jehu he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he said in answer, What peace is possible while all the land is full of the disgusting sins of your mother Jezebel, and her secret arts?
(BBE)

2 Kings 21:6
And he made his son go through the fire, and made use of secret arts and signs for reading the future; he gave positions to those who had control of spirits and to wonder-workers; he did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, moving him to wrath.
(BBE)

2 Chronicles 33:6
More than this, he made his children go through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom; and he made use of secret arts, and signs for reading the future, and unnatural powers, and gave positions to those who had control of spirits and to wonder-workers: he did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, moving him to wrath.
(BBE)

Isaiah 2:6
For you, O Lord, have given up your people, the family of Jacob, because they are full of the evil ways of the east, and make use of secret arts like the Philistines, and are friends with the children of strange countries.
(BBE)

Isaiah 3:2
The strong man and the man of war; the judge and the prophet; the man who has knowledge of secret arts, and the man who is wise because of his years;
(BBE)

Isaiah 8:19
And when they say to you, Make request for us to those who have control of spirits, and to those wise in secret arts, who make hollow bird-like sounds; is it not right for a people to make request to their gods, to make request for the living to the dead?
(BBE)

Isaiah 44:11
Truly, all those who make use of secret arts will be put to shame, and their words of power are only words of men: let them all come forward together; they will all be in fear and be put to shame.
(BBE)

Isaiah 47:9
But these two things will come on you suddenly in one day, the loss of children and of husband: in full measure they will come on you, for all your secret arts, and all your wonders.
(BBE)

Isaiah 47:12
Go on now with your secret arts, and all your wonder-working, to which you have given yourself up from your earliest days; it may be that they will be of profit to you, or by them you may put fear into your attackers.
(BBE)

Isaiah 57:3
But come near, you sons of her who is wise in secret arts, the seed of her who is false to her husband, and of the loose woman.
(BBE)

Jeremiah 8:22
Is there no life-giving oil in Gilead? is there no expert in medical arts? why then have my people not been made well?
(BBE)

Jeremiah 27:9
And you are not to give attention to your prophets or your readers of signs or your dreamers or those who see into the future or those who make use of secret arts, who say to you, You will not become servants of the king of Babylon:
(BBE)

Jeremiah 46:11
Go up to Gilead and take sweet oil, O virgin daughter of Egypt: there is no help in all your medical arts; nothing will make you well.
(BBE)

Ezekiel 13:6
They have seen visions without substance and made use of secret arts, who say, The Lord has said; and the Lord has not sent them: hoping that the word would have effect.
(BBE)

Ezekiel 13:7
Have you not seen a vision without substance and have you not falsely made use of secret arts, when you say, The Lord has said; though I have said nothing?
(BBE)

Ezekiel 21:21
For the king of Babylon took his place at the parting of the ways, at the top of the two roads, to make use of secret arts: shaking the arrows this way and that, he put questions to the images of his gods, he took note of the inner parts of dead beasts.
(BBE)

Ezekiel 21:23
And this answer given by secret arts will seem false to those who have given their oaths and have let them be broken: but he will keep the memory of evil-doing so that they may be taken.
(BBE)

Daniel 1:20
And in any business needing wisdom and good sense, about which the king put questions to them, he saw that they were ten times better than all the wonder-workers and users of secret arts in all his kingdom.
(BBE)

Daniel 2:2
Then the king gave orders that the wonder-workers, and the users of secret arts, and those who made use of evil powers, and the Chaldaeans, were to be sent for to make clear to the king his dreams. So they came and took their places before the king.
(BBE)

Daniel 2:10
Then the Chaldaeans said to the king in answer, There is not a man on earth able to make clear the king's business; for no king, however great his power, has ever made such a request to any wonder-worker or user of secret arts or Chaldaean.
(BBE)

Daniel 2:27
Then Daniel said in answer to the king, No wise men, or users of secret arts, or wonder-workers, or readers of signs, are able to make clear to the king the secret he is searching for;
(BBE)

Daniel 4:7
Then the wonder-workers, the users of secret arts, the Chaldaeans, and the readers of signs came in to me: and I put the dream before them but they did not make clear the sense of it to me.
(BBE)

Daniel 5:7
The king, crying out with a loud voice, said that the users of secret arts, the Chaldaeans, and the readers of signs, were to be sent for. The king made answer and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whoever is able to make out this writing, and make clear to me the sense of it, will be clothed in purple and have a chain of gold round his neck, and will be a ruler of high authority in the kingdom.
(BBE)

Daniel 5:11
There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father, light and reason like the wisdom of the gods were seen in him: and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father, made him master of the wonder-workers, and the users of secret arts, and the Chaldaeans, and the readers of signs;
(BBE)

Daniel 5:15
And now the wise men, the users of secret arts, have been sent in before me for the purpose of reading this writing and making clear to me the sense of it: but they are not able to make clear the sense of the thing:
(BBE)

Micah 5:12
I will put an end to your use of secret arts, and you will have no more readers of signs:
(BBE)

Nahum 3:4
Because of all the false ways of the loose woman, expert in attraction and wise in secret arts, who takes nations in the net of her false ways, and families through her secret arts.
(BBE)

Subtopics

Arts

Arts of The: Apothecary or Perfumer

Arts of The: Armourer

Arts of The: Baker

Arts of The: Blacksmith

Arts of The: Brazier

Arts of The: Brick-Maker

Arts of The: Calker

Arts of The: Carpenter

Arts of The: Carver

Arts of The: Confectioner