In the context of biblical literature, the term "stagnant" is not directly mentioned; however, the concept can be inferred through various passages that discuss spiritual complacency, lack of growth, or moral decay. Stagnation, in a spiritual sense, refers to a state where there is no progress or movement in one's faith or moral life, often leading to spiritual decline or apathy.

Spiritual Stagnation

The Bible frequently warns against spiritual stagnation, urging believers to remain active and vigilant in their faith. In Revelation 3:15-16, the church in Laodicea is admonished for being lukewarm: "I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other! So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of My mouth." This passage highlights the danger of spiritual indifference, which can lead to divine disapproval.

Moral and Ethical Stagnation

The Old Testament often addresses the consequences of moral stagnation, where individuals or nations fall into sin due to a lack of spiritual vigilance. In Jeremiah 2:13, God laments the spiritual stagnation of Israel: "For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns—broken cisterns that cannot hold water." Here, the imagery of forsaking living water for stagnant, broken cisterns illustrates the folly of turning away from God to pursue empty, lifeless pursuits.

Call to Growth and Renewal

The Bible encourages believers to pursue spiritual growth and renewal actively. In 2 Peter 3:18, Christians are exhorted to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." This call to growth is a direct counter to stagnation, emphasizing the importance of continual development in faith and understanding.

Consequences of Stagnation

The consequences of spiritual stagnation are severe, often leading to a hardened heart and separation from God. Hebrews 3:12-13 warns, "See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God. But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called 'Today,' so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness." This passage underscores the need for community and mutual encouragement to prevent the hardening of hearts that can result from spiritual stagnation.

Metaphors of Stagnation

Throughout Scripture, metaphors of water are used to contrast life-giving movement with stagnation. In John 7:38, Jesus declares, "Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." This imagery of flowing water represents the dynamic and life-giving nature of a vibrant faith, in stark contrast to the lifelessness of stagnant water.

Practical Implications

Believers are called to examine their lives for signs of stagnation and to seek renewal through prayer, study of the Scriptures, and active participation in the life of the church. The Apostle Paul, in Philippians 3:13-14, provides a model for overcoming stagnation: "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus."

In summary, while the Bible does not explicitly use the term "stagnant," it addresses the concept through warnings against complacency and calls for continual spiritual growth and renewal. The imagery of living water versus stagnant water serves as a powerful metaphor for the dynamic nature of a faithful Christian life.1. (a.) Not flowing; not running in a current or steam; motionless; hence, impure or lack from want of motion; as, a stagnant lake or pond; stagnant blood in the veins.

2. (a.) Not active or brisk; dull; as, business in stagnant.

7087a. qapha -- to thicken, condense, congeal
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to thicken, condense, congeal NASB Word Usage
congealed (1), curdle (1), dwindle (1), stagnant (1). 7087, 7087a. ...
/hebrew/7087a.htm - 5k

99. agem -- sad
... pond. Probably from the same as 'agam (in the sense of stagnant water); figuratively,
sad -- pond. see HEBREW 'agam. 98, 99. agem. 100 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/99.htm - 6k

Great Incidental Blessings.
... world. And the missionaries have been its advance agents into the stagnant
East, and the savage wilds of the southern hemisphere. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks with world winners/great incidental blessings.htm

The Springing Fountain
... Water may be stagnant, or it may yield to the force of gravity and slide down a
descending river-bed, or it may be pumped up and lifted by external force ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/the springing fountain.htm

Christ the Water of Life.
... Horeb was higher than the adjacent country, and the water that thus gushed from
the rock, instead of collecting into a pool and becoming stagnant, would flow ...
/.../iii christ the water of life.htm

Human Nature (Septuagesima Sunday. )
... Parted from him mankind becomes foul and stagnant in sin and ignorance, and at
last dries up and perishes, because there is no life in them. ...
/.../kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xxiii human nature septuagesima.htm

The Method of the New Theology, and Some of Its Applications
... to give us certainty, we have at least the sympathy of the best around us, and the
stimulus of working in an age when theology is no longer stagnant, but the ...
/.../berkhof/new evangelism and other papers/the method of the new.htm

Christian Standing and Christian Progress
... This is true; but he says that "we exult." The "still waters," the mey
m'nuchoth of Psalm 23:2, are anything but stagnant. They ...
/.../moule/philippian studies/chapter ix christian standing and.htm

The Wise Man, Having Found that Wisdom Brought with it but ...
... Not a coming once and then departing from Him once more to try again the muddy,
stagnant pools of this world: no, but to pitch our tents by the palm-trees and ...
/.../jennings/old groans and new songs/chapter ii the wise man.htm

Kingo's Childhood and Youth
... of the church thus should recommend an effort to impose uniformity upon the church
by governmental action proves to what extent church life had become stagnant ...
/.../aaberg/hymns and hymnwriters of denmark/chapter three kingos childhood and.htm

Satan's Banquet
... First there is the flowing cup of youth, and afterwards the stagnant waters of old
age, unless God shall cast into those dregs a fresh flood of his ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/satans banquet.htm

The Waterer Watered
... The blood is always circulating everywhere and is stagnant nowhere; the same is
true of all the fluids in a healthy body, they are in a constant state of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/the waterer watered.htm

Stagnant (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Not flowing; not running in a current or steam; motionless; hence, impure
or lack from want of motion; as, a stagnant lake or pond; stagnant blood in ...
/s/stagnant.htm - 7k

Stain (6 Occurrences)

/s/stain.htm - 9k

Lively (5 Occurrences)
... the phrase "living waters" (Jeremiah 2:13; Jeremiah 17:13 Zechariah 14:8, "Living
waters shall go out from Jerusalem") in contrast with stagnant waters-waters ...
/l/lively.htm - 13k

Pool (25 Occurrences)
... for water; as, the pools of Solomon. 2. (n.) A small body of standing or
stagnant water; a puddle. 3. (n.) The stake played for in ...
/p/pool.htm - 40k

Creator (19 Occurrences)
... To speak, as Professor James does, of "the stagnant felicity of the Absolute's own
perfection" is to misconceive the infinite plenitude of His existence, and ...
/c/creator.htm - 15k

Staggers (3 Occurrences)

/s/staggers.htm - 7k

Sultry (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (superl.) Very hot, burning, and oppressive; as, Libya's sultry deserts. 2.
(superl.) Very hot and moist, or hot, close, stagnant, and oppressive, as air. ...
/s/sultry.htm - 7k

Standing (334 Occurrences)
... 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Stand. 2. (a.) Remaining erect; not cut down; as, standing
corn. 3. (a.) Not flowing; stagnant; as, standing water. ...
/s/standing.htm - 36k

Living (3112 Occurrences)
... the phrase "living waters" (Jeremiah 2:13; Jeremiah 17:13 Zechariah 14:8, "Living
waters shall go out from Jerusalem") in contrast with stagnant waters-waters ...
/l/living.htm - 18k

Water (4571 Occurrences)
... people. During the long, dry summer the water gets less and less, and becomes
so stagnant and filthy that it is not fit to drink. ...
/w/water.htm - 23k

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Stagnant: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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