Definition and Context
Enlightenment, in a biblical context, refers to the spiritual illumination and understanding granted by God to individuals, enabling them to comprehend divine truths and mysteries. This concept is deeply rooted in the Scriptures, where enlightenment is often associated with the work of the Holy Spirit in revealing God's wisdom and knowledge to believers.

Biblical References
The theme of enlightenment is prevalent throughout the Bible, with numerous passages highlighting its significance. In the Old Testament, Psalm 119:130 states, "The unfolding of Your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple." Here, enlightenment is linked to the revelation of God's Word, which brings clarity and insight to those who seek it.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul frequently addresses the concept of enlightenment in his epistles. Ephesians 1:17-18 reads, "I ask that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints." Paul emphasizes the role of divine enlightenment in understanding the hope and inheritance believers have in Christ.

Role of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in the process of enlightenment. Jesus promised His disciples that the Spirit would guide them into all truth (John 16:13). The Spirit's work involves illuminating the minds of believers, enabling them to grasp spiritual realities and apply them to their lives. This divine guidance is essential for discerning God's will and living in accordance with His purposes.

Enlightenment and Salvation
Enlightenment is closely tied to the experience of salvation. It is through the enlightening work of the Holy Spirit that individuals come to recognize their need for a Savior and understand the gospel message. 2 Corinthians 4:6 states, "For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." This passage underscores the transformative power of enlightenment in bringing people from spiritual darkness into the light of Christ.

Practical Implications
For believers, seeking enlightenment involves a commitment to studying Scripture, prayer, and openness to the Holy Spirit's leading. Proverbs 2:3-6 encourages believers to "call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding," promising that the Lord gives wisdom and understanding to those who earnestly seek it. Enlightenment is not merely an intellectual exercise but a dynamic relationship with God that impacts every aspect of life.

Contrast with Secular Enlightenment
It is important to distinguish biblical enlightenment from the secular Enlightenment movement of the 17th and 18th centuries, which emphasized reason and human intellect as the primary sources of knowledge. While the secular Enlightenment often downplayed or rejected divine revelation, biblical enlightenment acknowledges God as the ultimate source of truth and wisdom.(n.) Act of enlightening, or the state of being enlightened or instructed.5462. photismos -- illumination
... Transliteration: photismos Phonetic Spelling: (fo-tis-mos') Short Definition: light,
luster, illumination Definition: light, luster, illumination, enlightenment ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5462.htm - 6k

Whether There is Enlightenment in the Demons?
... THE ORDERING OF THE BAD ANGELS (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether there is enlightenment in
the demons? Objection 1: It would seem that enlightenment is in the demons. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether there is enlightenment in.htm

Whether Certain Acts of the virtues are Fittingly Set Down as ...
... ARTICLES) Whether certain acts of the virtues are fittingly set down as effects
of Baptism, to wit"-incorporation in Christ, enlightenment, and fruitfulness? ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether certain acts of the.htm

The Opinion of Plotinus the Platonist Regarding Enlightenment from ...
... Book X. Chapter 2."The Opinion of Plotinus the Platonist Regarding Enlightenment
from Above. But with these more estimable philosophers ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 2 the opinion of plotinus.htm

Whether an Angel Can Enlighten Man?
... iii) attributes enlightenment to baptism, as "the sacrament of faith." But faith
is immediately from God, according to Eph.2:8: "By grace you are saved through ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether an angel can enlighten.htm

Whether the Inferior Angel Speaks to the Superior?
... For on the text (1:Cor.13:1), "If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,"
a gloss remarks that the speech of the angels is an enlightenment whereby the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the inferior angel speaks.htm

How one Creature Moves Another (Four Articles)
... The first of these raises the question of the enlightenment and speech of the angels;
and of their mutual coordination, both of the good and of the bad angels. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/how one creature moves another.htm

Whether the Good Angels have Precedence Over the Bad Angels?
... Objection 1: It would seem that the good angels have no precedence over the bad
angels. For the angels' precedence is especially connected with enlightenment. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the good angels have.htm

Whether all the Angels Know what one Speaks to Another?
... Objection 3: Further, enlightenment is a kind of speech. But the enlightenment
of one angel by another extends to all the angels ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether all the angels know.htm

A Bibliographical Index of the Printed Editions of the Canons of ...
... with the permission of the supreme ecclesiastical authority, was undertaken by the
Moscow "Society of Amateurs of Spiritual Enlightenment." The announcement of ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/a bibliographical index of the.htm

Grundtvig's Early Years
... Invested in the attractive robe of human enlightenment and appealing to man's natural
intellectual vanity, the movement attracted the majority of the upper ...
/.../hymns and hymnwriters of denmark/chapter eleven grundtvigs early years.htm

Enlightenment (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Enlightenment (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 40:14 Who
gave him suggestions, and made clear to him the right way? ...
/e/enlightenment.htm - 6k

Single (65 Occurrences)
... context, most commentators take haplous here as meaning "normal," "healthy," and
poneros as "diseased," so rendering "Just as physical enlightenment depends on ...
/s/single.htm - 28k

Apocalyptic
... Others more intellectual, while they welcomed the enlightenment of the Greeks,
retained their faith in the one God. To them it seemed ...
/a/apocalyptic.htm - 42k

Literature (2 Occurrences)
... Others more intellectual, while they welcomed the enlightenment of the Greeks,
retained their faith in the one God. To them it seemed ...
/l/literature.htm - 82k

Light (2869 Occurrences)
... 9. (n.) That which illumines or makes clear to the mind; mental or spiritual
illumination; enlightenment; knowledge; information. 10. ...
/l/light.htm - 31k

Eye (145 Occurrences)
... context, most commentators take haplous here as meaning "normal," "healthy," and
poneros as "diseased," so rendering "Just as physical enlightenment depends on ...
/e/eye.htm - 54k

Knowledge
... 3. (vi) That which is gained and preserved by knowing; instruction;
acquaintance; enlightenment; learning; scholarship; erudition. ...
/k/knowledge.htm - 12k

Lystra (6 Occurrences)
... it, to the fact that it had been made a Roman colonia by Augustus (see ANTIOCH),
and was therefore, in the time of Paul, a center of education and enlightenment...
/l/lystra.htm - 14k

Lightning (49 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The act of making bright, or the state of being made bright; enlightenment;
brightening, as of the mental powers. 3. (vb. n.) Lightening. Int. ...
/l/lightning.htm - 24k

Enlightens (1 Occurrence)

/e/enlightens.htm - 6k

What was the Enlightenment, and what impact did it have on Christianity? | GotQuestions.org

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Reason and Enlightenment ' Article Index | GotQuestions.org

Enlightenment: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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