Topical Encyclopedia In biblical terms, "discourse" refers to the communication of thought by words, conversation, or a formal discussion of a subject in speech or writing. The Bible contains numerous examples of discourse, ranging from divine communication to human dialogue, each serving a unique purpose in the narrative of Scripture.Divine Discourse Divine discourse is a central theme in the Bible, where God communicates His will, commandments, and promises to humanity. One of the most significant examples is the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai. In Exodus 20:1-17, God speaks directly to Moses, providing the foundational laws for the Israelites. This divine discourse establishes a covenant relationship between God and His people. Another profound instance of divine discourse is found in the prophetic books, where God speaks through His prophets. For example, in Isaiah 1:18, God invites His people to reason together with Him: "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." Here, God uses discourse to offer redemption and forgiveness. Jesus' Discourses The New Testament records several key discourses of Jesus Christ, which are essential for understanding His teachings and ministry. The Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 5-7, is one of the most comprehensive discourses of Jesus. In this sermon, Jesus expounds on the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven, providing ethical teachings and spiritual insights that guide Christian living. He begins with the Beatitudes, offering blessings to those who embody the values of the Kingdom (Matthew 5:3-12). Another significant discourse is the Olivet Discourse, recorded in Matthew 24-25, where Jesus speaks about the end times and His second coming. This discourse provides prophetic insight into future events and encourages believers to remain vigilant and faithful. Apostolic Discourses The Acts of the Apostles contains several important discourses delivered by the early church leaders. Peter's sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-36) is a pivotal moment in the early church, where he explains the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and calls for repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ. This discourse results in the conversion of about three thousand people (Acts 2:41). Paul's discourses are also noteworthy, particularly his address to the Areopagus in Athens (Acts 17:22-31). In this discourse, Paul engages with Greek philosophers, presenting the gospel in a way that connects with their cultural context. He speaks of the "unknown god" they worship and reveals Him as the one true God who raised Jesus from the dead. Human Discourse The Bible also records numerous instances of human discourse, which reveal the thoughts, emotions, and relationships of its characters. The dialogues between Job and his friends in the Book of Job explore themes of suffering, justice, and divine sovereignty. These discourses provide insight into the human condition and the struggle to understand God's ways. In the Gospels, the interactions between Jesus and various individuals, such as the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:7-26) and Nicodemus (John 3:1-21), highlight the transformative power of personal discourse with Christ. These conversations reveal deep spiritual truths and invite individuals into a relationship with Jesus. Conclusion Discourse in the Bible serves as a means of revelation, instruction, and relationship. Whether through divine communication, the teachings of Jesus, apostolic preaching, or human dialogue, discourse plays a vital role in conveying God's message and advancing His redemptive plan. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (n.) The power of the mind to reason or infer by running, as it were, from one fact or reason to another, and deriving a conclusion; an exercise or act of this power; reasoning; range of reasoning faculty.2. (n.) Conversation; talk. 3. (n.) The art and manner of speaking and conversing. 4. (n.) Consecutive speech, either written or unwritten, on a given line of thought; speech; treatise; dissertation; sermon, etc.; as, the preacher gave us a long discourse on duty. 5. (n.) Dealing; transaction. 6. (v. i.) To exercise reason; to employ the mind in judging and inferring; to reason. 7. (v. i.) To express one's self in oral discourse; to expose one's views; to talk in a continuous or formal manner; to hold forth; to speak; to converse. 8. (v. i.) To relate something; to tell. 9. (v. i.) To treat of something in writing and formally. 10. (v. t.) To treat of; to expose or set forth in language. 11. (v. t.) To utter or give forth; to speak. 12. (v. t.) To talk to; to confer with. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia DISCOURSEdis-kors': In the Revised Version (British and American) of Acts 20:7, 9, the translation of Greek dialegomai (the King James Version "preach"), elsewhere rendered, according to the implications of the context, "reason" or "dispute," as Acts 17:2; Acts 19:9 (the King James Version "disputing," the Revised Version (British and American) "reasoning"); Jude 1:9. TIMOTHY, EPISTLES TO See PASTORAL EPISTLES. Greek 3056. logos -- a word (as embodying an idea), a statement, a ... ... [3056 () is a common term (used 330 times in the NT) with regards to a person sharing a message (discourse, "communication-speech"). ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3056.htm - 8k 1258. dialektos -- speech, language 5274. hupolambano -- to take or bear up, to receive, to assume 3004. lego -- to say 3754. hoti -- that, because 3942. paroimia -- a byword, a parable, an allegory 4487. rhema -- a word, by impl. a matter Strong's Hebrew 5197. nataph -- to drop, drip, discourse... 5196, 5197. nataph. 5198 . to drop, drip, discourse. Transliteration: nataph Phonetic Spelling: (naw-taf') Short Definition: speak. Word Origin a prim. ... /hebrew/5197.htm - 6k 4912. mashal -- a proverb, parable 4406. millah -- a word, thing 4405. millah -- a word, speech, utterance 4986. metheq -- sweetness 5012. naba -- to prophesy Library A Discourse Concerning the Being and Attributes of God A Discourse Fragment from the Discourse. A Discourse On A Discourse which was in the Presence of Antoninus C??sar Discourse to The Greeks Concerning Hades From the Discourse on the Resurrection Discourse III. Discourse IV. Discourse II. Thesaurus Discourse (25 Occurrences)... speech, either written or unwritten, on a given line of thought; speech; treatise; dissertation; sermon, etc.; as, the preacher gave us a long discourse on duty ... /d/discourse.htm - 14k Preach (72 Occurrences) Deuteronomy (1 Occurrence) Lecture (2 Occurrences) Talk (164 Occurrences) Beatitudes Micah (54 Occurrences) Sermon (1 Occurrence) Oration (1 Occurrence) Word (8118 Occurrences) Resources What is the Olivet Discourse? | GotQuestions.orgWhat happened on the Mount of Olives? | GotQuestions.org What does it mean that he who endures to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13)? | GotQuestions.org Discourse: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Discourse (25 Occurrences)Matthew 7:28 Mark 12:13 Mark 13:11 Luke 7:1 Acts 1:1 Acts 15:32 Acts 20:2 Acts 20:7 1 Corinthians 1:5 1 Corinthians 1:17 1 Corinthians 2:1 1 Thessalonians 2:5 1 Timothy 1:6 Titus 2:8 Hebrews 5:11 Numbers 23:7 Numbers 23:18 Numbers 24:3 Numbers 24:15 Numbers 24:20 Numbers 24:21 Numbers 24:23 Job 11:4 Job 27:1 Job 29:1 Subtopics Related Terms |
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