In the context of biblical studies, the term "prior" is not directly referenced in the Scriptures as a specific title or role. However, the concept of precedence, order, and priority is woven throughout the biblical narrative, reflecting the importance of placing God and His commandments first in the lives of believers.

Priority in Worship and Obedience

The Bible emphasizes the importance of prioritizing God above all else. In the Ten Commandments, the first commandment sets the tone for the rest: "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3). This command establishes the priority of worshiping the one true God and placing Him above all other allegiances and desires.

Jesus reiterates this principle in the New Testament, emphasizing the greatest commandment: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37). This command underscores the priority of loving and serving God with one's entire being.

Priority in the Kingdom of God

The teachings of Jesus often highlight the importance of prioritizing the Kingdom of God. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus instructs His followers: "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). This directive calls believers to prioritize spiritual pursuits and trust that God will provide for their material needs.

Priority in Relationships

The Bible also addresses the priority of relationships, particularly within the family and the community of believers. The Apostle Paul, in his letters, often speaks to the order and structure within the family, urging husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25) and children to obey their parents (Ephesians 6:1). These instructions reflect the importance of maintaining godly priorities in familial relationships.

Priority in Ministry and Service

The early church demonstrated the priority of ministry and service, as seen in the Acts of the Apostles. The apostles prioritized prayer and the ministry of the word, appointing deacons to serve the practical needs of the community (Acts 6:3-4). This division of responsibilities highlights the importance of prioritizing spiritual leadership while ensuring the physical needs of the community are met.

Priority in Personal Conduct

Believers are called to prioritize holiness and righteous living. The Apostle Peter exhorts Christians to "be holy in all your conduct" (1 Peter 1:15), reflecting the priority of living a life that honors God. The pursuit of holiness is a recurring theme throughout the New Testament, urging believers to set their minds on things above and not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2).

In summary, while the specific term "prior" may not appear in the biblical text, the concept of prioritizing God, His kingdom, and His commandments is a foundational principle in Scripture. This principle guides believers in their worship, relationships, ministry, and personal conduct, ensuring that God remains at the forefront of their lives.1. (a.) Preceding in the order of time; former; antecedent; anterior; previous; as, a prior discovery; prior obligation; -- used elliptically in cases like the following: he lived alone [in the time] prior to his marriage.

2. (n.) The superior of a priory, and next below an abbot in dignity.

4256. proaitiaomai -- to accuse beforehand
... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: proaitiaomai Phonetic Spelling: (pro-ahee-
tee-ah'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I make a prior accusation Definition: I make ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4256.htm - 6k

4253. pro -- before
... preposition Definition before NASB Word Usage above (2), ago (4), ahead (2), ahead*
(2), before (30), front (2), just outside (1), prior (1), right (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4253.htm - 6k

588. apodechomai -- to accept gladly, welcome
... 588 (from 575 , "from" and 1209 , "to receive heartily, welcome") -- properly "receive
from," ie as the prior circumstance (or individual) inspires ("gladly ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/588.htm - 7k

4250. prin -- before
... adverb akin to pro Definition before NASB Word Usage before (13). before, ere. Adverb
from pro; prior, sooner -- before (that), ere. see GREEK pro. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4250.htm - 6k

4387. proteros -- before
... former. Comparative of pro; prior or previous -- former. see GREEK pro. (proteran) --
1 Occurrence. 4386, 4387. proteros. 4388 . Strong's Numbers.
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4387.htm - 6k

6440. panim -- face, faces
... 2), presence (131), presence and before (1), presence of the before (1), presence
on the before (1), presented* (2), previously (1), prior (1), receive* (2 ...
/hebrew/6440.htm - 8k

2962. terem -- not yet, ere, before that
... Word Origin a prim. adverb Definition not yet, ere, before that NASB Word Usage
before (45), before* (3), no* (2), nor (1), prior (1), yet (6). ...
/hebrew/2962.htm - 6k

Whether Good is Logically Prior to the True?
... OF TRUTH (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether good is logically prior to the true? Objection
1: It seems that good is logically prior to the true. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether good is logically prior.htm

Whether Goodness is Prior in Idea to Being?
... OF GOODNESS IN GENERAL (SIX ARTICLES) Whether goodness is prior in idea to being?
Objection 1: It seems that goodness is prior in idea to being. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether goodness is prior in.htm

Letter iv to the Prior and Monks of the Grand Chartreuse
... LETTER IV To the Prior and Monks of the Grand Chartreuse. To the Prior and Monks
of the Grand Chartreuse He commends himself to their prayers. ...
/.../some letters of saint bernard abbot of clairvaux/letter iv to the prior.htm

Whether Charity is Prior to Hope
... Article Eight Whether Charity is Prior to Hope. Whether Charity is Prior
to Hope We ... 1. It seems that charity is prior to hope. For ...
/.../aquinas/nature and grace/article eight whether charity is.htm

Letter Xl to Thomas, Prior of Beverley
... LETTER XL To Thomas, Prior of Beverley. To Thomas, Prior of Beverley This Thomas
had taken the vows of the Cistercian Order at Clairvaux. ...
/.../some letters of saint bernard abbot of clairvaux/letter xl to thomas prior.htm

The Tradition of the Church Prior to that of the Heresies.
... The Stromata, or Miscellanies. Book VII. Chapter XVII."The Tradition of
the Church Prior to that of the Heresies. Those, then, that ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xvii the tradition of the.htm

Confessio Helvetica Prior (Sive Basileensis Posterior).
... CONFESSIO HELVETICA PRIOR (sive BASILEENSIS POSTERIOR). The First Helvetic
Confession. AD1536. [This Confession was composed by ...
/.../confessio helvetica prior sive basileensis.htm

Parting Words [Footnote: Preached Prior to a Long Absence in ...
... THE ACTS CHAP. XIII TO END PARTING WORDS [Footnote: Preached prior to a
long absence in Australia.]. 'And now, brethren, I commend ...
/.../parting words footnote preached prior.htm

Prior Hugh
... CHAPTER III PRIOR HUGH. ... He promised succour, and the brethren brought back"promises.
The work stopped, and the Prior endured in grim silence. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/marson/hugh bishop of lincoln/chapter iii prior hugh.htm

Letter xxxi (AD 1132) to the Abbot of a Certain Monastery at York ...
... LETTER XXXI (AD 1132) To the Abbot of a Certain Monastery at York, from Which
the Prior Had Departed, Taking Several Religious with Him. ...
/.../some letters of saint bernard abbot of clairvaux/letter xxxi a d 1132 to.htm

Prior (6 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Preceding in the order of time; former; antecedent; anterior; previous;
as, a prior discovery; prior obligation; -- used elliptically in cases like the ...
/p/prior.htm - 8k

Imputation
... or a bad deed for punishment (Leviticus 17:4); and it makes no difference whether
that which is imputed is something which is personally one's own prior to the ...
/i/imputation.htm - 39k

Senior (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) More advanced than another in age; prior in age; elder; hence, more advanced
in dignity, rank, or office; superior; as, senior member; senior counsel. ...
/s/senior.htm - 8k

Songs (100 Occurrences)
... It should be borne in mind that the So of Songs was already esteemed by the Jews
as a sacred book, though prior to the Synod of Jamnia there was probably a ...
/s/songs.htm - 62k

Natural (49 Occurrences)
... 1). A study of these passages will show that the adjectives "old," "outward," "carnal,"
and "natural" describe man, from different points of view, prior to his ...
/n/natural.htm - 42k

Colossians (1 Occurrence)
... 1. External Evidence: The external evidence for the Epistle to the Colossians,
prior to the middle of the 2nd century, is rather indeterminate. ...
/c/colossians.htm - 23k

Man (26072 Occurrences)
... Description: The name occurs in Paul's remarkable announcement in 2 Thessalonians
2:3-10 of the manifestation of a colossal anti-Christian power prior to the ...
/m/man.htm - 56k

Song (207 Occurrences)
... It should be borne in mind that the So of Songs was already esteemed by the Jews
as a sacred book, though prior to the Synod of Jamnia there was probably a ...
/s/song.htm - 78k

Lutheran
... of the Jews, the baptism of proselytes to the Jewish faith, common in the days of
Christ, the baptism of John and of the disciples of Christ prior to the Day ...
/l/lutheran.htm - 35k

Doctrine (52 Occurrences)
... of the Jews, the baptism of proselytes to the Jewish faith, common in the days of
Christ, the baptism of John and of the disciples of Christ prior to the Day ...
/d/doctrine.htm - 57k

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