The concept of "retain" in the Bible often involves holding onto something with intention and purpose, whether it be knowledge, wisdom, faith, or spiritual truths. The term is used in various contexts throughout Scripture, emphasizing the importance of steadfastness and perseverance in the Christian life.

Retain in Wisdom and Knowledge

Proverbs 4:4-5 highlights the importance of retaining wisdom and understanding: "He taught me and said, 'Let your heart retain my words; keep my commandments and live. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.'" Here, the act of retaining is associated with life and obedience, underscoring the value of holding onto divine instruction.

Retain in Faith

In the New Testament, retaining faith is a recurring theme. Paul, in his letters, often encourages believers to hold fast to their faith. In 1 Corinthians 15:2 , he writes, "By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain." The retention of faith is crucial for salvation, indicating that belief must be accompanied by perseverance.

Retain in Spiritual Truths

The Apostle Paul also emphasizes the importance of retaining sound doctrine. In 2 Timothy 1:13-14 , he instructs Timothy, "Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us." Retaining sound teaching is vital for the integrity and purity of the Christian message.

Retain in Love and Unity

The concept of retaining is also applied to love and unity within the body of Christ. In Ephesians 4:3 , Paul urges believers to "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Retaining unity requires effort and intentionality, reflecting the communal aspect of the Christian faith.

Retain in Personal Conduct

Retaining personal conduct that aligns with Christian values is another aspect found in Scripture. In 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 , Paul advises, "Test all things. Hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every form of evil." Here, retaining what is good involves discernment and a commitment to righteousness.

Retain in the Face of Trials

The Bible also speaks to retaining faith and hope in the midst of trials. James 1:12 states, "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him." Retaining faith during difficult times is portrayed as a pathway to divine reward.

In summary, the biblical concept of "retain" encompasses a wide range of applications, all of which point to the necessity of holding steadfastly to the truths, values, and faith that define the Christian life.1. (v. t.) To continue to hold; to keep in possession; not to lose, part with, or dismiss; to retrain from departure, escape, or the like.

2. (v. t.) To keep in pay; to employ by a preliminary fee paid; to hire; to engage; as, to retain a counselor.

3. (v. t.) To restrain; to prevent.

4. (v. i.) To belong; to pertain.

5. (v. i.) To keep; to continue; to remain.

RETAIN

re-tan': Several Hebrew words are thus translated: chazaq, "to hold fast" (Judges 7:8; Judges 19:4 Job 2:9 the King James Version (the Revised Version (British and American) "hold fast"); Micah 7:18); `atsar, "to shut up" (only in Daniel 10:8, 16; Daniel 11:6); tamakh, "to hold" (Proverbs 3:18; Proverbs 4:4; Proverbs 11:16 the King James Version (the Revised Version (British and American) "obtain")); in one case kala' (Ecclesiastes 8:8). In the New Testament krateo, is used in John 20:23 of the "retaining" of sins by the apostles (see RETENTION OF SINS); in Romans 1:28, the Revised Version (British and American) has "refused to have," margin "Greek, `did not approve,' " for the King James Version "did not like to retain" (echo); and in Philemon 1:13, substitutes "fain have kept" for "retained" (katecho). Sirach 41:16 has "retain" for diaphulasso, "keep."

2902. krateo -- to be strong, rule
... 1), hold (4), hold fast (4), holding back (1), holding fast (1), holds (1), laid
hold (1), observe (1), observing (1), prevented (1), retain (1), retained (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2902.htm - 9k

2722. katecho -- to hold fast, hold back
... 2), suppress (1). hold back, hold fast, retain. From kata and echo; to hold down
(fast), in various applications (literally or figuratively ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2722.htm - 7k

1907. epecho -- to hold fast, to hold toward, to stop
... From epi and echo; to hold upon, ie (by implication) to retain; (by extension) to
detain; (with implication, of nous) to pay attention to -- give (take) heed ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1907.htm - 7k

2192. echo -- to have, hold
... 3), possess (2), possessed (4), possesses (1), receive (1), received (1), recover*
(1), regard (2), regarded (1), reigns* (1), remember* (1), retain (1), seize ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2192.htm - 11k

6113. atsar -- to restrain, retain
... 6112, 6113. atsar. 6114 . to restrain, retain. Transliteration: atsar Phonetic
Spelling: (aw-tsar') Short Definition: shut. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/6113.htm - 6k

2388. chazaq -- to be or grow firm or strong, strengthen
... 1), received strength (1), recovered (1), rely (1), repair (12), repaired (14),
repairers (1), repairing (1), resist (1), resolutely (2), retain (1), retained ...
/hebrew/2388.htm - 8k

8551. tamak -- to grasp, support, attain
... take, uphold up, maintain, retain, stay up. A primitive root; to sustain;
by implication, to obtain, keep fast; figuratively, to ...
/hebrew/8551.htm - 6k

3607. kala -- to shut up, restrain, withhold
... finish, forbid, keep back, refrain, restrain, retain, shut up, be stayed,.
A primitive root; to restrict, by act (hold back or in ...
/hebrew/3607.htm - 6k

2254a. chabal -- to bind, pledge
... root Definition to bind, pledge NASB Word Usage debt (1), ever take (1), hold him
in pledge (2), labor (2), pledge (4), retain (1), take (3), take a pledge (1 ...
/hebrew/2254a.htm - 5k

4422. malat -- to slip away
... escape (26), escaped (25), escapes (3), gave birth (1), get away (1), lay (1), leap
forth (1), left undisturbed (1), rescue (2), rescued (4), retain (1), save ...
/hebrew/4422.htm - 6k

5202. netar -- to keep
... kept (1). keep. (Aramaic) corresponding to natar; to retain -- keep. see HEBREW
natar. 5201, 5202. netar. 5203 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/5202.htm - 6k

As it Becometh You to Retain a Glorious Sense of the World
... THE SECOND CENTURY 92 As it becometh you to retain a glorious sense of the
world. As it becometh you to retain a glorious sense of ...
/.../traherne/centuries of meditations/92 as it becometh you.htm

The Law Given, not to Retain a People for Itself, but to Keep ...
... CHAPTER 7. THE LAW GIVEN, NOT TO RETAIN A PEOPLE FOR ITSELF, BUT TO KEEP
ALIVE THE HOPE OF SALVATION IN CHRIST UNTIL HIS ADVENT. ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 7 the law given.htm

How a Monk Can Retain his Poverty.
... Prolegomena. Chapter XXIX. How a monk can retain his poverty. And we can
only preserve this virtue unimpaired if we remain in a ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xxix how a monk.htm

That we Should not Retain Our Anger Even for an Instant.
... Prolegomena. Chapter XIII. That we should not retain our anger even for
an instant. Or how can we think that the Lord would have ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xiii that we should.htm

But Others Deceive Themselves by Fancying that they Can Retain the ...
... Canon V. But others deceive themselves by fancying that they can retain
the property of others which? But others deceive themselves ...
/.../canonical epistle of gregory thaumaturgus/canon v but others deceive.htm

Yet not These Alone Does the Unmeasurable Capacity of My Memory ...
... Book X Chapter IX Yet not these alone does the unmeasurable capacity of my
memory retain.? Yet not these alone does the unmeasurable ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter ix yet not these.htm

These Things, Brethren, I Would have You Retain as the Basis of ...
... Book I. Chapter 29. " 31. These things, brethren, I would have you retain
as the basis of your? "31. These things, brethren ...
/.../writings in connection with the donatist controversy /chapter 29 31 these.htm

Although Writing in Latin He Proposes to Retain the Greek Names of ...
... Chapter VI."Although Writing in Latin He Proposes to Retain the Greek Names of the
Valentinian Emanations of Deity Not to Discuss the Heresy But Only to ...
/.../tertullian/against the valentinians/chapter vi although writing in latin.htm

Whether the Bodies of Women Shall Retain their Own Sex in the ...
... Book XXII. Chapter 17."Whether the Bodies of Women Shall Retain Their
Own Sex in the Resurrection. From the words, "Till we all ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 17 whether the bodies of.htm

Hebrews ii. 7-May
... And if I find that they retain any of the things that have been spoken (I say not
all, for this would not be very easy for you), but even if [they retain] a ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily iv hebrews ii 7-may.htm

Retain (24 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To keep in pay; to employ by a preliminary fee paid; to hire; to engage;
as, to retain a counselor. 3. (vt) To restrain; to prevent. ...RETAIN. ...
/r/retain.htm - 15k

Retained (10 Occurrences)
... (imp. & pp) of Retain. Multi-Version Concordance ... Whoever's sins you retain,
they have been retained." (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). ...
/r/retained.htm - 9k

Keep (4573 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To hold; to restrain from departure or removal; not to let go of; to retain
in one's power or possession; not to lose; to retain; to detain. ...
/k/keep.htm - 9k

Liberate (3 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 34:9 That every man should liberate his man-servant, and every man his
maid-servant, being a Hebrew or a Hebrewess; that none should retain them in ...
/l/liberate.htm - 7k

Withhold (32 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To retain; to keep back; not to grant; as, to withhold assent to a proposition.
3. (vt) To keep; to maintain; to retain. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/w/withhold.htm - 16k

Reserve (15 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To keep back; to retain; not to deliver,
make over, or disclose. 2. (vt) Hence, to keep in store ...
/r/reserve.htm - 11k

Bound (175 Occurrences)
... of your sins." This statement is followed by the further declaration that if any
have not so repented God will not forgive them, but will retain them and call ...
/b/bound.htm - 41k

Bind (68 Occurrences)
... of your sins." This statement is followed by the further declaration that if any
have not so repented God will not forgive them, but will retain them and call ...
/b/bind.htm - 32k

Hold (500 Occurrences)
... position, or relation, within certain limits, or the like; to prevent from falling
or escaping; to sustain; to restrain; to keep in the grasp; to retain. ...
/h/hold.htm - 39k

Likeness (52 Occurrences)
... this weakening, 1 Chronicles 28:4 the King James Version, "liked me to make me king"
and Romans 1:28 the King James Version "did not like to retain God," have ...
/l/likeness.htm - 29k

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