The term "seasoned" in the biblical context often refers to the process of enhancing or preserving something, typically through the use of salt or other spices. This concept is both literal and metaphorical in Scripture, illustrating the importance of wisdom, grace, and purity in the life of a believer.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, seasoning is primarily associated with the use of salt. Salt was a crucial element in ancient Israel, used for preserving food, enhancing flavor, and even in covenant rituals. Leviticus 2:13 states, "You are to season each of your grain offerings with salt. You must not omit from your grain offering the salt of the covenant of your God; you are to add salt to each of your offerings." Here, salt symbolizes the enduring nature of God's covenant with His people, emphasizing purity and preservation.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of being "seasoned" takes on a more metaphorical meaning, often related to speech and conduct. Colossians 4:6 advises, "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." This passage encourages believers to speak with wisdom and grace, ensuring that their words are both impactful and edifying.

Spiritual Implications

The metaphor of seasoning with salt extends to the spiritual life of Christians. Jesus Himself uses this imagery in the Sermon on the Mount, declaring, "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men" (Matthew 5:13). Here, believers are called to maintain their distinctiveness and influence in the world, preserving the truth and demonstrating the love of Christ.

Practical Application

In practical terms, being "seasoned" as a Christian involves cultivating a life marked by wisdom, discernment, and grace. This includes:

1. Speech: Ensuring that one's words are thoughtful, encouraging, and reflective of Christ's love.
2. Conduct: Living a life that is consistent with biblical principles, serving as a witness to others.
3. Wisdom: Seeking God's guidance in all decisions, allowing His Word to shape one's understanding and actions.

Conclusion

The biblical concept of being "seasoned" serves as a powerful reminder of the believer's role in the world. Just as salt preserves and enhances, Christians are called to preserve the truth of the Gospel and enhance the lives of those around them through their words and actions.(imp. & p. p.) of Season.741. artuo -- to make ready, to season (food)
... Word Origin probably akin to same as harmos Definition to make ready, to season
(food) NASB Word Usage make...salty (1), seasoned (2). to season. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/741.htm - 6k

4245. presbuteros -- elder
... 4245 -- properly, a having seasoned judgment (experience); an . The NT specifies
elders are . (The feminine singular, , never occurs in the Bible.). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4245.htm - 7k

2548. chamits -- seasoned (with salt)
... seasoned (with salt). Transliteration: chamits Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-meets')
Short Definition: salted. ... From chamets; seasoned, ie Salt provender -- clean. ...
/hebrew/2548.htm - 6k

Colossians iv. 5, 6
... the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that
ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.". What Christ ...
/.../homily xi colossians iv 5.htm

God Still Sifting.
... Yet, mark you, their enthusiasm was seasoned. ... Yet no kind, mark you, will run long
without fresh fuel. We need in our service more of the seasoned enthusiasm. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on service/god still sifting.htm

The Country of Gennesaret.
... And elsewhere, where it is disputed, what is the more noble part of food, something
seasoned with salt, or a morsel,"and it is concluded, that that which is ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 79 the country of.htm

Of the Formal Admission of the Catechumen, and of the Signs ...
... And thereafter he ought to be told what is also signified by the form of words to
which he has listened, and what in him is seasoned [1503] by that (spiritual ...
/.../on the catechising of the uninstructed/chapter 26 of the formal admission.htm

The Confessions of St. Augustin Index of Subjects
... 50. he was signed with the cross, and seasoned with salt, [87]50 and note. his ... 70.
candidates for, seasoned with salt, [196]89 (note). martyrdom ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/the confessions of st augustin.htm

Letter cxxv. To Rusticus.
... [3401] Wherefore also the apostle has given commandment: "let your speech be alway
with grace, seasoned with salt." [3402] But "if the salt have lost his savour ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cxxv to rusticus.htm

Whether those who are not Practiced in Keeping the Commandments ...
... not the weight of the beams until the new fabric is rid of its moisture, lest if
they should be burdened with weight before they are seasoned they bring down ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether those who are not.htm

The Dialogue against the Luciferians.
... through the denial of truth, or through heresy, or lust, or, to comprehend all in
one word, through sin of any kind, by what other can he be seasoned, when he ...
/.../the principal works of st jerome/the dialogue against the luciferians.htm

Prayer and God's Work
... precisely by those weeks and months and years there came a woman with a vision like
God's, with tempered soul and gentle spirit and a seasoned will, prepared ...
/.../bounds/the essentials of prayer/vii prayer and gods work.htm

The Worst Things Work for Good to the Godly
... The vessel is first seasoned before wine is poured into it: the vessels of mercy
are first seasoned with affliction, and then the wine of glory is poured in. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a divine cordial/the worst things work for.htm

Seasoned (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Seasoned (6 Occurrences). Mark 9:49 For everyone will
be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. (WEB). ...
/s/seasoned.htm - 8k

Salt (45 Occurrences)
... All meat-offerings were seasoned with salt (Leviticus 2:13). ... Mark 9:49 For everyone
will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. ...
/s/salt.htm - 34k

Olive (61 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) An olivary body. See under Olivary. 8. (n.) A small slice of meat
seasoned, rolled up, and cooked; as, olives of beef or veal. ...
/o/olive.htm - 37k

Lost (85 Occurrences)
... self. (WEY YLT). Luke 14:34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his
savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? (KJV ASV WBS RSV). ...
/l/lost.htm - 32k

Low (216 Occurrences)
... (superl.) Smaller than is reasonable or probable; as, a low estimate. 25. (superl.)
Not rich, high seasoned, or nourishing; plain; simple; as, a low diet. 26. ...
/l/low.htm - 39k

Green (72 Occurrences)
... years or judgment. 7. (superl.) Not seasoned; not dry; containing its natural
juices; as, green wood, timber, etc. 8. (n.) The color ...
/g/green.htm - 31k

Wherewith (182 Occurrences)
... complete it? (ASV). Luke 14:34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his
savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? (KJV ASV DBY). Luke ...
/w/wherewith.htm - 38k

Fitting (29 Occurrences)
... Colossians 4:6 Let your language be always seasoned with the salt of grace, so
that you may know how to give every man a fitting answer. (WEY). ...
/f/fitting.htm - 14k

Temper (14 Occurrences)
... given in Exodus (30:35) occur the words "tempered together," malach (literally,
"salted"; hence, the Revised Version (British and American) "seasoned with salt ...
/t/temper.htm - 13k

Rich (140 Occurrences)
... 5. (superl.) Abounding in agreeable or nutritive qualities; -- especially applied
to articles of food or drink which are high-seasoned or abound in oleaginous ...
/r/rich.htm - 37k

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