Topical Bible: Imagination: General Scriptures Concerning

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Imagination, as referenced in the Bible, often pertains to the thoughts and intentions of the heart, which can be either aligned with God's will or contrary to it. The concept of imagination is significant in understanding the moral and spiritual condition of humanity as depicted in the Scriptures.

Genesis 6:5 · "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time." This verse highlights the corrupt state of human imagination before the flood, indicating that the thoughts and imaginations of humanity were persistently evil, prompting divine judgment.

Genesis 8:21 · "When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, 'Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from his youth. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.'" Here, God acknowledges the persistent evil in human imagination from youth, yet He promises not to destroy all living creatures again, showing His mercy despite human fallibility.

1 Chronicles 28:9 · "As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever." This passage emphasizes that God discerns the intentions and imaginations of the heart, urging Solomon to serve God with sincerity and devotion.

Psalm 2:1 · "Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?" The word "plot" here can be understood as the imagination or devising of plans against the Lord's anointed. It reflects the futility of human imagination when it opposes God's sovereign will.

Proverbs 6:18 · "a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil," This verse is part of a list of things the Lord detests, highlighting the sinful nature of a heart that uses imagination to devise evil plans.

Jeremiah 7:24 · "Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but followed the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts. They went backward and not forward." This verse illustrates the consequences of following one's own imagination when it is set against God's commands, leading to spiritual regression.

Jeremiah 11:8 · "Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but each one followed the stubbornness of his evil heart. So I brought upon them all the curses of the covenant I had commanded them to follow but they did not keep." Here, the imagination of the heart is linked to disobedience and the resulting divine judgment.

Jeremiah 18:12 · "But they will reply, 'It is no use. We will continue with our own plans, and each of us will follow the stubbornness of his evil heart.'" This verse underscores the defiance of those who choose to follow their own imaginations rather than submit to God's guidance.

Romans 1:21 · "For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts." The imagination here is associated with futile thinking and a rejection of God's truth, leading to spiritual darkness.

2 Corinthians 10:5 · "We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." This passage encourages believers to control their imaginations and thoughts, aligning them with the obedience of Christ.

Ephesians 4:17-18 · "So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts." The futility of imagination is linked to a life alienated from God, emphasizing the need for a renewed mind.

The Bible presents imagination as a powerful aspect of human nature that can lead to either righteousness or sin, depending on whether it is surrendered to God's will or used for selfish and evil purposes.

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Genesis 6:5
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
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Genesis 8:21
And the LORD smelled a sweet smell; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
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Deuteronomy 29:19,20
And it come to pass, when he hears the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of my heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:
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1 Chronicles 28:9
And you, Solomon my son, know you the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off for ever.
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Proverbs 6:16-18
These six things does the LORD hate: yes, seven are an abomination to him:
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Matthew 5:28
But I say to you, That whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
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Romans 1:21
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
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2 Corinthians 10:3
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
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Library

Concerning the Condition of Man in the Fall.
... The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth ... is manifest that he speaks
of mankind in general. ... a certain limbus, concerning which the scriptures are as ...
/.../proposition iv concerning the condition.htm

General Corruption.
... CHAPTER I. GENERAL CORRUPTION ... time enough has been said to explain why these Scriptures
should have ... memory or a random tongue or a lively imagination, has been ...
/.../chapter i general corruption.htm

Snares of Satan.
... Like a skilful general, he lays his plans ... Others, who have an active imagination,
seize upon the ... the testimony of the inspired Scriptures concerning the deity ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /32 snares of satan.htm

Snares of Satan
... Like a skillful general he lays his plans ... Others, who have an active imagination,
seize upon the ... the testimony of the inspired Scriptures concerning the deity ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 32 snares of satan.htm

And Judas Iscariot
... takes the points presented and allows his imagination to work in ... There are many such
warnings in the Scriptures. ... side of it in a niche is General Schuyler, and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chapman/and judas iscariot/and judas iscariot.htm

Of Creation in General.
... attribute of God, but is the general nature of ... And our will, and working imagination
could not have the ... regenerated in the soul; so the scriptures say nothing ...
/.../law/an appeal to all that doubt/of creation in general.htm

The Scriptures Reveal Eternal Life through Jesus Christ
... would receive the testimony that the scriptures give of ... There was nothing more general
among that people, than a ... it, it is but a strong imagination, that hath ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture iv the scriptures reveal.htm

What the Scriptures Principally Teach: the Ruin and Recovery of ...
... of them are the abridgment of the Scriptures,"faith and love ... the promises of the
gospel, albeit general, as "worthy ... it is not a light vain imagination of the ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture vi what the scriptures.htm

The Alleged Hostile Witness of Certain of the Early Fathers Proved ...
... his revision of the old Latin version of the Scriptures. ... plan not so much to give
the general results of ... The notion is an invention, a pure imagination of the ...
/.../chapter v the alleged hostile.htm

Secret Study of the Holy Scriptures.
... by the lack of personal acquaintance with the Scriptures. ... By a certain exercise of
imagination suppose yourself to ... What created beings in general are of course ...
/.../moule/to my younger brethren/chapter iii secret study of.htm