Definition and Conceptual Overview:
Equality, within the biblical context, refers to the inherent value and dignity of all human beings as created in the image of God. This concept is rooted in the belief that all people, regardless of race, gender, or social status, are equal before God and should be treated with fairness and justice. The Bible emphasizes the unity and equality of believers in Christ, transcending earthly distinctions.

Biblical Foundations:

1. Creation and the Image of God:
The foundation of equality is established in the creation narrative. Genesis 1:27 states, "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." This verse underscores the equal value and dignity bestowed upon every human being by virtue of being made in God's image.

2. Equality in the Law:
The Mosaic Law contains numerous provisions that promote equality and justice. Leviticus 19:15 instructs, "You must not pervert justice; you must not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the rich; you are to judge your neighbor fairly." This commandment highlights the importance of impartiality and fairness in legal and social dealings.

3. Equality in the New Testament:
The New Testament further develops the theme of equality, particularly within the body of Christ. Galatians 3:28 declares, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." This passage emphasizes the spiritual equality of all believers, regardless of their ethnic, social, or gender distinctions.

4. The Early Church and Equality:
The early Christian community exemplified the practice of equality. Acts 2:44-45 describes how "all the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need." This communal lifestyle reflected a commitment to equality and mutual support among believers.

5. Equality and Justice:
The Bible consistently calls for justice and righteousness, which are closely linked to the concept of equality. Micah 6:8 states, "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" This verse encapsulates the biblical mandate to pursue justice and equality in all aspects of life.

Practical Implications:

1. Social and Economic Equality:
The biblical call for equality extends to social and economic realms. Believers are encouraged to care for the poor and marginalized, reflecting God's heart for justice. Proverbs 31:8-9 urges, "Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy."

2. Equality in the Church:
Within the church, equality is manifested through the recognition of diverse gifts and roles. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 explains, "For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also is Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink."

3. Gender Equality:
While the Bible affirms distinct roles for men and women, it also upholds their equal worth and value. Ephesians 5:21 calls for mutual submission among believers: "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." This principle fosters an environment of respect and equality within Christian relationships.

Conclusion:
The biblical concept of equality is deeply rooted in the understanding that all humans are created in the image of God and are equal in value and dignity. This principle is reflected in the teachings of both the Old and New Testaments, calling believers to live out equality in their personal, social, and communal lives.1. (n.) The condition or quality of being equal; agreement in quantity or degree as compared; likeness in bulk, value, rank, properties, etc.; as, the equality of two bodies in length or thickness; an equality of rights.

2. (n.) Sameness in state or continued course; evenness; uniformity; as, an equality of temper or constitution.

3. (n.) Evenness; uniformity; as, an equality of surface.

4. (n.) Exact agreement between two expressions or magnitudes with respect to quantity; -- denoted by the symbol =; thus, a = x signifies that a contains the same number and kind of units of measure that x does.

EQUALITY

e-kwol'-i-ti (isotes):

In 2 Corinthians 8:14, literally,. "out of equality," i.e. "in equal proportion" or "that there may be equality." In Philippians 2:6, it occurs in a paraphrase of Greek to einai isa theo, "the being on an equality with God." In this much-discussed passage, isa, according to a not unusual Attic idiom, is construed adverbially (see Meyer on passage), meaning, therefore, not `the being equal' (the King James Version), which would require ison, but "the having equal prerogatives and privileges." The personal equality is one thing; the equality of attributes is another, and it is the latter which is here expressed (Lightfoot). The "being on an equality" and the "having equal prerogatives" are both deductions from the possession of "the form of God." The thought is that if He who had "the form of God" had under all circumstances exercised His Divine attributes, He would have been employing only what belonged to Him, and would in no way have derogated from what belongs only to God. We regard this as referring to the incarnate Son in His historical manifestation.

H. E. Jacobs

2471. isotes -- equality
... equality. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: isotes Phonetic Spelling:
(ee-sot'-ace) Short Definition: equality Definition: equality; equality of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2471.htm - 6k

2470. isos -- equal
... Word Origin a prim. word Definition equal NASB Word Usage consistent (2), equal
(3), equality (1), same (2). agree, as much, equal, like. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2470.htm - 7k

Whether There is Equality in God?
... OF EQUALITY AND LIKENESS AMONG THE DIVINE PERSONS (SIX ARTICLES) Whether
there is equality in God? Objection 1: It would seem that ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether there is equality in.htm

Of Equality and Likeness among the Divine Persons (Six Articles)
... OF EQUALITY AND LIKENESS AMONG THE DIVINE PERSONS (SIX ARTICLES). We ... inquiry.
(1) Whether there is equality among the divine persons? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/of equality and likeness among.htm

Of Equality among the virtues (Six Articles)
... OF EQUALITY AMONG THE VIRTUES (SIX ARTICLES). We must now consider equality among
the virtues: under which head there are six points of inquiry: ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/of equality among the virtues.htm

CMH Martineau. Christian Equality.
... V. CHRISTIANITY AND THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. 182. CMH Martineau. Christian
Equality. 1 All men are equal in their birth, Heirs of ...
/.../various/book of hymns for public and private devotion/182 c m h martineau.htm

Equality Before God.
... EQUALITY BEFORE GOD. Swer ?�ne vorhte, herre Got. Lord God, if one without
due fear. Repeat Thy ten commandments here,. And break them ...
/.../winkworth/christian singers of germany/equality before god.htm

In the Trinity it is not Possible to Admit any Disparity: but ...
... CHAPTER II In the Trinity it is not possible to admit any disparity: but
equality in every way to be predicated. In the Trinity ...
/.../some letters of saint bernard abbot of clairvaux/chapter ii in the trinity.htm

Concerning "Great," "Small," "Same," "Different," "Like," "Unlike ...
... THE DIVINE NAMES CHAPTER IX Concerning "Great," "Small," "Same," "Different,"
"Like," "Unlike," "Standing," "Motion," "Equality.". ...
/.../rolt/dionysius the areopagite/chapter ix concerning great small.htm

Being Wholly Without Sin Does not Put Man on an Equality with God.
... A Treatise on nature and grace, against pelagius; Chapter 37 [XXXIII.]"Being
Wholly Without Sin Does Not Put Man on an Equality with God. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 37 xxxiii being wholly without.htm

Concerning Great, Small, Same, Different, Similar, Dissimilar ...
... DIONYSIUS THE AREOPAGITE, ON DIVINE NAMES. CAPUT IX. Concerning great, small, same,
different, similar, dissimilar, standing, movement, equality. SECTION I. ...
/.../dionysius/dionysis on divine names/caput ix concerning great small.htm

Whether Satisfaction is an Act of Justice?
... Further, no virtue save justice establishes equality between external things.
But this is done by satisfaction which establishes ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether satisfaction is an act.htm

Equality (3 Occurrences)
... The condition or quality of being equal; agreement in quantity or degree as compared;
likeness in bulk, value, rank, properties, etc.; as, the equality of two ...
/e/equality.htm - 9k

Robbery (18 Occurrences)
... (Philippians 2:6, 7), are better rendered in the Revised Version, "counted it not
a prize to be on an equality," etc., ie, "did not look upon equality with God ...
/r/robbery.htm - 16k

Equal (70 Occurrences)
... 9. (n.) State of being equal; equality. 10. ... 12. (vt) To make equal or equal to; to
equalize; hence, to compare or regard as equals; to put on equality. Int. ...
/e/equal.htm - 30k

Robber (14 Occurrences)
... American Standard Revised Version read "a thing to be grasped," the American Standard
Revised Version rewording "counted not the being on an equality with God ...
/r/robber.htm - 13k

Prize (13 Occurrences)
... (2) harpagmos, in the English Revised Version of Philippians 2:6, "counted it not
a prize to be on an equality with God." The termination -uos, -mos, would ...
/p/prize.htm - 13k

Woman (4043 Occurrences)
... IN OLD TESTAMENT TIMES 1. Prominence of Women 2. Social Equality 3. Marriage Laws
4. Inheritance 5. Domestic Duties 6. Dress and Ornaments 7. Religious ...
/w/woman.htm - 45k

Person (807 Occurrences)
... all know, in His intrinsic nature He was nothing other than God, yet He did not,
as we all know right well, look greedily on His condition of equality with God ...
/p/person.htm - 49k

Family (438 Occurrences)
... fam'-i-li (mishpachah, bayith; patria): 1. The Foundation 2. Monogamy, the Ideal
Relation 3. Equality of the Sexes 4. Polygamy 5. The Commandments and the ...
/f/family.htm - 87k

Tie (18 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) An equality in numbers, as of votes, scores, etc., which prevents either
party from being victorious; equality in any contest, as a race. ...
/t/tie.htm - 13k

Plenty (43 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 8:14 but for equality. Your abundance at this present time
supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become ...
/p/plenty.htm - 18k

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