The term "nearly" is not directly found in the text of the Bible; however, the concept of proximity, whether in terms of time, space, or relationship, is a recurring theme throughout the Scriptures. The Bible often addresses the idea of being close to God, nearing fulfillment of prophecy, or approaching a significant event. This entry explores these themes through various biblical passages and contexts.

Proximity to God

The Bible frequently emphasizes the importance of drawing near to God. James 4:8 states, "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." This verse highlights the reciprocal nature of our relationship with God, where human initiative to approach Him is met with divine response. The concept of nearness to God is also evident in the Old Testament, where the Israelites are called to be a people set apart, living in close covenant relationship with Yahweh.

Nearness in Time

The Bible often speaks of events that are "near" in terms of prophetic fulfillment or eschatological expectation. In the New Testament, Jesus frequently refers to the Kingdom of God as being near. For instance, in Mark 1:15 , Jesus proclaims, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!" This announcement underscores the immediacy and urgency of the message of salvation and the coming reign of God.

Similarly, the Apostle Paul writes about the nearness of salvation in Romans 13:11 : "And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." Here, Paul encourages believers to live in readiness and anticipation of Christ's return, emphasizing the progressive unfolding of God's redemptive plan.

Nearness in Relationship

The Bible also addresses the concept of nearness in terms of human relationships. The parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 illustrates the idea of being a "neighbor" to those in need, transcending ethnic and social boundaries. The Samaritan's actions demonstrate compassion and mercy, embodying the command to "love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18).

Furthermore, the closeness of the early Christian community is depicted in Acts 2:44-47 : "All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need." This passage reflects the intimate fellowship and mutual support that characterized the early church, highlighting the importance of relational proximity among believers.

Conclusion

While the specific term "nearly" may not appear in the biblical text, the themes of nearness and proximity are woven throughout Scripture, emphasizing the importance of closeness to God, readiness for His coming, and the depth of human relationships. These themes invite believers to live in a state of spiritual alertness, relational integrity, and covenantal faithfulness.(adv.) In a near manner; not remotely; closely; intimately; almost.4975. schedon -- near, nearly
... near, nearly. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: schedon Phonetic Spelling:
(skhed-on') Short Definition: nearly, almost Definition: nearly, almost. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4975.htm - 6k

3897. paraplesios -- coming near, nearly resembling
... coming near, nearly resembling. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: paraplesios
Phonetic Spelling: (par-ap-lay'-see-on) Short Definition: near to, nearly ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3897.htm - 6k

4568. saton -- seah, a (Heb.) measure (equiv. to about one and a ...
... to about one and a half pecks). Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: saton
Phonetic Spelling: (sat'-on) Short Definition: nearly three English gallons ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4568.htm - 7k

3426. modios -- modius, a dry measure of one peck
... measure of one peck. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: modios Phonetic
Spelling: (mod'-ee-os) Short Definition: a dry measure, nearly two English ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3426.htm - 6k

1860. epaggelia -- a summons, a promise
... 1860/ ("an appropriate ") is nearly always used of in the NT -- and hence (). [In
the NT (and throughout antiquity), 1860 () is a that refers to an promise. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1860.htm - 7k

2827. klino -- to cause to bend
... Word Origin a prim. verb Definition to cause to bend NASB Word Usage bowed
(2), ending (1), lay (2), nearly over (1), put to flight (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2827.htm - 6k

3946. paromoios -- much like
... Word Origin from para and homoios Definition much like NASB Word Usage such (1).
like. From para and homoios; alike nearly, ie Similar -- like. see GREEK para. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3946.htm - 6k

1321. didasko -- to teach
... disseminate information). In the NT, 1321 ("teach") nearly always refers to
teaching the Scriptures (the written Word of God). The key ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1321.htm - 9k

2307. thelema -- will
... [Note the suffix, focusing on hoped for with the particular desire (wish). 2307 ()
is nearly always used of , referring to His preferred-will. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2307.htm - 7k

4225. pou -- somewhere
... Genitive case of an indefinite pronoun pos (some) otherwise obsolete (compare posos);
as adverb of place, somewhere, ie Nearly -- about, a certain place. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4225.htm - 6k

5695. egel -- a calf
... bullock, calf. From the same as agol; a (male) calf (as frisking round), especially
one nearly grown (ie A steer) -- bullock, calf. see HEBREW agol. ...
/hebrew/5695.htm - 6k

5697. eglah -- a heifer
... calf, cow, heifer. Feminine of egel; a (female) calf, especially one nearly grown
(ie A heifer) -- calf, cow, heifer. see HEBREW egel. 5696, 5697. ...
/hebrew/5697.htm - 6k

Wesley Nearly Drowned
... Chapter 5. Wesley Refused Sacraments at Epworth; Cornwall and the Scilly Isles;
Natural Amphitheater at Gwennap; Wesley in Danger Wesley Nearly Drowned. ...
/.../wesley/the journal of john wesley/wesley nearly drowned.htm

That He Conquered Nearly the Whole World.
... The Life of the blessed emperor constantine, by eusebius pamphilus. Book
I. Chapter VIII."That he conquered nearly the Whole World. ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter viii that he conquered nearly.htm

Nearly Identical with Hymnxiii
... Hymn II. Nearly identical with Hymn XIII. (Nearly identical with Hymn XIII. On the
Nativity.) (Resp."To Thee be praise Who in this feast makest all to exult!). ...
/.../hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn ii nearly identical with.htm

Meanwhile, the Marquis Fontenelle had Been Nearly a Fortnight in ...
... XXIII. Meanwhile, the Marquis Fontenelle had been nearly a fortnight in
Rome? Meanwhile, the Marquis Fontenelle had been nearly ...
/.../corelli/the master-christian/xxiii meanwhile the marquis fontenelle.htm

Therefore, Although All, or Nearly All, the Transactions Recorded ...
... Book 3 Chapter 32. Therefore, although all, or nearly all, the transactions
recorded in the Old Testament are? 32. Therefore, although ...
/.../on christian doctrine in four books/chapter 32 therefore although all.htm

The Disposition of Nearly all who Go Astray. With Some Heretics ...
... A Treatise on nature and grace, against pelagius; Chapter 28 [XXV.]"The
Disposition of Nearly All Who Go Astray. With Some Heretics ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 28 xxv the disposition of.htm

Narrow Escapes. Is Thrown from a Horse. Has Pneumonia. Nearly ...
... Is Thrown from a Horse. Has Pneumonia. Nearly Killed. Self-possession. Almost Drowned. ...
Is Thrown from a Horse. Has Pneumonia. Nearly Killed. Self-possession. ...
/.../chapter x narrow escapes is.htm

I Will Address the Master in one of his Own Phrases. Why, after ...
... Why, after nearly four hundred years, do you give such teachings as these
to the Latin people with their peaceable and simple minds! ...
/.../36 i will address the.htm

The World was Created by God Nearly Six Thousand Years Ago...
... The Sacred History Of Sulpitius Severus. Book I. Chapter II. The world was
created by God nearly six thousand years ago? The world ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter ii the world was.htm

And all the Methods I have Mentioned are Constantly Used by Nearly ...
... Book 4 Chapter 7. And all the methods I have mentioned are constantly
used by nearly every one? 7. And all the methods I have ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books/chapter 7 and all the.htm

Nearly (13 Occurrences)
...Nearly (13 Occurrences). ... "Because," said they, "it is getting towards evening, and
the day is nearly over." So He went in to stay with them. (WEY NAS NIV). ...
/n/nearly.htm - 10k

Serpent (40 Occurrences)
...Nearly every reference states or implies poisonous qualities, and in no case is
there so much as a hint that a snake may be harmless, except in several ...
/s/serpent.htm - 46k

Aramaic (12 Occurrences)
... Chief Differences in Latter LITERATURE The name is given to a form of Semitic speech,
most nearly related to Hebrew and Phoenician, but exhibiting marked ...
/a/aramaic.htm - 31k

Divorce (18 Occurrences)
... occasion. But there is nothing in Mark that is not in Matthew; and the latter
contains nearly a third more of text than the former. ...
/d/divorce.htm - 41k

Goat (92 Occurrences)
... They include the well-known, but now nearly extinct, Alpine ibex, steinbok, or
bouquetin, the markhor, and the Himalayan ibex, which has enormous horns. ...
/g/goat.htm - 48k

Ox (197 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. (n.) The male of bovine quadrupeds, especially the domestic
animal when castrated and grown to its full size, or nearly so. ...
/o/ox.htm - 43k

Like (10728 Occurrences)
... 1. (superl.) Having the same, or nearly the same, appearance, qualities, or
characteristics; resembling; similar to; similar; alike; -- often with in and the ...
/l/like.htm - 14k

I (95796 Occurrences)
... The Phoenician letter was probably of Egyptian origin. Its original value was
nearly the same as that of the Italian I, or long e as in mete. ...
/i/i.htm - 7k

Floor (69 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) The right to speak. 7. (n.) That part of the bottom of a vessel on
each side of the keelson which is most nearly horizontal. ...
/f/floor.htm - 32k

Engedi (6 Occurrences)
... 47:10), and nearly equidistant from both extremities. To the wilderness near this
town David fled for fear of Saul (Joshua 15:62; 1 Samuel 23:29). ...
/e/engedi.htm - 11k

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