The term "ascertained" refers to the process of discovering, determining, or establishing something with certainty. In the context of the Bible, ascertaining often involves seeking truth, understanding God's will, or confirming facts through evidence or divine revelation. The concept of ascertaining is integral to the pursuit of wisdom and knowledge, as encouraged throughout Scripture.

Biblical Context

1. Seeking Truth and Wisdom: The Bible frequently emphasizes the importance of seeking truth and wisdom. 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 understanding and the process of ascertaining divine truths.

2. Testing and Proving: The New Testament encourages believers to test and prove all things to ascertain their truthfulness. In 1 Thessalonians 5:21 , Paul instructs, "but test all things. Hold fast to what is good." This directive underscores the importance of discernment and the need to ascertain the validity of teachings and practices.

3. Divine Revelation: Throughout the Bible, God reveals His will and truth to His people, allowing them to ascertain His plans and purposes. In the Old Testament, prophets often received direct revelations from God, which they communicated to the people. For example, in Jeremiah 33:3 , God promises, "Call to Me, and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know." This assurance of divine revelation is a means by which believers can ascertain God's will.

4. Historical and Factual Confirmation: The Bible also records instances where facts are ascertained through investigation or testimony. In the Book of Acts, the Bereans are commended for their diligence in ascertaining the truth of Paul's message. Acts 17:11 notes, "Now the Bereans were 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." Their example serves as a model for verifying the truth through Scripture.

5. Faith and Understanding: While ascertaining truth often involves evidence and reason, faith also plays a crucial role. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see." Faith allows believers to ascertain spiritual truths that may not be immediately evident through empirical means.

Applications for Believers

Believers are called to ascertain truth in their spiritual lives by engaging with Scripture, seeking divine guidance, and exercising discernment. This involves a commitment to study, prayer, and reliance on the Holy Spirit. Ascertaining truth is not merely an intellectual exercise but a spiritual discipline that leads to a deeper relationship with God and a more profound understanding of His will.(imp. & p. p.) of Ascertain.1097. ginosko -- to come to know, recognize, perceive
... ghin-oce'-ko) Short Definition: I come to know, learn, realize Definition: I am
taking in knowledge, come to know, learn; aor: I ascertained, realized. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1097.htm - 12k2713. chaqar -- to search
... root Definition to search NASB Word Usage ascertained (1), examines (2), find (1),
found (2), investigated (2), make a search (1), pondered (1), probe (1 ...
/hebrew/2713.htm - 6k

A Question Whether Chastity Ought to be Ascertained Just as the ...
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter XV. A question whether chastity
ought to be ascertained just as the other feelings. Germanus ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter xv a question whether 2.htm

Epistle Xliv. To Peter, Subdeacon of Sicily.
... We have ascertained that the peasants [1343] of the Church are exceedingly aggrieved
in respect of the prices of corn, in that the sum appointed them to pay is ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle xliv to peter subdeacon.htm

General Principles of Interpretation. 1 Since the Bible Addresses ...
... words of the sentence, whether he wishes to be understood literally or figuratively,
and various other particulars; all which are to be ascertained by the same ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxiv general principles of.htm

What we Can Say on the Historicity of the Miracles of Jesus
... Jesus. We turn to the second question: What can be ascertained purely
historically concerning the reality of the miracles of Jesus? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/beth/the miracles of jesus/iii what we can say.htm

In the Present Crusade against the Bible and the Faith of ...
... that the Bible is a book abounding in statements concerning matters of Physical
Science which are flatly contradicted by the ascertained phenomena of Nature? ...
/.../burgon/inspiration and interpretation/v in the present crusade.htm

Chronology of the Apostolic Age.
... 2:1-10). This date is ascertained by reckoning backwards to Paul's conversion,
and forward to the Caesarean captivity. Paul was ...
/.../history of the christian church volume i/section 23 chronology of the.htm

Appendix vii. On the Date of the Nativity of Our Lord
... Now the year of Herod's death has been ascertained with, we may say, absolute certainty,
as shortly before the Passover of the year 750 AUC, which corresponds ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix vii on the date.htm

Of the Ages of Vain Superstitions, and the Times at which they ...
... Now, since we have ascertained the origin of vain superstitions, it remains that
we should also collect the times during which they whose memory is honoured ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xxiii of the ages of.htm

Of God, and the Religious Rites of the Foolish; of Avarice, and ...
... to be a crime to inquire into it. And thus it is everywhere believed as
ascertained truth. In short, in Cicero, [179] Cotta thus ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap vii of god and the.htm

Epistle xxxvi. To Peter the Subdeacon.
... who has suffered violence should be obliged to come to me, and undertake the labour
of so long a journey, in which case it could not be ascertained here before ...
/.../gregory/the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle xxxvi to peter the.htm

Ascertained (8 Occurrences)
...Ascertained (8 Occurrences). Matthew 2:7 Thereupon Herod sent privately for the
Magi and ascertained from them the exact time of the star's appearing. (WEY RSV) ...
/a/ascertained.htm - 8k

Ascertain (5 Occurrences)

/a/ascertain.htm - 8k

Nativity (9 Occurrences)
... at this period, and there Christ was born (Matthew 2:1, 6; Luke 2:1, 7). The exact
year or month or day of his birth cannot, however, now be exactly ascertained...
/n/nativity.htm - 11k

Neighbourhood (9 Occurrences)
... sent and massacred all the boys under two years of age, in Bethlehem and all its
neighbourhood, according to the date he had so carefully ascertained from the ...
/n/neighbourhood.htm - 9k

Uproar (33 Occurrences)
... Some of the crowd shouted one accusation against Paul and some another, until, as
the uproar made it impossible for the truth to be ascertained with certainty ...
/u/uproar.htm - 16k

Impossible (31 Occurrences)
... Some of the crowd shouted one accusation against Paul and some another, until, as
the uproar made it impossible for the truth to be ascertained with certainty ...
/i/impossible.htm - 17k

Furious (28 Occurrences)
... sent and massacred all the boys under two years of age, in Bethlehem and all its
neighbourhood, according to the date he had so carefully ascertained from the ...
/f/furious.htm - 14k

Finding (57 Occurrences)
... sent and massacred all the boys under two years of age, in Bethlehem and all its
neighbourhood, according to the date he had so carefully ascertained from the ...
/f/finding.htm - 23k

Fact (98 Occurrences)
... has cut short the days. (WEY). Mark 15:45 and having ascertained the fact
he granted the body to Joseph. (WEY). Luke 22:59 After an ...
/f/fact.htm - 36k

Trifled (1 Occurrence)
... sent and massacred all the boys under two years of age, in Bethlehem and all its
neighbourhood, according to the date he had so carefully ascertained from the ...
/t/trifled.htm - 6k

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