The term "ascertain" refers to the process of discovering, determining, or making certain of something. In the context of the Bible, ascertaining often involves seeking understanding, wisdom, or truth through study, prayer, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The concept of ascertaining is integral to the life of a believer, as it involves discerning God's will and understanding His Word.

Biblical Context and Usage

While the specific term "ascertain" may not frequently appear in most English translations of the Bible, the concept is deeply embedded in the scriptural narrative. The Berean Standard Bible emphasizes the importance of seeking truth and understanding, which aligns with the idea of ascertaining.

1. Seeking Wisdom and Understanding: Proverbs 2:3-5 states, "if you indeed call out for insight and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search it out like hidden treasure, then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God." This passage highlights the active pursuit of wisdom and understanding, akin to ascertaining the deeper truths of God.

2. Testing and Proving: In 1 Thessalonians 5:21 , Paul instructs believers to "test all things; hold fast to what is good." This directive involves ascertaining the truth and validity of teachings and practices, ensuring they align with God's Word.

3. Discernment through the Spirit: 1 Corinthians 2:14 explains, "The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." Ascertaining spiritual truths requires the discernment that comes from the Holy Spirit, enabling believers to understand and apply God's wisdom.

4. Verification of Truth: Acts 17:11 describes the Bereans as "more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true." The Bereans exemplify the process of ascertaining truth by diligently studying the Scriptures.

Theological Implications

The act of ascertaining is crucial for believers who seek to live according to God's will. It involves a commitment to truth, a willingness to study and understand Scripture, and a reliance on the Holy Spirit for guidance. Ascertaining is not merely an intellectual exercise but a spiritual discipline that shapes one's faith and practice.

Practical Application

1. Study of Scripture: Believers are encouraged to engage in regular and thorough study of the Bible, seeking to ascertain its meaning and application for their lives. This involves not only reading but also meditating on and memorizing Scripture.

2. Prayer for Wisdom: James 1:5 assures believers, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." Prayer is a vital component in ascertaining God's will and understanding His Word.

3. Community and Counsel: Engaging with a community of believers and seeking godly counsel can aid in the process of ascertaining truth. Proverbs 11:14 notes, "Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety."

4. Discernment of Spirits: As believers seek to ascertain truth, they must also be aware of spiritual deception. 1 John 4:1 warns, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

In summary, the concept of ascertaining in the Bible involves a diligent and prayerful pursuit of truth, wisdom, and understanding, guided by the Holy Spirit and grounded in Scripture.1. (v. t.) To render (a person) certain; to cause to feel certain; to make confident; to assure; to apprise.

2. (v. t.) To make (a thing) certain to the mind; to free from obscurity, doubt, or change; to make sure of; to fix; to determine.

3. (v. t.) To find out or learn for a certainty, by trial, examination, or experiment; to get to know; as, to ascertain the weight of a commodity, or the purity of a metal.

4441. punthanomai -- to inquire, by impl. to learn
... Verb Transliteration: punthanomai Phonetic Spelling: (poon-than'-om-ahee) Short
Definition: I ask, inquire Definition: I ask, inquire, ascertain by inquiry ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4441.htm - 7k

3129. manthano -- to learn
... to learn. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: manthano Phonetic Spelling:
(man-than'-o) Short Definition: I learn, ascertain Definition: I learn; with adj. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3129.htm - 8k

1921. epiginosko -- to know exactly, to recognize
... Word Origin from epi and ginosko Definition to know exactly, to recognize NASB Word
Usage acknowledge (1), ascertain (2), aware (2), find (1), found (2), fully ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1921.htm - 10k

198. akriboo -- exact, precise
... See 199 (). enquire diligently. From the same as akribestatos; to be exact,
ie Ascertain -- enquire diligently. see GREEK akribestatos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/198.htm - 6k

1331. dierotao -- to find by inquiry
... to ask about, learn by inquiry. From dia and erotao; to question throughout, ie
Ascertain by interrogation -- make enquiry foreign. see GREEK dia. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1331.htm - 6k

1231. diaginosko -- to distinguish, to determine
... enquire, know the uttermost. From dia and ginosko; to know thoroughly, ie Ascertain
exactly -- (would) enquire, know the uttermost. see GREEK dia. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1231.htm - 7k

1833. exetazo -- to examine closely
... ask, enquire, search. From ek and etazo (to examine); to test thoroughly (by questions),
ie Ascertain or interrogate -- ask, enquire, search. see GREEK ek. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1833.htm - 7k

3354. metreo -- to measure, measure out
... From metron; to measure (ie Ascertain in size by a fixed standard); by implication,
to admeasure (ie Allot by rule) -- figuratively, to estimate -- measure ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3354.htm - 7k

3045. yada -- to know
... A primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety
of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially ...
/hebrew/3045.htm - 8k

How to Ascertain the Will of God
... HOW TO ASCERTAIN THE WILL OF GOD. I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such
a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/muller/answers to prayer/how to ascertain the will.htm

After this Celsus Continues: "It is not Easy, Indeed...
... After this Celsus continues: "It is not easy, indeed, for one who is not a philosopher
to ascertain the origin of evils, though it is sufficient for the ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter lxv after this celsus.htm

On Incorporeal and Corporeal Beings.
... We have now to ascertain what those matters are which it is proper to treat in the
following pages according to our dogmatic belief, ie, in agreement with the ...
/.../origen/origen de principiis/chapter vii on incorporeal and corporeal.htm

Volume iii. From the Year 1816 to the Year 1828.
... In such cases I have, as far as I could ascertain the fact, fixed the date of their
location the last time mentioned, with a view to give them credit for at ...
/.../volume iii from the year.htm

Extracts No. Iii.
... "That I deserve any credit in the opinion of our friend or my own conscience for
the unwearied pains I have taken to ascertain the correct ideas communicated ...
/.../ballou/a series of letters in defence of divine revelation/extracts no iii.htm

Examine Yourself Whether Ye be in the Faith; Prove Your Own Selves ...
... It is nothing less than a positive command that we should ascertain our own true
character, and settle the question definitely for ourselves, whether we are ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/examine yourself whether ye be.htm

The Early Fathers Appealed To, and Observed to Bear Favourable ...
... We have first to ascertain whether the external testimony concerning S. Mark
16:9-20 is of such a nature as to constrain us to admit that it is highly probable ...
/.../chapter iii the early fathers.htm

The Early Fathers Appealed To, and Observed to Bear Favourable ...
... seven Chapters will be necessary:(27) for a discussion of the latter, one seventh
of that space will suffice.(28) We have first to ascertain whether the ...
/.../chapter iii the early fathers.htm

Article xii (V): of Repentance.
... For all good men will ascertain that especially on this subject we have taught things
that are true, godly, salutary, and necessary for the whole Church of ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 15 article xii v .htm

The Review of the Troops at Doriscus.
... The first thing was to ascertain the numbers of the troops; and as the soldiers
were too numerous to be counted, Xerxes determined to measure the mighty mass ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/xerxes/chapter vi the review of.htm

Ascertain (5 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To find out or learn for a certainty, by trial, examination, or experiment;
to get to know; as, to ascertain the weight of a commodity, or the purity ...
/a/ascertain.htm - 8k

Prove (83 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To try or to ascertain by an experiment, or by a test or standard; to test;
as, to prove the strength of gunpowder or of ordnance; to prove the ...
/p/prove.htm - 34k

Sound (1245 Occurrences)
... 13. (vt) To measure the depth of; to fathom; especially, to ascertain the
depth of by means of a line and plummet. 14. (vt) Fig.: To ...
/s/sound.htm - 12k

Survey (6 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To examine with reference to condition, situation, value, etc.; to examine
and ascertain the state of; as, to survey a building in order to determine ...
/s/survey.htm - 9k

Determine (13 Occurrences)
... 5. (vt) To ascertain definitely; to find out the specific character or name of;
to assign to its true place in a system; as, to determine an unknown or a newly ...
/d/determine.htm - 13k

Discover (28 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To obtain for the first time sight or knowledge of, as of a thing existing
already, but not perceived or known; to find; to ascertain; to espy; to ...
/d/discover.htm - 17k

Measure (269 Occurrences)
... 16. (n.) The act of measuring; measurement. 17. (a.) Beds or strata; as, coal measures;
lead measures. 18. (n.) To ascertain by use of a measuring instrument ...
/m/measure.htm - 45k

Calculate (7 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To ascertain or determine by mathematical processes, usually by the ordinary
rules of arithmetic; to reckon up; to estimate; to compute. ...
/c/calculate.htm - 9k

Ascertained (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Ascertain. Multi-Version Concordance
Ascertained (8 Occurrences). Matthew 2:7 Thereupon ...
/a/ascertained.htm - 8k

Precious (128 Occurrences)
... For the interpretation of the Bible it is thus necessary to ascertain, if possible,
the kind of stone to which a Greek or Hebrew name was applied at the time ...
/p/precious.htm - 71k

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