Exist
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The concept of existence in the Bible is foundational to understanding the nature of God, humanity, and creation. The Bible begins with the affirmation of God's existence and His role as the Creator of all things. Genesis 1:1 states, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." This verse establishes that God exists outside of time and space and is the originator of all that exists.

God's Self-Existence

God's self-existence, or aseity, is a key attribute highlighted in Scripture. In Exodus 3:14, God reveals Himself to Moses with the name "I AM WHO I AM." This declaration signifies that God's existence is independent and self-sustaining. Unlike created beings, God does not derive His existence from anything else. The Apostle Paul echoes this in Acts 17:24-25, where he proclaims, "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else."

Human Existence

Human existence is portrayed in the Bible as being created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). This unique aspect of human existence implies a special relationship with the Creator and a purpose that aligns with His will. The Bible teaches that humans are both physical and spiritual beings, with a temporary earthly existence and an eternal destiny. Ecclesiastes 12:7 states, "Then the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it."

Existence of Creation

The existence of the created order is a testament to God's power and divine nature. Romans 1:20 affirms, "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." The natural world reflects God's glory and serves as evidence of His existence and attributes.

Eternal Existence

The Bible also addresses the concept of eternal existence, particularly in relation to the afterlife. John 3:16 promises eternal life to those who believe in Jesus Christ: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." This eternal existence is contrasted with eternal separation from God, as described in Matthew 25:46: "And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Existence and Faith

Faith in God's existence is a central tenet of the Christian life. Hebrews 11:6 emphasizes the necessity of faith: "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." This faith is not blind but is supported by the evidence of God's work in creation, history, and personal experience.

In summary, the Bible presents existence as a reality grounded in the nature and character of God. It affirms God's self-existence, the purposeful existence of humanity, the testimony of creation, and the promise of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (v. i.) To be as a fact and not as a mode; to have an actual or real being, whether material or spiritual.

2. (v. i.) To be manifest in any manner; to continue to be; as, great evils existed in his reign.

3. (v. i.) To live; to have life or the functions of vitality; as, men can not exist water, nor fishes on land.

Greek
1510. eimi -- I exist, I am
... eimi. 1511 . I exist, I am. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: eimi Phonetic
Spelling: (i-mee') Short Definition: I am, exist Definition: I am, exist. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1510.htm - 9k

4391. prouparcho -- to exist beforehand
... to exist beforehand. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: prouparcho Phonetic Spelling:
(pro-oop-ar'-kho) Short Definition: I have been already Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4391.htm - 6k

5225. huparcho -- to begin, to be ready or at hand, to be
... to begin, to be ready or at hand, to be. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: huparcho
Phonetic Spelling: (hoop-ar'-kho) Short Definition: I am, exist, am in ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5225.htm - 8k

1511. einai -- am, was, come, is, there is, to be, was.
... am, was, come, is, there is, to be, was. Present infinitive from eimi; to exist --
am, was. Come, is, X lust after, X please well, there is, to be, was. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1511.htm - 6k

4041. periousios -- of one's own possession
... chosen. 4041 (from 4012 , "all-around, encompassing" and 1511 , "being, to
exist") -- properly, what exists in () and hence of . This ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4041.htm - 7k

3873. parakeimai -- to lie beside, be present
... and 2749 , "lie down") -- properly, lie down side-by-side, like with two moral
realities which totally oppose each other (but still exist closely together). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3873.htm - 7k

5223. huparxis -- subsistence, existence, property
... 5223 -- (from 5223, "exist possess beforehand," see there) -- properly, a possession
kept someone's authority, ie already at their discretion ("available"). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5223.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew
1934. hava -- to become, come to pass, be
... become, behold, came to pass, cease, cleave, consider, do,. (Aramaic) orhavah (Aramaic)
{hav-aw'}; corresponding to hava'; to exist; used in a great variety of ...
/hebrew/1934.htm - 6k

369. ayin -- nothing, nought
... As if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not exist; a non-entity; generally
used as a negative particle -- else, except, fail, (father-)less, be ...
/hebrew/369.htm - 7k

3426. yesh -- being, substance, existence, is
... Perhaps from an unused root meaning to stand out, or exist; entity; used adverbially
or as a copula for the substantive verb (hayah); there is or are (or any ...
/hebrew/3426.htm - 6k

1961. hayah -- to fall out, come to pass, become, be
... A primitive root (compare hava'); to exist, ie Be or become, come to pass (always
emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary) -- beacon, X altogether, be ...
/hebrew/1961.htm - 8k

4672. matsa -- to attain to, find
... A primitive root; properly, to come forth to, ie Appear or exist; transitively,
to attain, ie Find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present ...
/hebrew/4672.htm - 6k

Library

Whether an Infinite Multitude Can Exist?
... THE INFINITY OF GOD (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether an infinite multitude can exist? ... Therefore
it is possible for an infinite multitude actually to exist. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether an infinite multitude can.htm

What virtues Ought to Exist in Him whom we Consult. ...
... Book II. Chapter XVII. What virtues ought to exist in him whom we consult.?
What virtues ought to exist in him whom we consult. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xvii what virtues ought.htm

Whether the Angels Exist in any Great Number?
... TREATISE ON THE ANGELS (QQ -64)OF THE SUBSTANCE OF THE ANGELS ABSOLUTELY CONSIDERED
(FIVE ARTICLES) Whether the angels exist in any great number? ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the angels exist in.htm

Introductory. Heresies must Exist, and Even Abound; they are a ...
... Chapter I."Introductory. Heresies Must Exist, and Even Abound; They are a Probation
to Faith. ... [1855] The Holy Ghost having foretold that they should exist. ...
/.../chapter i introductory heresies must exist.htm

Blessedness Cannot Exist Without Immortality.
... Book XIII. Chapter 8."Blessedness Cannot Exist Without Immortality. 11.
As, therefore, all men will to be blessed, certainly, if ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 8 blessedness cannot exist without.htm

Whether an Actually Infinite Magnitude Can Exist?
... THE INFINITY OF GOD (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether an actually infinite magnitude
can exist? Objection 1: It seems that there can be something ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether an actually infinite magnitude.htm

That all Things Exist that they May Perish, and that we are not ...
... Book IV. Chapter X."That All Things Exist that They May Perish, and that
We are Not Safe Unless God Watches Over Us. 15. "Turn ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/chapter x that all things exist.htm

Whether Justice and the Other virtues Cease to Exist in the Future ...
... Book XIV. Chapter 9."Whether Justice and the Other Virtues Cease to Exist
in the Future Life. 12. There is, however, some question ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 9 whether justice and the.htm

The Three are One, and Also Equal, viz the Mind Itself, and the ...
... Knowledge of It. That the Same Three Exist Substantially, and are Predicated
Relatively. That the Same Three are Inseparable. That the ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 4 the three are one.htm

Whether in the Angel to Understand is to Exist?
... OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE ANGELS (FIVE ARTICLES) Whether in the angel to understand
is to exist? ... Therefore in the angel to understand is to exist. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether in the angel to.htm

Thesaurus
Exist (24 Occurrences)
... 3. (vi) To live; to have life or the functions of vitality; as, men can not exist
water, nor fishes on land. Multi-Version Concordance Exist (24 Occurrences). ...
/e/exist.htm - 14k

Creation (35 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) The act of creating or causing to exist.
Specifically, the act of bringing the universe or this world into existence. ...
/c/creation.htm - 34k

Existed (18 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Exist. Multi-Version Concordance
Existed (18 Occurrences). John 1:8 He was not the Light ...
/e/existed.htm - 11k

Be (66193 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To exist actually, or in the world of fact;
to have existence. 2. (vi) To exist in a certain manner ...
/b/be.htm - 7k

Existence (35 Occurrences)
... Thus in the sight of God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and makes
reference to things that do not exist, as though they did, Abraham is the ...
/e/existence.htm - 17k

Unknown (15 Occurrences)
... Some Athenians, at any rate, felt the religious inadequacy of all known deities
and were appealing to the God who they felt must exist, although they knew ...
/u/unknown.htm - 13k

Exists (18 Occurrences)
... Yet the body does not exist for the purpose of fornication, but for the Master's
service, and the Master exists for the body; (WEY). ...
/e/exists.htm - 11k

Everlasting (192 Occurrences)
... will have no end (in which sense it is applicable to God only), or that which, having
a beginning, will have no end, but henceforth will exist forever (thus of ...
/e/everlasting.htm - 68k

Make (12882 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A companion; a mate; often, a husband or a wife. 2. (vt) To cause to exist;
to bring into being; to form; to produce; to frame; to fashion; to create. ...
/m/make.htm - 22k

Pits (13 Occurrences)
... In ancient times it was exported to Egypt to be used in embalming mummies. Important
mines of it exist at Chasbeiya near Mt. Hermon and in North Syria. ...
/p/pits.htm - 13k

Resources
Does God exist? | GotQuestions.org

Do demons exist? | GotQuestions.org

Does Satan exist? | GotQuestions.org

Exist: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Exist (24 Occurrences)

Acts 17:28
For in him we have life and motion and existence; as certain of your verse writers have said, For we are his offspring.
(Root in BBE DBY NAS)

Romans 4:17
so that the promise should be made sure to all Abraham's true descendants; not merely to those who are righteous through the Law, but to those who are righteous through a faith like that of Abraham. Thus in the sight of God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and makes reference to things that do not exist, as though they did, Abraham is the forefather of all of us. As it is written, "I have appointed you to be the forefather of many nations."
(WEY NAS RSV)

Romans 13:1
Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God.
(WEB DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Corinthians 1:28
and the things which the world regards as base, and those which it sets utterly at nought--things that have no existence--God has chosen in order to reduce to nothing things that do exist;
(Root in WEY)

1 Corinthians 5:1
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles, that one has his father's wife.
(See NAS)

1 Corinthians 6:5
I say this to put you to shame. Has it come to this, that there does not exist among you a single wise man competent to decide between a man and his brother,
(WEY)

1 Corinthians 6:13
Food of all kinds is meant for the stomach, and the stomach is meant for food, and God will cause both of them to perish. Yet the body does not exist for the purpose of fornication, but for the Master's service, and the Master exists for the body;
(WEY)

1 Corinthians 8:5
For if so-called gods do exist, either in Heaven or on earth--and in fact there are many such gods and many such lords--
(WEY)

1 Corinthians 8:6
yet *we* have but one God, the Father, who is the source of all things and for whose service we exist, and but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom we and all things exist.
(WEY NAS RSV)

1 Corinthians 11:18
For first of all, when you come together in the assembly, I hear that divisions exist among you, and I partly believe it.
(WEB ASV DBY NAS)

Galatians 4:8
But at one time, you Gentiles, having no knowledge of God, were slaves to gods which in reality do not exist.
(WEY)

Colossians 1:16
For in Him was created the universe of things in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, thrones, dominions, princedoms, powers--all were created, and exist through and for Him.
(WEY)

Hebrews 2:10
For it was fitting that He for whom, and through whom, all things exist, after He had brought many sons to glory, should perfect by suffering the Prince Leader who had saved them.
(WEY RSV NIV)

Hebrews 11:3
Through faith we understand that the worlds came into being, and still exist, at the command of God, so that what is seen does not owe its existence to that which is visible.
(WEY)

James 3:16
For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.
(See NAS RSV)

2 Peter 1:8
If these things exist in you, and continually increase, they prevent your being either idle or unfruitful in advancing towards a full knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(WEY DBY)

2 Peter 3:7
But the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
(See RSV)

Revelation 17:11
And the Wild Beast which once existed but does not now exist--he is an eighth king and yet is one of the seven and he goes his way into perdition.
(Root in WEY)

Revelation 21:4
And he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall not exist any more, nor grief, nor cry, nor distress shall exist any more, for the former things have passed away.
(DBY)

Psalms 39:13
Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go away, and exist no more."
(WEB)

Psalms 104:33
I sing to Jehovah during my life, I sing praise to my God while I exist.
(YLT)

Psalms 146:2
While I live, I will praise Yahweh. I will sing praises to my God as long as I exist.
(WEB YLT)

Isaiah 23:13
Behold the land of the Chaldeans: this people did not exist; the Assyrian founded it for the dwellers in the desert: they set up their towers, they destroyed the palaces thereof; he brought it to ruin.
(DBY)

Lamentations 4:17
While we exist -- consumed are our eyes for our vain help, In our watch-tower we have watched for a nation 'that' saveth not.
(YLT)

Subtopics

Exist

Related Terms

Tools (3 Occurrences)

Exist (24 Occurrences)

Talmud

Totemism

Persecution (22 Occurrences)

Eschatology

Hellenism

Fever (13 Occurrences)

Hellenist

Tarsus (5 Occurrences)

Marriage (74 Occurrences)

Pentecost (3 Occurrences)

Corinthians (3 Occurrences)

Immanuel (3 Occurrences)

Zoroastrianism

Cattle (277 Occurrences)

Libraries

Leviticus (1 Occurrence)

Resurrection (42 Occurrences)

Circumcision (98 Occurrences)

Bel (3 Occurrences)

Wanderings (7 Occurrences)

Gezer (14 Occurrences)

Dragon (20 Occurrences)

Job (60 Occurrences)

Zadok (50 Occurrences)

Pauline

Existence (35 Occurrences)

Architecture

Trade (33 Occurrences)

Comparative

Nonimmersionist

Non-immersionist

Mouth (534 Occurrences)

Altar (343 Occurrences)

View (86 Occurrences)

Tobit

Miracle (15 Occurrences)

Pastoral

Zealots

Zealot (4 Occurrences)

Zoan (7 Occurrences)

Numenius

Nazarite (8 Occurrences)

Ur (5 Occurrences)

Unknown (15 Occurrences)

Oak (22 Occurrences)

Longevity

Latter (91 Occurrences)

Logos

Lachish (22 Occurrences)

Library

Lycia (1 Occurrence)

Glorify (49 Occurrences)

Gerar (10 Occurrences)

Gihon (6 Occurrences)

Gate (248 Occurrences)

Willows (5 Occurrences)

Wilfully (2 Occurrences)

Wife (437 Occurrences)

Canonicity

Infinitude

Invention (4 Occurrences)

Infinite (8 Occurrences)

Fluttering (3 Occurrences)

Times (1875 Occurrences)

Time (7245 Occurrences)

Theatre (2 Occurrences)

Tahpanhes (7 Occurrences)

Rameses (5 Occurrences)

Rainbow (6 Occurrences)

Revelation (52 Occurrences)

Raamses (1 Occurrence)

Ramses

Extending (15 Occurrences)

Esarhaddon (3 Occurrences)

Emim (3 Occurrences)

Dark (234 Occurrences)

Exilic and Post-Exilic Generations
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