Topical Bible: Existence

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Definition and Scope:
Existence, in a biblical context, refers to the state of being, encompassing all that is created by God. It includes the physical universe, spiritual realms, and the life within them. The concept of existence is foundational to understanding the nature of God, humanity, and the cosmos as described in the Scriptures.

Biblical Foundation:
The Bible begins with the affirmation of existence through divine creation. Genesis 1:1 states, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." This verse establishes God as the ultimate source and sustainer of all that exists. The act of creation is not only a demonstration of God's power but also His intentionality and purpose.

God's Self-Existence:
God's existence is unique in that He is self-existent, meaning He is not dependent on anything outside Himself. In Exodus 3:14 , God reveals Himself to Moses as "I AM WHO I AM," indicating His eternal and unchanging nature. This self-existence is further emphasized in Revelation 1:8 , where God declares, "I am the Alpha and the Omega... who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

Human Existence:
Human existence is portrayed in the Bible as being created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). This confers a unique dignity and purpose upon humanity, distinguishing humans from the rest of creation. The Bible teaches that human life is sacred and purposeful, with a calling to steward the earth and live in relationship with God.

Existence of Creation:
The Bible affirms the existence of the physical world as a testament to God's creative work. Psalm 19:1 declares, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." Creation is not only a backdrop for human activity but also a revelation of God's character and majesty.

Spiritual Existence:
Beyond the physical realm, the Bible acknowledges the existence of spiritual realities, including angels, demons, and the human soul. Ephesians 6:12 speaks of spiritual warfare, indicating the presence of spiritual forces: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world's darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Eternal Existence:
The Bible presents a view of existence that extends beyond temporal life. Eternal life is a central theme, with John 3:16 promising, "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 characterized by a restored relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Existence and Purpose:
The Scriptures teach that existence is not random or meaningless. Ecclesiastes 3:11 states, "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work God has done from beginning to end." This suggests that human existence is imbued with purpose and a longing for the eternal.

Existence and Faith:
Faith plays a crucial role in understanding and embracing existence from a biblical perspective. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see." Faith allows believers to perceive the unseen realities of God's kingdom and to live in accordance with His will.

Conclusion:
The biblical concept of existence encompasses the totality of creation, the nature of God, and the purpose of human life. It affirms that all existence is rooted in God's creative and sustaining power, offering a framework for understanding the world and our place within it.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) The state of existing or being; actual possession of being; continuance in being; as, the existence of body and of soul in union; the separate existence of the soul; immortal existence.

2. (n.) Continued or repeated manifestation; occurrence, as of events of any kind; as, the existence of a calamity or of a state of war.

3. (n.) That which exists; a being; a creature; an entity; as, living existences.

Greek

5223. huparxis -- subsistence, existence, property
... subsistence, existence, property. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration:
huparxis Phonetic Spelling: (hoop'-arx-is) Short Definition: goods, substance ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5223.htm - 7k

980. bioo -- to live
... Word Origin from bios Definition to live NASB Word Usage live (1). live. From bios;
to spend existence -- live. see GREEK bios. (biosai) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/980.htm - 6k

2222. zoe -- life
... zoe Phonetic Spelling: (dzo-ay') Short Definition: life Definition: life, both of
physical (present) and of spiritual (particularly future) existence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2222.htm - 7k

5018. Tarseus -- of Tarsus
... present-day Turkey. Tarsus has remained for more than , making it (perhaps)
the oldest city in the world in existence. [Some feel ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5018.htm - 7k

4714. stasis -- a rebel, revolutionist
... From the base of histemi; a standing (properly, the act), ie (by analogy) position
(existence); by implication, a popular uprising; figuratively, controversy ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4714.htm - 6k

982. biotikos -- pertaining to life
... pertaining to daily life. From a derivative of bioo; relating to the present existence
-- of (pertaining to, things that pertain to) this life. see GREEK bioo. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/982.htm - 6k

861. aphtharsia -- incorruptibility
... From aphthartos; incorruptibility; genitive, unending existence; (figuratively)
genuineness -- immortality, incorruption, sincerity. see GREEK aphthartos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/861.htm - 7k

165. aion -- a space of time, an age
... infinity. 165 (see also the cognate adjective, 166 , "age-long") -- properly,
an (, "time-span"), (type of existence). : Christians ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/165.htm - 8k

979. bios -- life, living
... life, living. A primary word; life, ie (literally) the present state of existence;
by implication, the means of livelihood -- good, life, living. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/979.htm - 7k

5225. huparcho -- to begin, to be ready or at hand, to be
... exist. From hupo and archomai; to begin under (quietly), ie Come into existence
(be present or at hand); expletively, to exist (as copula or subordinate to an ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5225.htm - 8k

Strong's Hebrew

3351. yequm -- substance, existence
... 3350, 3351. yequm. 3352 . substance, existence. Transliteration: yequm
Phonetic Spelling: (yek-oom') Short Definition: thing. Word ...
/hebrew/3351.htm - 6k

3426. yesh -- being, substance, existence, is
... 3425, 3426. yesh. 3427 . being, substance, existence, is. Transliteration:
yesh Phonetic Spelling: (yaysh) Short Definition: there. ...
/hebrew/3426.htm - 6k

1933. hava' -- to fall
... Or havah {haw-vaw'}; a primitive root (compare 'avah, hayah) supposed to mean properly,
to breathe; to be (in the sense of existence) -- be, X have. ...
/hebrew/1933.htm - 5k

Library

Whether Essence and Existence are the Same in God?
... OF THE SIMPLICITY OF GOD (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether essence and existence are
the same in God? ... Therefore God's existence is not His essence. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether essence and existence are.htm

Whether Essence and Existence are the Same in God
... Article Four Whether Essence and Existence are the Same in God. Whether Essence
and Existence are the Same in God We proceed to the fourth article thus: ...
/.../aquinas/nature and grace/article four whether essence and.htm

The Existence of Merit
... Chapter I. The Nature Of Actual Grace Section 1. The Existence Of Merit.
1. HERETICAL ERRORS AND THE TEACHING OF THE CHURCH."a) The ...
/.../pohle/grace actual and habitual/section 1 the existence of.htm

Corruption Tends to Non-Existence.
... Against the Epistle of Manich??us Called Fundamental. Chapter 40.
"Corruption Tends to Non-Existence. 46. But if any one does ...
/.../chapter 40 name tends to.htm

Question Two the Existence of God
... Question Two THE EXISTENCE OF GOD. THE EXISTENCE OF GOD Three questions
are asked concerning the existence of God. 1. Whether it ...
/.../aquinas/nature and grace/question two the existence of.htm

The Existence of Moral Evil, or Sin, Consistent with the Holiness ...
... Part I. THE EXISTENCE OF MORAL EVIL, OR SIN, CONSISTENT WITH THE HOLINESS
OF GOD. What Time this World's great Workmaister did cast ...
/.../a theodicy or vindication of the divine glory/part i the existence of.htm

Whether the Existence of God is Self-Evident?
... TREATISE ON THE ONE GOD (QQ -26)THE EXISTENCE OF GOD (THREE ARTICLES) Whether
the existence of God is self-evident? Objection 1: It ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the existence of god.htm

Whether God's Existence Can be Demonstrated
... Article Two Whether God's Existence can be Demonstrated. Whether God's Existence
can be Demonstrated ... 1. It seems that God's existence cannot be demonstrated. ...
/.../aquinas/nature and grace/article two whether gods existence.htm

Of Existence, and Knowledge of It, and the Love of Both.
... Book XI. Chapter 27."Of Existence, and Knowledge of It, and the Love of Both.
And truly the very fact of existing is by some natural ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 27 of existence and knowledge.htm

Existence of Evil.
... Book III. Chapter XVI."Existence of Evil. Then Peter said: "If you truly
wish to learn, then first learn this, how unskilfully ...
/.../unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter xvi existence of evil.htm

Thesaurus

Existence (35 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The state of existing or being; actual possession of being; continuance
in being; as, the existence of body and of soul in union; the separate ...
/e/existence.htm - 17k

Atheism
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The disbelief or denial of the existence of
a God, or supreme intelligent Being. 2. (n.) Godlessness. Int. ...
/a/atheism.htm - 13k

Eternity (23 Occurrences)
... is best conceived, not in the merely negative form of the non-temporal, or immeasurable
time, but positively, as the mode of the timeless self-existence of the ...
/e/eternity.htm - 24k

Treading (26 Occurrences)
... vessels of papyrus upon the waters, saying, Go, swift messengers, to a nation scattered
and ravaged, to a people terrible from their existence and thenceforth ...
/t/treading.htm - 15k

Being (3399 Occurrences)
... & vb. n.) of Be. 2. (p. pr.) Existing. 3. (n.) Existence, as opposed to nonexistence;
state or sphere of existence. ... 5. (n.) Lifetime; mortal existence. ...
/b/being.htm - 7k

Infinitude
... The Biblical writers, certainly, are far from thinking in metaphysical categories,
or using such terms as "self-existence," "absoluteness," "unconditioned" yet ...
/i/infinitude.htm - 12k

Eternal (166 Occurrences)
... The same Greek words in the New Testament (aion, aionios, aidios) are used to express
(1) the eternal existence of God (1 Timothy 1:17; Romans 1:20; 16:26); (2 ...
/e/eternal.htm - 46k

Infinite (8 Occurrences)
... The Biblical writers, certainly, are far from thinking in metaphysical categories,
or using such terms as "self-existence," "absoluteness," "unconditioned" yet ...
/i/infinite.htm - 15k

Existed (18 Occurrences)
... (WEY). John 1:15 John gave witness about him, crying, This is he of whom I said,
He who is coming after me is put over me because he was in existence before me. ...
/e/existed.htm - 11k

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

Resources

Is there a conclusive argument for the existence of God? | GotQuestions.org

Is there evidence for the existence of God? | GotQuestions.org

Can we speak things into existence? | GotQuestions.org

Existence: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Existence (35 Occurrences)

Luke 11:44
Alas for you! for you are like the tombs which lie hidden, and the people who walk over them are not aware of their existence."
(WEY)

John 1:3
All things came into existence through him, and without him nothing was.
(BBE)

John 1:10
He was in the world, and the world came into existence through Him, and the world did not recognize Him.
(WEY)

John 1:15
John gave witness about him, crying, This is he of whom I said, He who is coming after me is put over me because he was in existence before me.
(BBE)

John 1:30
This is he of whom I said, One is coming after me who is put over me because he was in existence before me.
(BBE)

John 8:58
Jesus said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM. "
(WEB WEY)

Acts 14:17
and yet by His beneficence He has not left His existence unattested--His beneficence, I mean, in sending you rain from Heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and joyfulness."
(WEY)

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.
(BBE)

Acts 23:8
For the Sadducees maintain that there is no resurrection, and neither angel nor spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge the existence of both.
(WEY)

Romans 1:20
For from the first making of the world, those things of God which the eye is unable to see, that is, his eternal power and existence, are fully made clear, he having given the knowledge of them through the things which he has made, so that men have no reason for wrongdoing:
(BBE)

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."
(See RSV)

Romans 5:13
Because, till the law came, sin was in existence, but sin is not put to the account of anyone when there is no law to be broken.
(BBE)

Romans 8:29
Because those of whom he had knowledge before they came into existence, were marked out by him to be made like his Son, so that he might be the first among a band of brothers:
(BBE)

Romans 9:11
Before the children had come into existence, or had done anything good or bad, in order that God's purpose and his selection might be effected, not by works, but by him whose purpose it is,
(BBE)

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;
(WEY)

1 Corinthians 2:7
But we give the news of the secret wisdom of God, which he had kept in store before the world came into existence, for our glory;
(BBE)

1 Corinthians 8:4
Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no other God but one.
(See RSV)

1 Corinthians 9:2
If to other men I am not an Apostle, yet at any rate I am one to you; for your very existence as a Christian Church is the seal of my Apostleship.
(WEY)

1 Corinthians 11:12
For just as woman originates from man, so also man comes into existence through woman, but everything springs originally from God.
(WEY)

2 Corinthians 5:17
So that if any one is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old state of things has passed away; a new state of things has come into existence.
(WEY)

Galatians 6:15
For having circumcision is nothing, and not having circumcision is nothing, but only a new order of existence.
(BBE)

Ephesians 2:10
For by his act we were given existence in Christ Jesus to do those good works which God before made ready for us so that we might do them.
(BBE)

Philippians 3:20
for our commonwealth has its existence in the heavens, from which also we await the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour,
(DBY)

Colossians 1:15
Who is the image of the unseen God coming into existence before all living things;
(BBE)

Hebrews 9:6
Now while these things were in existence, the priests went into the first Tent at all times, for prayer and the making of offerings.
(BBE)

Hebrews 9:8
And the lesson which the Holy Spirit teaches is this--that the way into the true Holy place is not yet open so long as the outer tent still remains in existence.
(WEY)

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)

Revelation 4:11
saying, "It is fitting, O our Lord and God, That we should ascribe unto Thee the glory and the honor and the power; For Thou didst create all things, And because it was Thy will they came into existence, and were created."
(WEY)

Deuteronomy 7:24
He will give their kings into your hands, and you will put their names out of existence under heaven; there is not one of them who will not give way before you, till their destruction is complete.
(BBE)

Judges 21:17
And they said, How is the rest of Benjamin to be given offspring so that one tribe of Israel may not be put out of existence,
(BBE)

Job 3:16
Or as a child dead at birth I might never have come into existence; like young children who have not seen the light.
(BBE)

Ecclesiastes 7:24
Far off is true existence, and very deep; who may have knowledge of it?
(BBE)

Isaiah 18:2
that sendest ambassadors over the sea, and in vessels of papyrus upon the waters, saying, Go, swift messengers, to a nation scattered and ravaged, to a people terrible from their existence and thenceforth; to a nation of continued waiting and of treading down, whose land the rivers have spoiled!
(DBY)

Isaiah 18:7
In that time shall a present be brought unto Jehovah of hosts of a people scattered and ravaged, and from a people terrible from their existence and thenceforth, a nation of continued waiting and of treading down, whose land the rivers have spoiled, ... to the place of the name of Jehovah of hosts, the mount Zion.
(DBY)

Isaiah 48:16
Come near to me, and give ear to this; from the start I did not keep it secret; from the time of its coming into existence I was there: and now the Lord God has sent me, and given me his spirit.
(BBE)

Subtopics

Existence

Related Terms

Marriage (74 Occurrences)

Nature (80 Occurrences)

Eternal (166 Occurrences)

Existed (18 Occurrences)

Building (249 Occurrences)

Bethlehem (49 Occurrences)

Existence (35 Occurrences)

Singular (2 Occurrences)

Gnosticism