Definition and General Understanding:

The term "mature" in a biblical context often refers to spiritual growth and development, reaching a state of completeness or perfection in one's faith and character. It implies a progression from spiritual infancy to adulthood, characterized by wisdom, discernment, and a deep understanding of God's will.

Biblical References:

1. Hebrews 5:14 · "But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil." This verse highlights the distinction between spiritual infancy and maturity, emphasizing the need for believers to grow in their ability to discern and apply God's truth.

2. Ephesians 4:13 · "until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ." Here, maturity is linked to unity in faith and knowledge, suggesting that spiritual growth leads to a deeper understanding and embodiment of Christ's character.

3. James 1:4 · "Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." This passage associates maturity with perseverance, indicating that enduring trials and challenges is essential for achieving spiritual completeness.

Characteristics of Maturity:

· Discernment: Mature believers possess the ability to distinguish between good and evil, as noted in Hebrews 5:14. This discernment is developed through consistent engagement with Scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

· Unity and Knowledge: Ephesians 4:13 suggests that maturity involves a collective growth towards unity in faith and a comprehensive understanding of Christ. This unity is not merely doctrinal but also relational, reflecting the love and harmony within the body of Christ.

· Perseverance: James 1:4 emphasizes the role of perseverance in achieving maturity. Trials and tribulations are seen as opportunities for growth, refining believers' faith and character.

· Fruit of the Spirit: Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruit of the Spirit, which are indicators of spiritual maturity. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are qualities that mature believers exhibit.

The Process of Maturing:

Spiritual maturity is a lifelong journey that involves intentional growth and transformation. It requires believers to:

· Engage with Scripture: Regular study and meditation on God's Word are crucial for understanding His will and developing discernment.

· Prayer and Communion with God: Maintaining a close relationship with God through prayer fosters spiritual growth and maturity.

· Fellowship with Other Believers: Engaging in community with other Christians provides accountability, encouragement, and opportunities for growth.

· Obedience to God's Commands: Maturity is demonstrated through a life of obedience, reflecting Christ's character and teachings.

Challenges to Maturity:

· Spiritual Complacency: A lack of desire for growth can hinder maturity. Believers are encouraged to continually seek deeper understanding and relationship with God.

· Worldly Influences: The values and distractions of the world can impede spiritual growth. Mature believers are called to remain steadfast and focused on God's truth.

· False Teachings: Discernment is essential to recognize and reject false doctrines that can lead believers astray.

Conclusion:

While the journey to maturity is ongoing, the goal is to become more like Christ, reflecting His love, wisdom, and holiness in every aspect of life. Through perseverance, discernment, and a commitment to growth, believers can attain spiritual maturity, fulfilling God's purpose for their lives.1. (superl.) Brought by natural process to completeness of growth and development; fitted by growth and development for any function, action, or state, appropriate to its kind; full-grown; ripe.

2. (superl.) Completely worked out; fully digested or prepared; ready for action; made ready for destined application or use; perfected; as, a mature plan.

3. (superl.) of or pertaining to a condition of full development; as, a man of mature years.

4. (superl.) Come to, or in a state of, completed suppuration.

5. (v. t.) To bring or hasten to maturity; to promote ripeness in; to ripen; to complete; as, to mature one's plans.

6. (v. i.) To advance toward maturity; to become ripe; as, wine matures by age; the judgment matures by age and experience.

7. (v. i.) Hence, to become due, as a note.

5046. teleios -- having reached its end, ie complete, by ext. ...
... by ext. perfect NASB Word Usage complete (2), mature (4), more perfect (1),
perfect (12). complete, perfect, mature. From telos; complete ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5046.htm - 8k

4134. pleres -- full
... Word Origin from a derivation of pletho (to be full) Definition full NASB Word Usage
abounding (1), covered (1), filled (1), full (12), mature (1). full. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4134.htm - 7k

187. akmazo -- to be at the prime
... be fully ripe. From the same as akmen; to make a point, ie (figuratively) mature --
be fully ripe. see GREEK akmen. (ekmasan) -- 1 Occurrence. 186, 187. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/187.htm - 6k

2244. helikia -- maturity, ie age
... Word Origin from helix (of the same age, mature) Definition maturity, ie age NASB
Word Usage age (2), life (2), life's span (1), stature (3). age, stature. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2244.htm - 6k

2338. thelus -- female
... 2338 (from , "the breast") -- properly, a woman with nursing breasts ("one who gives
suck"); (figuratively) a mature female who exhibit "," glorifying God by ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2338.htm - 6k

1253. diakrisis -- the act of judgment
... (Note the intensifying force of the prefix, .) See also 1252 (). : Heb 5:14: "But
solid food relates to mature people (5046 ), of those having the sense ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1253.htm - 7k

4243. presbeuo -- to be the elder, to take precedence
... 4243 (a verb derived from , "an older, venerated person") -- properly, to be
elderly or mature, "to be , to take and hence act as " (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4243.htm - 7k

3583. xeraino -- to dry up, waste away
... dry up, wither away. From xeros; to desiccate; by implication, to shrivel, to mature --
dry up, pine away, be ripe, wither (away). see GREEK xeros. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3583.htm - 6k

He who is Mature in Faith, Hope and Love, Needs Scripture no ...
... Book I. Chapter 39."He Who is Mature in Faith, Hope and Love, Needs Scripture
No Longer. 43. And thus a man who is resting upon ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 39 he who is mature.htm

Knowledge and Obedience.
... The word rendered "knowledge" means "mature knowledge," and is one of the
characteristic words of these four Epistles written from Rome. ...
/.../thomas/the prayers of st paul/v knowledge and obedience.htm

Bible Study for Boys
... It was a mistake due to a purely mature point of view and a failure to know that
the boy mind needed different treatment from that of the adult. ...
/.../alexander/the boy and the sunday school/ix bible study for boys.htm

Method and Organization
... Senior forms of organization were imitated, adult forms of worship and service
diminutized, and juvenile copies of mature experience encouraged. ...
/.../alexander/the boy and the sunday school/vii method and organization.htm

The Eternity of Heaven's Happiness.
... Our growth to mature age has completely changed us in their regard. Where is the
man that could now spend the day with the playthings of his childhood? ...
/.../boudreaux/the happiness of heaven/chapter xxi the eternity of.htm

His Public Life.
... his years, Christ combined, with the freshness, energy, and originating power of
youth, that wisdom, moderation, and experience, which belong only to mature age ...
//christianbookshelf.org/schaff/the person of christ/his public life.htm

Concerning Paradise.
... Now this is a good thing for those who are mature, but an evil thing for the immature
and those whose appetites are too strong [1778] , being like solid food ...
/.../john/exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter xi concerning paradise.htm

These Things, Since they are Asserted Upon the Warrant of the ...
... Every birth, I suppose, depends upon three conditions. There must be a woman of
mature age, she must have intercourse with a man, her womb must not be barren. ...
/.../11 these things since they.htm

Perfect in Parts, Imperfect in Degrees.
... 14), where he addresses believers as "young men" and as "fathers," evidently with
reference to their age, for he places the latter as more mature in spiritual ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/x perfect in parts imperfect.htm

In this Passage all Room for Doubt is Removed. In the Former ...
... ones, to all, even to those who now do not believe, that is, the devil and his angels;
and, though now you hold the mere opinion, not the mature judgment, of ...
/.../32 in this passage all.htm

Mature (11 Occurrences)
... 2. (superl.) Completely worked out; fully digested or prepared; ready for action;
made ready for destined application or use; perfected; as, a mature plan. ...
/m/mature.htm - 10k

Ripe (29 Occurrences)
... 2. (superl.) Ready for reaping or gathering; having attained perfection; mature; --
said of fruits, seeds, etc.; as, ripe grain. ... 10. (vt) To mature; to ripen. ...
/r/ripe.htm - 16k

Ripen (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To grow ripe; to become mature, as grain,
fruit, flowers, and the like; as, grapes ripen in the sun. ...
/r/ripen.htm - 7k

Full-grown (4 Occurrences)
Full-grown. Fullgrown, Full-grown. Fullness . Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.)
Having reached the limits of growth; mature. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/f/full-grown.htm - 7k

Manhood (8 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 4:13 till we all of us arrive at oneness in faith and in the knowledge
of the Son of God, and at mature manhood and the stature of full-grown men in ...
/m/manhood.htm - 8k

Season (101 Occurrences)
... 6. (vt) To fit for any use by time or habit; to habituate; to accustom; to
inure; to ripen; to mature; as, to season one to a climate. ...
/s/season.htm - 38k

Believers (50 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 2:6 Yet when we are among mature believers we do speak words of wisdom;
a wisdom not belonging, however, to the present age nor to the leaders of ...
/b/believers.htm - 21k

Thoughts (151 Occurrences)
... child. (BBE). 1 Corinthians 14:20 Brothers, don't be children in thoughts,
yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature. (WEB). ...
/t/thoughts.htm - 34k

Youthful (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Not yet mature or aged; young. 2. (a.)
Also used figuratively. 3. (a.) of or pertaining to the ...
/y/youthful.htm - 7k

Oneness (2 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 4:13 till we all of us arrive at oneness in faith and in the knowledge
of the Son of God, and at mature manhood and the stature of full-grown men in ...
/o/oneness.htm - 7k

What is spiritual maturity? How can I become more spiritually mature? | GotQuestions.org

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Mature: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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