The term "cultured" generally refers to an individual or society that exhibits refined taste, education, and appreciation for the arts and intellectual pursuits. In a biblical context, the concept of being cultured can be examined through the lens of wisdom, knowledge, and the development of character in accordance with God's principles.

Wisdom and Knowledge

The Bible places a high value on wisdom and knowledge, which are foundational to being truly cultured. Proverbs 1:7 states, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." This verse underscores that true knowledge and culture begin with a reverence for God. The pursuit of wisdom is encouraged throughout Scripture, as seen in Proverbs 4:7 : "Wisdom is supreme; therefore acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding."

Education and Learning

Education and learning are also important aspects of being cultured. The Bible encourages the pursuit of knowledge and understanding, as seen in Proverbs 18:15 : "The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it out." The Apostle Paul, a well-educated man, often engaged with the cultural and intellectual leaders of his time, as seen in Acts 17:22-23 , where he addresses the Athenians at the Areopagus, acknowledging their religious and philosophical pursuits.

Art and Beauty

The appreciation of art and beauty is another dimension of being cultured. The Bible recognizes the value of artistic expression, as evidenced by the detailed descriptions of the Tabernacle and the Temple, which were adorned with beautiful craftsmanship (Exodus 31:1-5). The Psalms, a collection of poetic and musical works, reflect the importance of artistic expression in worship and the life of faith.

Character and Conduct

A truly cultured individual, according to biblical principles, is not only knowledgeable and appreciative of the arts but also exhibits godly character and conduct. Galatians 5:22-23 describes the fruit of the Spirit, which includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These qualities reflect a life that is cultured in the truest sense, as they align with God's character and design for humanity.

Engagement with Society

Being cultured also involves engaging with society in a meaningful way. Christians are called to be "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world" (Matthew 5:13-14), influencing culture positively by living out their faith. The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 9:22 , speaks of becoming "all things to all men" to win some to Christ, demonstrating the importance of understanding and engaging with the cultural context in which one lives.

In summary, the biblical perspective on being cultured encompasses the pursuit of wisdom and knowledge, appreciation for art and beauty, development of godly character, and meaningful engagement with society. These elements together form a holistic view of what it means to be truly cultured in accordance with biblical principles.1. (imp. & p. p.) of Culture.

2. (a.) Under culture; cultivated.

3. (a.) Characterized by mental and moral training; disciplined; refined; well-educated.

The Channel of Power.
... They may be nice people, cultured, lovable, delightful companions, fond of music
and good books, and all that; but this is true of them, that they do not trust ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on power/the channel of power.htm

The Lone Man who Went Before
... He drew all sorts of men. He drew the Jews, to whom He belonged racially. He drew
the aggressive, domineering Romans, and the gentler cultured Greeks. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on following the christ/the lone man who went.htm

Letter viii. Who are the Cultivated?
... language are so much bandied about in efforts to describe or classify society at
the present day as are the words "culture," "cultured," "cultivated" and their ...
/.../letter viii who are the.htm

Jesus Recognised by all the Race.
... sorts. The intense Jew, the half-breed Samaritan, the aggressive Roman,
the cultured refined Greek,"that was all the world. And ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/jesus recognised by all the.htm

Luther --A Stone on the Cairn
... He was no mere brave revolutionary, he was a cultured scholar, abreast of all the
learning of his age, capable of logic-chopping and scholastic disputation on ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/luthera stone on the cairn.htm

Letter ii. Self-Control and Self-Culture.
... We hear a great deal now-a-days about culture, cultured people, cultivated society,
etc., and it is a good and natural wish to possess culture and to be ...
/.../letter ii self-control and self-culture.htm

Love Unknowable and Known
... can only address itself to fools; not because Christianity, contradicting wisdom,
cannot expect to be received by the wise and the cultured, but because a ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/love unknowable and known.htm

Significant Phrases
... civility and communicativeness. civilized and cultured. clamorous and wild. ... crumbling
and shapeless. crushed and bewildered. cultured and refined. ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section ii significant phrases.htm

Warp-Threads.
... This man is of the inner upper cultured circle, that controlled national affairs,
that sent that Jordan committee, and that had been so upset by the temple ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/warp-threads.htm

The Sovereignty of God in Salvation
... The carnal mind would have supposed that a selection had been made from the ranks
of the opulent and influential, the amiable and cultured, so that ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter four the sovereignty of.htm

Cultured (1 Occurrence)
...Cultured (1 Occurrence). Romans 1:14 I am already under obligations alike to
Greek-speaking races and to others, to cultured and to uncultured people: (WEY). ...
/c/cultured.htm - 6k

Uncultured (1 Occurrence)
... Uncultured (1 Occurrence). Romans 1:14 I am already under obligations alike to
Greek-speaking races and to others, to cultured and to uncultured people: (WEY). ...
/u/uncultured.htm - 6k

Obligation (17 Occurrences)
... Romans 1:14 I am already under obligations alike to Greek-speaking races and to
others, to cultured and to uncultured people: (Root in WEY NAS RSV). ...
/o/obligation.htm - 12k

Obligations (10 Occurrences)
... Romans 1:14 I am already under obligations alike to Greek-speaking races
and to others, to cultured and to uncultured people: (WEY). ...
/o/obligations.htm - 9k

Greek-speaking (2 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Romans 1:14 I am already under obligations alike to Greek-speaking races
and to others, to cultured and to uncultured people: (WEY). ...
/g/greek-speaking.htm - 7k

Writing (194 Occurrences)
... were already acquainted with alphabetic writing, that the wanderers in the desert
and the tribes of Edom were in contact with the cultured scribes and traders ...
/w/writing.htm - 70k

Refined (26 Occurrences)
... & pp) of Refine. 2. (a.) Freed from impurities or alloy; purified; polished; cultured;
delicate; as; refined gold; refined language; refined sentiments. ...
/r/refined.htm - 14k

Races (3 Occurrences)
... Races (3 Occurrences). Romans 1:14 I am already under obligations alike to
Greek-speaking races and to others, to cultured and to uncultured people: (WEY). ...
/r/races.htm - 7k

Dream (82 Occurrences)
... Even the cultured are not without a superstitious awe and dread of dreams, attaching
to them different interpretations according to local color and custom. ...
/d/dream.htm - 47k

Dreamer (4 Occurrences)
... Even the cultured are not without a superstitious awe and dread of dreams, attaching
to them different interpretations according to local color and custom. ...
/d/dreamer.htm - 18k

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