Definition and General Overview:

Bounty, in a biblical context, refers to the generous and abundant provision of God towards His creation, as well as the call for believers to emulate this generosity in their own lives. It encompasses both material and spiritual blessings, highlighting God's nature as a provider and the expected response of gratitude and generosity from His people.

Biblical References:

1. God's Bounty:
· God's provision is evident throughout Scripture, where He is depicted as the ultimate source of all good things. In Psalm 65:11, the psalmist declares, "You crown the year with Your bounty, and Your paths overflow with plenty." This verse illustrates the abundance of God's blessings in nature and His providential care over creation.
· In James 1:17, it is written, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow." This passage emphasizes that all good things originate from God, who is unchanging in His generosity.

2. Human Response to God's Bounty:
· Believers are called to reflect God's generosity in their own lives. In 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, Paul writes, "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver." This passage encourages Christians to give freely and joyfully, trusting in God's provision.
· Proverbs 11:25 states, "A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." This proverb highlights the reciprocal nature of generosity, where those who give are themselves blessed.

3. Examples of Bounty in Scripture:
· The feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 14:13-21) is a powerful example of Jesus' miraculous provision, demonstrating God's ability to provide abundantly beyond human limitations.
· The account of the widow's oil in 2 Kings 4:1-7 illustrates God's provision through the prophet Elisha, where a small amount of oil is multiplied to meet the needs of a widow and her sons.

Theological Implications:

The concept of bounty in the Bible underscores the character of God as a generous provider who delights in blessing His people. It also serves as a reminder of the responsibility of believers to be stewards of God's gifts, using them to bless others and advance His kingdom. The principle of sowing and reaping, as seen in 2 Corinthians 9, encourages believers to trust in God's provision and to give generously, knowing that God will supply their needs.

Practical Applications:

· Generosity in Giving: Christians are encouraged to give not only financially but also of their time and talents, reflecting God's generosity in all areas of life.
· Trust in God's Provision: Believers are called to trust in God's ability to provide for their needs, even in times of scarcity, and to live with an attitude of gratitude and contentment.
· Stewardship: Recognizing that all resources are ultimately God's, Christians are to manage their possessions wisely and use them for His glory.

Conclusion:

The biblical concept of bounty is a profound reminder of God's abundant provision and the call for His people to live generously. Through understanding and practicing the principles of bounty, believers can experience the joy and blessing that come from aligning with God's generous nature.1. (n.) Goodness, kindness; virtue; worth.

2. (n.) Liberality in bestowing gifts or favors; gracious or liberal giving; generosity; munificence.

3. (n.) That which is given generously or liberally.

4. (n.) A premium offered or given to induce men to enlist into the public service; or to encourage any branch of industry, as husbandry or manufactures.

BOUNTIFULNESS; BOUNTY

boun'-ti-fool-nes, boun'-ti (haplotes, "singleness," "benevolence," 2 Corinthians 9:11 the King James Version; Tobh, "to be good" (Proverbs 22:9); eulogia, "good speech," "blessing" (2 Corinthians 9:6); gamal, "to treat well" (Psalm 119:17); shoa`, "to be liberal" (Isaiah 32:5); yadh, "hand," "power"): Paul speaks of the church at Corinth "being enriched in everything unto all liberality" (the King James Version "bountifulness," 2 Corinthians 9:11). The offering of the church at Corinth for the Christians of Judea is termed a "bounty," a blessing, liberally given: "and not of extortion" (the King James Version "of covetousness," 2 Corinthians 9:5, 6). The word occurs also in 1 Kings 10:13: "Besides that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty," literally "according to the hand of King Solomon."

L. Kaiser

2129. eulogia -- praise, blessing
... bountifully (2), flattering speech (1). blessing, bounty, fair speech. From
the same as eulogeo; fine speaking, ie Elegance of language ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2129.htm - 7k

1434. dorema -- a gift, a bestowment
... a gift, a bestowment. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: dorema Phonetic
Spelling: (do'-ray-mah) Short Definition: a gift, bounty Definition: a gift ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1434.htm - 6k

100. hadrotes -- thickness, abundance
... Feminine Transliteration: hadrotes Phonetic Spelling: (had-rot'-ace) Short Definition:
lavishness Definition: lavishness, lavish generosity, abundance, bounty. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/100.htm - 6k

726. harpazo -- to seize, catch up, snatch away
... 726 -- properly, seize by force; up, suddenly and decisively -- like someone seizing
bounty (spoil, a prize); to take by an of force (ie covertly or secretly). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/726.htm - 7k

3027. yad -- hand
... 2), authority (9), axles (2), bank (1), banks (1), because (1), become* (1), beside
(3), beside* (8), boldly* (2), bordered* (1), borders (1), bounty (3), care ...
/hebrew/3027.htm - 8k

6340. pazar -- to scatter
... disperse, scatter abroad. A primitive root; to scatter, whether in enmity or bounty --
disperse, scatter (abroad). 6339, 6340. pazar. 6341 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/6340.htm - 5k

2899b. tobah -- welfare, benefit, good things, good
... Word Origin from tob Definition welfare, benefit, good things, good NASB Word Usage
bounty (1), enjoy* (2), favorably disposed (1), good (34), good deeds (1 ...
/hebrew/2899b.htm - 5k

2898. tub -- good things, goods, goodness
... Word Origin from tob Definition good things, goods, goodness NASB Word Usage best
(3), best things (1), bounty (2), comeliness (1), fair (1), glad (2), good (2 ...
/hebrew/2898.htm - 6k

5078. nedeh -- a gift
... gifts. From nadah in the sense of freely flinging money; a bounty (for prostitution) --
gifts. see HEBREW nadah. 5077, 5078. nedeh. 5079 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/5078.htm - 6k

O Lord of Bounty, Let this Bread
... COMMUNION O Lord of bounty, let this bread. 8,8,8,8,8,8 tr., John Brownlie.
I. O Lord of bounty, let this bread. Be Thy pure Body unto me; ...
//christianbookshelf.org/brownlie/hymns from the east/o lord of bounty let.htm

The Superlative Bounty of God! Where all Power Seemeth to Cease
... THE FOURTH CENTURY 46 O the superlative Bounty of God! Where all power
seemeth to cease. O the superlative Bounty of God! Where ...
/.../traherne/centuries of meditations/46 o the superlative bounty.htm

Very Lately it Happened Thus: While the Bounty of Our Most ...
... Chapter I. Very lately it happened thus: while the bounty of our most
excellent emperors was? [380] Very lately it happened thus ...
/.../tertullian/the chaplet or de corona/chapter i very lately it.htm

God's Love for the Flesh of Man, as Developed in the Grace of ...
... Grace of Christ Towards It. The Flesh the Best Means of Displaying the
Bounty and Power of God. To recapitulate, then: Shall that ...
/.../tertullian/on the resurrection of the flesh/chapter ix gods love for the.htm

The True Doctrine. Creation Out of Nothing, of God's Lavish Bounty ...
... Section 3. The true doctrine. Creation out of nothing, of God's lavish bounty of
being. Man created above the rest, but incapable of independent perseverance. ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/section 3 the true doctrine.htm

What Benefits God Gives to the Followers of the Truth to Enjoy ...
... Book VII. Chapter 31."What Benefits God Gives to the Followers of the Truth
to Enjoy Over and Above His General Bounty. For, besides ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 31 what benefits god gives.htm

Of the Persons Upon whom a Benefit is to be Conferred.
... [1161]. What does Marcus Tullius say in his books respecting Offices? Does
he not also advise that bounty should not be employed at all? ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xi of the persons upon.htm

Of Repentance, of Mercy, and the Forgiveness of Sins.
... Nor, however, because offences are removed by bounty, think that a licence
is given you for sinning. For they are done away with ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xiii of repentance of mercy.htm

The Collection for St Paul: the Farewell
... taking thought+ (ephroneite), even when you made no sign; +but you were at a loss
for opportunity+ for the transmission; no bearer for your bounty could be ...
/.../moule/philippian studies/chapter xii the collection for.htm

Appendix (Referred to in Note 1)
... remarks in the second Epistle to the same Church that there were some who desired
to impute base motives to him as though he wished to share in this bounty. ...
/.../groves/christian devotedness/appendix referred to in note.htm

Bounty (14 Occurrences)
... manufactures. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BOUNTIFULNESS; BOUNTY. boun ...
Kaiser. Multi-Version Concordance Bounty (14 Occurrences). 1 ...
/b/bounty.htm - 12k

Bountifulness (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia BOUNTIFULNESS; BOUNTY. boun'-ti-fool-nes,
boun'-ti (haplotes, "singleness," "benevolence," 2 Corinthians ...
/b/bountifulness.htm - 8k

Liberality (7 Occurrences)
... principal Greek words are haplotes literally, "simplicity," "sincerity," and charis,
"grace," "favor." In 1 Corinthians 16:3, "bounty" substitutes "liberality ...
/l/liberality.htm - 10k

Notice (44 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that
they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye ...
/n/notice.htm - 19k

Whereof (94 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that
they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye ...
/w/whereof.htm - 36k

Exhort (37 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that
they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye ...
/e/exhort.htm - 17k

Extortion (14 Occurrences)
... 9:5 I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brethren, that they would go
before unto you, and make up beforehand your aforepromised bounty, that the ...
/e/extortion.htm - 12k

Beforehand (38 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that
they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye ...
/b/beforehand.htm - 17k

Aforepromised (1 Occurrence)
... 9:5 I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brethren, that they would go
before unto you, and make up beforehand your aforepromised bounty, that the ...
/a/aforepromised.htm - 6k

Covetousness (22 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that
they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye ...
/c/covetousness.htm - 18k

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