Topical Bible: Being Whole

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Definition and Concept:
Being whole, in a biblical context, refers to a state of completeness or perfection in one's spiritual, emotional, and physical life. It is the harmonious integration of all aspects of a person, aligning with God's design and purpose. This concept is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, where wholeness is often associated with peace, health, and righteousness.

Biblical Foundations:
The idea of being whole is woven throughout Scripture, beginning with the creation account in Genesis. God created humanity in His image, declaring His creation "very good" (Genesis 1:31). This original state of wholeness was disrupted by sin, leading to brokenness and separation from God.

Old Testament Insights:
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word "shalom" often conveys the idea of wholeness. It encompasses peace, completeness, and welfare. The Aaronic blessing in Numbers 6:24-26 includes a prayer for God's peace, implying a desire for wholeness: "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace" .

The prophets also spoke of a future restoration to wholeness. Isaiah 53:5 prophesies the coming of the Messiah, who would bring healing and restoration: "But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed" .

New Testament Fulfillment:
In the New Testament, Jesus Christ embodies and offers wholeness. His ministry was marked by healing and restoration, both physically and spiritually. In Matthew 9:22, Jesus tells the woman with the issue of blood, "Take courage, daughter, your faith has healed you," indicating a restoration to wholeness .

The Apostle Paul speaks of being whole in Christ, emphasizing spiritual completeness. In Colossians 2:9-10, he writes, "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form. And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority" . This completeness is a result of being united with Christ, who reconciles and restores believers to God.

Practical Implications:
Being whole involves a holistic approach to life, where spiritual, emotional, and physical aspects are integrated under the lordship of Christ. It requires a commitment to spiritual growth, obedience to God's Word, and reliance on the Holy Spirit. The pursuit of wholeness is a journey of sanctification, where believers are progressively conformed to the image of Christ.

Wholeness in Community:
The church, as the body of Christ, plays a vital role in fostering wholeness among its members. Ephesians 4:11-13 highlights the purpose of spiritual gifts in building up the body to maturity and unity: "And He gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for works of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ" .

Eternal Perspective:
Ultimately, the fullness of being whole will be realized in eternity. Revelation 21:4 describes a future where God will restore all things: "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away" . This promise of eternal wholeness offers hope and encouragement to believers as they navigate the challenges of this life.

Topical Bible Verses

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Topicalbible.org

John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
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Jeremiah 1:5
Before I formed you in the belly I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified you, and I ordained you a prophet to the nations.
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Greek

4883. sunarmologeo -- to fit together
... in the NT (Eph 2:21, 4:16) -- both times of God "fitly framing believers (OT, NT)
into a harmonious, whole." That is, each individual being functioning as a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4883.htm - 7k

3308. merimna -- care, anxiety
... anxiety. Cognate: 3308 (see 3307 , "divide") -- properly, a , from the whole;
(figuratively) (), and a person's being. See 3309 (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3308.htm - 7k

1577. ekklesia -- an assembly, a (religious) congregation
... the Church, the whole body of Christian believers. 1577 (from 1537 , " and " and
2564 , "to call") -- properly, people the world and to God, the being the (the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1577.htm - 8k

2480. ischuo -- to be strong, have power
... pray for the benefit of one another, for the purpose of being supernaturally healed. ...
not), could, be good, might, prevail, be of strength, be whole, + much work ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2480.htm - 9k

4998. sophron -- of sound mind, self-controlled
... because correctly (divinely) balanced (which is far more than being "the middle ... The
whole word-family (root, ) comes from ("safe") and ("what life"), which is ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4998.htm - 8k

Library

Prayer Takes in the Whole Man
... Prayer takes in man in his whole being, mind, soul and body. ... The Son of God in
Gethsemane was in an agony of prayer, which engaged His whole being: ...
/.../bounds/the essentials of prayer/i prayer takes in the.htm

Perhaps There is no Book Within the Whole Canon of Scripture So ...
... full advantage of his matured wisdom, the solemn questions of his inmost being;
and show ... that is, that the first few sentences will give the gist of the whole. ...
/.../jennings/old groans and new songs/chapter i perhaps there is.htm

The Natural Supremacy of Reflection
... are perfectly coincident; for the most part in this world, but entirely and in every
instance if we take in the future and the whole; this being implied in the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/butler/human nature/sermon iii the natural supremacy.htm

By Divine Inspiration Philosophers Sometimes Hit on the Truth.
... God is one; and He is not, as some suppose, outside of this frame of things, but
within it; but, in all the entireness of His being, is in the whole circle of ...
/.../exhortation to the heathen/chapter vi by divine inspiration philosophers.htm

The Testament of Abraham. Introduction.
... recognizing Michael as one of the three who came to Abraham at the oak of Mamre,
with the added circumstance of the calf rising up whole after being eaten. ...
/.../unknown/the testament of abraham/the testament of abraham introduction.htm

Restoring the Creator-Creature Relation
... I speak of a voluntary exalting of God to His proper station over us and a willing
surrender of our whole being to the place of worshipful submission which the ...
/.../tozer/the pursuit of god/viii restoring the creator-creature relation.htm

But as to those who Think that not Here...
... men possessing this nature shared by us all, has confession been appointed to be
made, what a supposition is theirs, being at variance with the whole order of ...
/.../tertullian/scorpiace antidote for the scorpions sting/chapter x but as to.htm

Upon the Character of Balaam. Preached the Second Sunday after ...
... done evil, and partly from an apprehension that this inward sense shall one time
or another be seconded by a higher judgment, upon which our whole being depends ...
//christianbookshelf.org/butler/human nature/sermon vii upon the character.htm

Evolution in General
... given us. These researches, preliminary reconnaissances though they be,
are surely worthy of being looked upon as a whole. No one ...
/.../drummond/the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/i evolution in general.htm

The Study of Words
... Eloquence requires a more manly temper, and if its whole body be sound and vigorous,
it ... lose the graces at which they aim, and are far from being striking and ...
/.../kleiser/the training of a public speaker/the study of words.htm