Prominence in the biblical context often refers to the state of being important, well-known, or influential within a community or society. The Bible provides numerous examples of individuals and groups who achieved prominence, either through divine appointment, personal virtue, or societal influence. This entry explores the concept of prominence as depicted in the Scriptures, highlighting key figures and teachings.

Old Testament Examples

1. Abraham: Abraham is a quintessential example of prominence through divine calling. God chose him to be the father of many nations, promising, "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing" (Genesis 12:2). Abraham's prominence is rooted in his faith and obedience to God, which set the foundation for the Israelite nation.

2. Joseph: Joseph's rise to prominence in Egypt is a account of divine providence and personal integrity. Despite being sold into slavery by his brothers, Joseph eventually became the second most powerful man in Egypt. His ability to interpret Pharaoh's dreams and manage the nation's resources during a famine is recorded in Genesis 41:39-41 : "Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.'"

3. David: David's prominence began with his anointing by Samuel and was solidified through his victory over Goliath. His kingship is marked by military success, expansion of the kingdom, and a heart after God. As stated in 1 Samuel 16:13 , "So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward."

New Testament Examples

1. Jesus Christ: The ultimate example of prominence in the New Testament is Jesus Christ. His life, death, and resurrection are central to Christian faith. Jesus' prominence is not only in His divine nature but also in His teachings and miracles. Philippians 2:9-11 declares, "Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

2. The Apostles: The apostles, particularly Peter and Paul, gained prominence through their leadership in the early church and their missionary work. Peter's role is highlighted in Acts 2:14 , where he addresses the crowd at Pentecost, leading to the conversion of thousands. Paul's prominence is evident in his extensive missionary journeys and epistles, which form a significant portion of the New Testament.

3. Mary, the Mother of Jesus: Mary holds a place of prominence due to her role as the mother of Jesus. Her faith and obedience are exemplified in Luke 1:38 , where she responds to the angel Gabriel, "I am the Lord’s servant... May it happen to me according to your word."

Teachings on Prominence

The Bible teaches that true prominence comes from God and is often accompanied by humility and service. Jesus taught His disciples about the nature of true greatness in Matthew 20:26-28 : "Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."

The Scriptures also warn against the pursuit of prominence for selfish reasons. Proverbs 16:18 cautions, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." This highlights the biblical principle that prominence should be sought not for personal glory but for the glory of God and the service of others.(n.) The quality of being noticeable or distinguished.5247. huperoche -- a projection, eminence
... preeminence, authority. Cognate: 5247 (from 5242, "hold ") -- prominence
(because ); pre-eminent (superior). See 5242 (). 5247 () is ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5247.htm - 7k

1851. exoche -- a projection, eminence
... principal. From a compound of ek and echo (meaning to stand out); prominence
(figuratively) -- principal. see GREEK ek. see GREEK echo. (exochen) -- 1 Occurrence ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1851.htm - 6k

2158. euschemon -- comely
... Word Origin from eu and schema Definition comely NASB Word Usage appropriate (1),
presentable (1), prominence (1), prominent (2). comely, honorable. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2158.htm - 7k

5242. huperecho -- to hold above, to rise above, to be superior
... 5242 (from 5228 , "beyond, above" and 2192, "have") -- properly, "have beyond, ie
be superior, excel, surpass" (); to exercise prominence (superiority). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5242.htm - 7k

4760. murah -- crop or alimentary canal
... crop. Apparently feminine passive causative participle of ra'ah; something conspicuous,
ie The craw of a bird (from its prominence) -- crop. see HEBREW ra'ah. ...
/hebrew/4760.htm - 6k

2124. Ziza -- two Israelites
... NASB Word Usage Ziza (2). Ziza. Apparently from the same as ziyz; prominence; Ziza,
the name of two Israelites -- Ziza. see HEBREW ziyz. 2123b, 2124. ...
/hebrew/2124.htm - 6k

567. Emori -- perhaps "mountain dwellers," a Canaanite tribe
... Probably a patronymic from an unused name derived from 'amar in the sense of publicity,
ie Prominence; thus, a mountaineer; an Emorite, one of the Canaanitish ...
/hebrew/567.htm - 6k

2106. zavith -- a corner
... Apparently from the same root as Ziv (in the sense of prominence); an angle (as
projecting), ie (by implication) a corner-column (or anta) -- corner(stone). ...
/hebrew/2106.htm - 6k

6643. tsbiy -- beauty, honor
... From tsabah in the sense of prominence; splendor (as conspicuous); also a gazelle
(as beautiful) -- beautiful(-ty), glorious, goodly, pleasant, roe(-buck). ...
/hebrew/6643.htm - 5k

Water Chosen as a Vehicle of Divine Operation and Wherefore Its ...
... Chapter III."Water Chosen as a Vehicle of Divine Operation and Wherefore
Its Prominence First of All in Creation. Mindful of this ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/on baptism/chapter iii water chosen as a.htm

Of the Question Whether Mark's Reports of the Repeated Occasions ...
... Chapter III."Of the Question Whether Mark's Reports of the Repeated Occasions on
Which the Name of Peter Was Brought into Prominence are Not at Variance with ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter iii of the question whether.htm

Prepositions, 89-98
... SYNTAX PREPOSITIONS, 89-98. 89. Prominence of Prepositions. The prominence
of prepositions in the LXX is partly a characteristic ...
/.../conybeare/a grammar of septuagint greek/prepositions 89-98.htm

The Main Current of the Reformation
... It brought man into greater prominence, and the Church as an ecclesiastical system
into less prominence; for life, they discovered, was settled in the teaching ...
/.../chapter i the main current.htm

The Doctrine of the Last Things.
... I. ITS IMPORTANCE. 1. PROMINENCE IN THE SCRIPTURES. 2. THE CHRISTIAN HOPE. 3. THE
CHRISTIAN INCENTIVE. ... I. ITS IMPORTANCE. 1. ITS PROMINENCE IN THE SCRIPTURES. ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrine of the last.htm

Preface.
... The Bishop of Rome"a personage unknown to the writers of the New Testament" meanwhile
rose into prominence, and at length took precedence of all other ...
//christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/preface.htm

The Missionary in India (Continued).
... of some of their former views, in all, perhaps, though in different degrees, to
a readjustment of their doctrinal position, to giving more prominence to some ...
/.../life and work in benares and kumaon 1839-1877/chapter xxv the missionary in.htm

Jesus' Conception of Himself
... When Jesus called forth the confession of Peter at Caesarea Philippi he brought
into prominence the question which during the earlier stages of the Galilean ...
/.../rhees/the life of jesus of nazareth/iv jesus conception of himself.htm

Whether Vainglory is a Capital vice?
... Neither therefore is the desire of vainglory. Objection 3: Further, a capital
vice has a certain prominence. But vainglory seems ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether vainglory is a capital.htm

New Haven Orthodox Creed.
... "In the earlier revivals of this country, great prominence was given, in the preaching,
to the doctrine of dependence, in the forms of regeneration, election ...
/.../hayward/the book of religions/new haven orthodox creed.htm

Prominence (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The quality of being noticeable or distinguished.
Multi-Version Concordance Prominence (1 Occurrence). ...
/p/prominence.htm - 6k

Kings (350 Occurrences)
... While in the Chronicles greater prominence is given to the priestly or Levitical
office, in the Kings greater prominence is given to the kingly. ...
/k/kings.htm - 61k

Judaeus
... The Alexandrian Jews wielded great influence in the contemporary Roman empire, and
the prominence of Philo's family is attested by the fact that his brother ...
/j/judaeus.htm - 29k

Philo
... The Alexandrian Jews wielded great influence in the contemporary Roman empire, and
the prominence of Philo's family is attested by the fact that his brother ...
/p/philo.htm - 29k

Swelling (14 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) A protuberance; a prominence. 4. (n.) an unnatural prominence or protuberance;
as, a scrofulous swelling. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SWELLING. ...
/s/swelling.htm - 13k

Tiberius (1 Occurrence)
... by Augustus. From this date on Tiberius came more and more into prominence,
receiving the tribunician power for 10 years. 3. Reign ...
/t/tiberius.htm - 15k

Messiah (9 Occurrences)
... But it is not till we reach the Assyrian age, when the personality of the king is
brought into prominence against the great world-power, that we meet with any ...
/m/messiah.htm - 43k

Sirach
... Yet Sirach gives far more prominence than Proverbs to the idea that the Divine Will
is specially made known in the Law of Moses (Sirach 24:23; 45:1-4). We do ...
/s/sirach.htm - 34k

Prominent (13 Occurrences)

/p/prominent.htm - 10k

Macedonia (23 Occurrences)
... THE MACEDONIAN CHURCH 1. Prominence of Women 2. Marked Characteristics 3. Its Members
LITERATURE A country lying to the North of Greece, afterward enlarged and ...
/m/macedonia.htm - 40k

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