Topical Bible: Supporting

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Topical Encyclopedia

Definition and Context:
Supporting, in a biblical context, refers to the act of upholding, assisting, or providing for others, whether through physical, emotional, spiritual, or financial means. This concept is deeply rooted in the teachings of the Bible, where believers are encouraged to support one another as a reflection of God's love and provision.

Biblical References:

1. Mutual Support Among Believers:
The early church exemplified the principle of supporting one another. In Acts 2:44-45 , it is recorded, "All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need." This passage highlights the communal support and generosity that characterized the early Christian community.

2. Bearing One Another's Burdens:
Galatians 6:2 instructs believers to "Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." This verse emphasizes the importance of empathy and active assistance, encouraging Christians to help each other through life's challenges.

3. Financial Support and Generosity:
The Bible frequently addresses the importance of financial support and generosity. In 2 Corinthians 9:7 , Paul writes, "Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." This passage underscores the attitude with which believers should support others financially, highlighting the value of willing and joyful giving.

4. Support Through Encouragement:
Encouragement is another vital form of support. Hebrews 10:24-25 states, "And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." This passage calls believers to support each other through fellowship and encouragement, fostering spiritual growth and perseverance.

5. Support for Leaders and Ministers:
The Bible also addresses the need to support those in leadership and ministry roles. In 1 Timothy 5:17-18 , Paul advises, "Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, 'Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,' and, 'The worker is worthy of his wages.'" This instruction highlights the responsibility of the church to provide for its leaders.

6. Support for the Needy and Vulnerable:
Scripture consistently calls for the support of the needy and vulnerable. James 1:27 declares, "Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." This verse emphasizes the importance of caring for those who are most in need, reflecting God's compassion and justice.

Theological Implications:
Supporting others is a tangible expression of Christian love and obedience to God's commandments. It reflects the character of Christ, who came not to be served but to serve (Mark 10:45). By supporting one another, believers demonstrate the unity and love that Jesus prayed for in John 17:21 , "that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you."

Practical Application:
Christians are called to actively seek opportunities to support others in various aspects of life. This includes providing for physical needs, offering emotional and spiritual encouragement, and contributing to the financial needs of the church and community. By doing so, believers fulfill the law of Christ and bear witness to the transformative power of the Gospel.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Support.

Greek

5007. talanton -- a balance, hence that which is weighed, ie a ...
... Neuter of a presumed derivative of the original form of tlao (to bear; equivalent
to phero); a balance (as supporting weights), ie (by implication) a certain ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5007.htm - 7k

5256. hupereteo -- to serve as a rower, to minister to, serve
... a on a ship). In classical Greek, 5256 ("serving, supporting") is always
metaphorical for "" (). See 5257 (). Word Origin from huperetes ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5256.htm - 7k

996. boetheia -- help
... 996 () is also used of the help provided by ropes (tackle, etc.).]. Word Origin
from boetheo Definition help NASB Word Usage help (1), supporting cables (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/996.htm - 7k

4745. stoa -- a portico
... 4745 -- a , supporting a covered-colonnade (like in the Temple precinct); a portico,
usually open on one side so people could congregate and talk. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4745.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

5583. sead -- to support, sustain
... 5582, 5583. sead. 5584 . to support, sustain. Transliteration: sead Phonetic
Spelling: (seh-ad') Short Definition: supporting. Word ...
/hebrew/5583.htm - 6k

547. omnah -- pillar
... of aman, qv. pillar Feminine active participle of 'omen (in the original sense of
supporting); a column -- pillar. see HEBREW 'omen. 546, 547. omnah. 548 . ...
/hebrew/547.htm - 5k

2947. tephach -- a span, handbreadth, coping
... From taphach; a spread of the hand, ie A palm- breadth (not "span" of the fingers);
architecturally, a corbel (as a supporting palm) -- coping, hand-breadth. ...
/hebrew/2947.htm - 6k

5826. azar -- to help, succor
... Usage ally (1), furthered (1), granted (1), help (38), helped (19), helper (6),
helpers (2), helping (1), helps (8), protect (1), restrains (1), supporting (1 ...
/hebrew/5826.htm - 6k

Library

Peculiarities of Tennessee Synod.
... The Fifth Article of the Tennessee Constitution provides: "Neither shall they
have any particular treasury for the purpose of supporting . . . ...
/.../bente/american lutheranism/peculiarities of tennessee synod.htm

Introduction.
... for the language of the treatise, the date and place of its composition, alike forbid
any notion of fraud), but with the view of supporting his opinions by the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/introduction.htm

Introductory Notice to Two Epistles Concerning virginity
... Supporting, as they do, the ascetic tendency prevalent in the Western Church at
and after the date when they are first noticed by Christian writers, they would ...
/.../two epistles concerning virginity/introductory notice to two epistles.htm

Certificate Laws and Western Land Bills
... "An Address to the Baptists, Quakers, Rogerines, and all other denominations of
Christians in Connecticut, freed by law from supporting what has been called ...
/.../chapter xiii certificate laws and.htm

Psalm XLII.
... but the one who took the lead in bearing the burden of their heads, when tired,
returns to the rear, and rests himself after his fatigue by supporting his head ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xlii.htm

Moravians, or United Brethren.
... from motives of piety and a desire to prepare themselves to become missionaries
among the heathen, and where, moreover, the difficulties of supporting a family ...
/.../hayward/the book of religions/moravians or united brethren.htm

Letter vii. (AD 389. )
... to which the things that we learn are not introduced to our minds as new, but brought
back to memory by a process of recollection; supporting their objection ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter vii a d 389.htm

Whether the Duties of Piety Towards One's Parents Should be ...
... Now in accordance with those observances they are hindered from supporting their
parents, both on the score of poverty, since they have nothing of their own ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the duties of piety.htm

Of the Metropolis of Christian Apostasy, the Mystic Babylon.
... out of those ten horns, or kings, there will be some, who at length will hate the
harlot, whom they have so long servilely assisted in supporting, (which, we ...
/.../mede/a key to the apocalypse/of the metropolis of christian.htm

Shakers, or the United Society of Believers.
... We must either put off the old man, Adam, and his works, which are well known to
be multiplying and supporting of an earthly kingdom, which is the kingdom of ...
/.../hayward/the book of religions/shakers or the united society.htm

Thesaurus

Supporting (31 Occurrences)
... n.) of Support. Multi-Version Concordance Supporting (31 Occurrences). Acts 27:17
After they had hoisted it up, they used cables to help reinforce the ship. ...
/s/supporting.htm - 16k

Supported (43 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 16:21 Then there was a division among the people of Israel; half the people
were for making Tibni, son of Ginath, king, and half were supporting Omri. ...
/s/supported.htm - 19k

Foundation (82 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) That upon which anything is founded; that on which anything stands, and
by which it is supported; the lowest and supporting layer of a superstructure ...
/f/foundation.htm - 36k

Support (135 Occurrences)
... supported by his two sons. 11. (n.) The act, state, or operation of supporting,
upholding, or sustaining. 12. (n.) That which upholds ...
/s/support.htm - 36k

Supports (25 Occurrences)

/s/supports.htm - 14k

Arrest (22 Occurrences)
... As the order or warrant was a Jewish one, the temple officers would probably
be in front, the soldiers supporting them as reserves. ...
/a/arrest.htm - 45k

Trial (45 Occurrences)
... As the order or warrant was a Jewish one, the temple officers would probably
be in front, the soldiers supporting them as reserves. ...
/t/trial.htm - 52k

Rooms (69 Occurrences)
... the middle six cubits wide and the third seven cubits; for there was a space all
round the outside walls of the house so that the boards supporting the rooms ...
/r/rooms.htm - 28k

Vital (2 Occurrences)
... vital actions. 2. (a.) Contributing to life; necessary to, or supporting,
life; as, vital blood. 3. (a.) Containing life; living. 4 ...
/v/vital.htm - 7k

Outshining (1 Occurrence)
... Hebrews 1:3 Who, being the outshining of his glory, the true image of his substance,
supporting all things by the word of his power, having given himself as an ...
/o/outshining.htm - 6k

Resources

What are the main arguments against limited atonement? | GotQuestions.org

Support GotQuestions.org | GotQuestions.org

Should Christians support the nation of Israel? | GotQuestions.org

Supporting: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Supporting (31 Occurrences)

Acts 27:17
After they had hoisted it up, they used cables to help reinforce the ship. Fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis sand bars, they lowered the sea anchor, and so were driven along.
(See NAS)

Ephesians 4:16
from whom the whole body, being fitly joined together and united, through the supply of every joint, according to the working in the measure of each single part, the increase of the body doth make for the building up of itself in love.
(See NIV)

1 Thessalonians 5:14
And our desire is that you will keep control over those whose lives are not well ordered, giving comfort to the feeble-hearted, supporting those with little strength, and putting up with much from all.
(BBE)

Hebrews 1:3
Who, being the outshining of his glory, the true image of his substance, supporting all things by the word of his power, having given himself as an offering making clean from sins, took his seat at the right hand of God in heaven;
(BBE)

Exodus 17:12
But Moses' hands became tired; so they put a stone under him and he took his seat on it, Aaron and Hur supporting his hands, one on one side and one on the other; so his hands were kept up without falling till the sun went down.
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 1:31
And in the waste land, where you have seen how the Lord was supporting you, as a man does his son, in all your journeying till you came to this place.
(BBE)

Judges 16:26
And Samson said to the boy who took him by the hand, Let me put my hand on the pillars supporting the house, so that I may put my back against them.
(BBE)

Judges 16:29
Then Samson put his arms round the two middle pillars supporting the house, putting his weight on them, on one with his right hand and on the other with his left.
(BBE)

2 Samuel 1:6
And the young man said, I came by chance to Mount Gilboa, and I saw Saul supporting himself on his spear; and the war-carriages and horsemen overtook him.
(BBE)

2 Samuel 5:9
David lived in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. David built around from Millo and inward.
(See NIV)

1 Kings 6:6
The lowest line of them being five cubits wide, the middle six cubits wide and the third seven cubits; for there was a space all round the outside walls of the house so that the boards supporting the rooms did not have to be fixed in the walls of the house.
(BBE RSV)

1 Kings 7:2
And he made the house of the Woods of Lebanon, which was a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide and thirty cubits high, resting on four lines of cedar-wood pillars with cedar-wood supports on the pillars.
(See NIV)

1 Kings 9:15
This is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised, to build the house of Yahweh, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.
(See NIV)

1 Kings 9:24
But Pharaoh's daughter came up out of the city of David to her house which Solomon had built for her: then did he build Millo.
(See NIV)

1 Kings 11:27
This was the reason why he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breach of the city of David his father.
(See NIV)

1 Kings 16:21
Then there was a division among the people of Israel; half the people were for making Tibni, son of Ginath, king, and half were supporting Omri.
(BBE)

2 Kings 7:2
Then the captain whose arm was supporting the king said to the man of God, Even if the Lord made windows in heaven, would such a thing be possible? And he said, Your eyes will see it, but you will not have a taste of the food.
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 11:8
He built the city all around, from Millo even around; and Joab repaired the rest of the city.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 32:5
He took courage, and built up all the wall that was broken down, and raised it up to the towers, and the other wall outside, and strengthened Millo in the city of David, and made weapons and shields in abundance.
(See NIV)

Ezra 5:2
Then have Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua son of Jozadak, risen, and begun to build the house of God, that 'is' in Jerusalem, and with them are the prophets of God supporting them.
(YLT NAS)

Ezra 10:15
Only Jonathan, the son of Asahel, and Jahzeiah, the son of Tikvah, were against this, Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite supporting them.
(BBE NAS)

Esther 2:7
and he is supporting Hadassah -- she 'is' Esther -- daughter of his uncle, for she hath neither father nor mother, and the young woman 'is' of fair form, and of good appearance, and at the death of her father and her mother hath Mordecai taken her to him for a daughter.
(YLT)

Psalms 37:24
Even if he has a fall he will not be without help: for the hand of the Lord is supporting him.
(BBE)

Psalms 43:1
Be my judge, O God, supporting my cause against a nation without religion; O keep me from the false and evil man.
(BBE)

Psalms 54:4
Lo, God 'is' a helper to me, The Lord 'is' with those supporting my soul,
(YLT)

Psalms 145:14
Jehovah is supporting all who are falling, And raising up all who are bowed down.
(YLT)

Isaiah 9:7
Of the increase of his rule and of peace there will be no end, on the seat of David, and in his kingdom; to make it strong, supporting it with wise decision and righteousness, now and for ever. By the fixed purpose of the Lord of armies this will be done.
(BBE)

Isaiah 42:1
See my servant, whom I am supporting, my loved one, in whom I take delight: I have put my spirit on him; he will give the knowledge of the true God to the nations.
(BBE)

Isaiah 63:5
And I look attentively, and there is none helping, And I am astonished that there is none supporting, And give salvation to me doth mine own arm. And my wrath -- it hath supported me.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 41:9
The wall supporting the side-rooms on the outside was five cubits thick: and there was a free space of five cubits between the side-rooms of the house.
(BBE)

Micah 3:11
Its heads take rewards for judging, and the priests take payment for teaching, and the prophets get silver for reading the future: but still, supporting themselves on the Lord, they say, Is not the Lord among us? no evil will overtake us.
(BBE)

Subtopics

Supporting

Related Terms

Light-supports (1 Occurrence)

Inmost (49 Occurrences)

Lights (71 Occurrences)

Support (135 Occurrences)

Supporting (31 Occurrences)

Undersetter

Wheels (30 Occurrences)

Wreaths (9 Occurrences)

Projecting (17 Occurrences)