Excellencies
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The term "excellencies" in the biblical context often refers to the attributes, virtues, or praiseworthy qualities of God, His people, or His creation. It is a concept that underscores the supreme and admirable nature of God's character and the reflection of His glory in the lives of believers.

Divine Excellencies

The excellencies of God are a central theme in Scripture, highlighting His supreme nature and attributes. These include His holiness, righteousness, love, mercy, omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. The psalmist declares, "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens" (Psalm 8:1). This verse captures the essence of God's excellencies, emphasizing His majestic and glorious nature.

In 1 Peter 2:9, believers are called to "proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" . This passage underscores the responsibility of Christians to declare and reflect God's praiseworthy attributes through their lives and testimonies.

Excellencies in Creation

The excellencies of God are also evident in His creation. The natural world reflects His wisdom, power, and beauty. Psalm 19:1 states, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands" . Creation itself is a testament to the excellencies of the Creator, inviting humanity to recognize and worship Him.

Excellencies in Believers

Believers are called to embody and reflect the excellencies of God in their conduct and character. The apostle Paul exhorts the Philippians, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things" (Philippians 4:8). This instruction encourages Christians to cultivate virtues that mirror the excellencies of God.

The transformation of believers into the likeness of Christ is a process of growing in these excellencies. As they abide in Christ and are led by the Holy Spirit, they increasingly exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, which includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Excellencies in Worship

Worship is a response to the excellencies of God. The psalms are replete with calls to worship God for His excellent greatness. Psalm 150:2 urges, "Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him for His excellent greatness" . Worship involves acknowledging and celebrating the divine attributes and works of God, both individually and corporately.

In summary, the concept of excellencies in the Bible encompasses the admirable and praiseworthy attributes of God, the reflection of His glory in creation, and the virtues cultivated in the lives of believers. It calls for a response of worship, proclamation, and transformation, as God's people seek to honor Him in all aspects of life.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(n.) Plural of Excellency.
Greek
703. arete -- moral goodness, ie virtue
... Word Origin of uncertain origin Definition moral goodness, ie virtue NASB Word Usage
excellence (2), excellencies (1), moral excellence (2). praise, virtue. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/703.htm - 6k
Library

The Excellencies of the Saints' Rest.
... CHAPTER III. THE EXCELLENCIES OF THE SAINTS' REST. ... Let us draw a little nearer,
and see what further excellencies this rest affordeth. ...
/.../baxter/the saints everlasting rest/chapter iii the excellencies of.htm

The Excellencies of the Sun I Found to be of Another Kind than ...
... THE THIRD CENTURY 20 The excellencies of the Sun I found to be of another kind
than that splendour after which I sought. The excellencies ...
/.../traherne/centuries of meditations/20 the excellencies of the.htm

Theservices of Things and their Excellencies are Spiritual: Being ...
... THE FIRST CENTURY 26 Theservices of things and their excellencies are spiritual:
being objects not of the eye. Theservices of things ...
/.../traherne/centuries of meditations/26 theservices of things and.htm

But what is There More that Will More Amaze Us? Can Anything be ...
... Can anything be behind such glorious mysteries? Is God more Sovereign in other
excellencies? ... Is God more Sovereign in other excellencies? ...
/.../traherne/centuries of meditations/74 but what is there.htm

What is Meant by "Altogether Lovely"
... As a theologian long ago said, "There is nothing in him which is not loveable."
The excellencies of Jesus Christ are perfectly exclusive of all their opposites ...
/.../flavel/christ altogether lovely/what is meant by altogether.htm

Mirrors of God
... The Revised Version, instead of 'praises,' reads excellencies"and even that is
but a feeble translation of the remarkable word here employed. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/mirrors of god.htm

The Nature of Heavenly Contemplation; with the Time, Place, and ...
... Christ and heaven have various excellencies, and therefore God hath formed the
soul with different powers for apprehending these excellencies. ...
/.../baxter/the saints everlasting rest/chapter xiii the nature of.htm

Of the Use of Speech.
... substituted by God as his Viceregent, to receive the homage, and enjoy the services
of all inferior beings: nay, farther was endowed with excellencies fit to ...
/.../allestree/the government of the tongue/section i of the use.htm

Application
... Proclaim his excellencies to the world, as the spouse did in these verses. Persuade
them how much your beloved is better than any other beloved. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/flavel/christ altogether lovely/application.htm

The Life of Mr. Andrew Gray.
... Among his other excellencies in preaching (which were many) this was none of the
least, that he could so order his subject as to make it relish every palate. ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr andrew 3.htm

Thesaurus
Excellencies (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Plural of Excellency. Multi-Version Concordance
Excellencies (1 Occurrence). 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are ...
/e/excellencies.htm - 7k

Virtue (21 Occurrences)
... and American); as also in its plural use (of God) in 1 Peter 2:9 (the King James
Version "praises," the Revised Version (British and American) "excellencies"). ...
/v/virtue.htm - 16k

Wonderful (71 Occurrences)
... 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen race, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a people
for a possession, that ye might set forth the excellencies of him who has ...
/w/wonderful.htm - 29k

Excellences (1 Occurrence)

/e/excellences.htm - 6k

Excellency (53 Occurrences)

/e/excellency.htm - 25k

Redeemer (42 Occurrences)
... life. This, of course, does not mean that the redeemed life gives itself
up to the cultivation of itself toward higher excellencies. ...
/r/redeemer.htm - 45k

Adoration
... 4. The Deity: The highest form of adoration is that which is directed immediately
to God Himself, His kingly attributes and spiritual excellencies being so ...
/a/adoration.htm - 20k

Redemption (46 Occurrences)
... life. This, of course, does not mean that the redeemed life gives itself
up to the cultivation of itself toward higher excellencies. ...
/r/redemption.htm - 48k

Elect (32 Occurrences)
... 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people
for 'God's' own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who ...
/e/elect.htm - 21k

Discomfiture (6 Occurrences)
... Peter 2:9, 10: "But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people
for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him ...
/d/discomfiture.htm - 101k

Resources
What does 1 Peter 2:9 mean when it refers to believers as peculiar people? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about pre-evangelism? | GotQuestions.org

What is the majestic plural, and how is it used in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Excellencies: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Concordance
Excellencies (1 Occurrence)

1 Peter 2:9
But ye are a elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for 'God's' own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
(ASV DBY NAS)

Subtopics

Excellencies

Related Terms

Majesty (67 Occurrences)

Vigour (8 Occurrences)

Vine-branches (1 Occurrence)

First-fruit (19 Occurrences)

Restoreth (7 Occurrences)

Restores (10 Occurrences)

Emptiers (1 Occurrence)

Emptied (20 Occurrences)

Devastated (20 Occurrences)

Devastators (2 Occurrences)

Destroyers (17 Occurrences)

Marred (7 Occurrences)

Plunderers (9 Occurrences)

Bloom (9 Occurrences)

Skies (36 Occurrences)

Overthrown (44 Occurrences)

Fruits (109 Occurrences)

Firstfruits (37 Occurrences)

Excellent (52 Occurrences)

Rejoicing (90 Occurrences)

Loss (90 Occurrences)

Splendor (87 Occurrences)

Greatness (63 Occurrences)

Gain (142 Occurrences)

Ruined (65 Occurrences)

Shouting (83 Occurrences)

Ceased (80 Occurrences)

Shout (114 Occurrences)

Clouds (99 Occurrences)

Beauty (98 Occurrences)

Unleashed (1 Occurrence)

Unmoved (9 Occurrences)

Opposed (23 Occurrences)

Overthrowest (1 Occurrence)

Overthrow (48 Occurrences)

Jesh'urun (2 Occurrences)

Jeshurun (4 Occurrences)

Love (703 Occurrences)

Liars (14 Occurrences)

Loftiness (10 Occurrences)

Goat (92 Occurrences)

Glory (590 Occurrences)

Wishes (37 Occurrences)

Withstanders (15 Occurrences)

Fawning (1 Occurrence)

Flashes (16 Occurrences)

Trample (34 Occurrences)

Tread (60 Occurrences)

Thundereth (4 Occurrences)

Thunder (48 Occurrences)

Throwest (1 Occurrence)

Tehaph'nehes (1 Occurrence)

Roareth (9 Occurrences)

Riding (30 Occurrences)

Rubbish (5 Occurrences)

Rides (10 Occurrences)

Reuel (14 Occurrences)

Rideth (15 Occurrences)

Reaches (26 Occurrences)

Earthen (19 Occurrences)

Exultant (6 Occurrences)

Excellence (31 Occurrences)

Excellencies (1 Occurrence)

Eminence (2 Occurrences)

Egypt's (13 Occurrences)

Dwindle (10 Occurrences)

Dignity (14 Occurrences)

Despoiled (13 Occurrences)

Deck (8 Occurrences)

Desecrate (9 Occurrences)

Declaring (48 Occurrences)

Machinations (1 Occurrence)

Pitied (19 Occurrences)

Philistia (12 Occurrences)

Powerless (19 Occurrences)

Polluting (8 Occurrences)

Pitieth (7 Occurrences)

Perversely (15 Occurrences)

Excellences
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