The term "surpasses" in the biblical context often refers to the exceeding greatness or excellence of God's attributes, actions, or the spiritual blessings bestowed upon believers. It is used to describe the incomparable nature of God's love, wisdom, and power, which are beyond human understanding and measure.

Divine Love and Peace

One of the most notable uses of "surpasses" in the Bible is in reference to God's love and peace. In Ephesians 3:19, the Apostle Paul prays for the believers to "know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" . This verse highlights the boundless and incomprehensible nature of Christ's love, which goes beyond human intellect and understanding. Similarly, Philippians 4:7 speaks of "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, [that] will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" . This peace is described as transcendent, offering a sense of calm and assurance that is not dependent on external circumstances.

God's Wisdom and Knowledge

The wisdom and knowledge of God are also described as surpassing human comprehension. In Romans 11:33, Paul exclaims, "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and untraceable His ways!" . This passage emphasizes the infinite and unfathomable nature of God's wisdom, which is far beyond the scope of human reasoning and understanding.

Spiritual Riches and Glory

The surpassing greatness of God's power and the riches of His glory are themes that recur throughout the New Testament. In Ephesians 1:19, Paul speaks of "the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe" , referring to the divine power that is at work in believers, enabling them to live out their faith. Additionally, in 2 Corinthians 4:17, Paul contrasts the temporary afflictions of this life with the eternal glory that awaits believers, describing it as "an eternal weight of glory, far beyond all comparison" .

Moral Excellence and Righteousness

The concept of surpassing is also applied to the moral and ethical standards expected of believers. In Matthew 5:20, Jesus instructs His followers, "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" . Here, Jesus calls for a righteousness that exceeds mere legalistic adherence to the law, emphasizing the need for a heart transformed by God's grace.

Conclusion

The biblical use of "surpasses" serves to underscore the infinite and incomparable nature of God's attributes and the spiritual blessings available to believers. Whether referring to love, peace, wisdom, or glory, the term points to the divine excellence that transcends human limitations and understanding.5235. huperballo -- to throw over or beyond, to run beyond
... Word Origin from huper and ballo Definition to throw over or beyond, to run beyond
NASB Word Usage surpasses (2), surpassing (3). exceeding, excel, pass. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5235.htm - 7k

4052. perisseuo -- to be over and above, to abound
... increasing (1), lavished (1), left over (4), leftover (1), live in prosperity (1),
make...abound (1), overflowed (1), overflowing (2), surpasses (1), surplus (2 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4052.htm - 9k

5242. huperecho -- to hold above, to rise above, to be superior
... and echo Definition to hold above, to rise above, to be superior NASB Word Usage
authority (1), governing (1), more important (1), surpasses (1), surpassing ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5242.htm - 7k

That the Charity of Saints in this Mortal Life Equals, Yea ...
... OF THE PROGRESS AND PERFECTION OF LOVE. CHAPTER VII. THAT THE CHARITY OF SAINTS
IN THIS MORTAL LIFE EQUALS, YEA SOMETIMES SURPASSES, THAT OF THE BLESSED. ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter vii that the charity.htm

Whether vice is Worse than a vicious Act?
... as it induces to a good or bad act: wherefore a habit is called good or bad by reason
of the goodness or badness of its act: so that an act surpasses its habit ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether vice is worse than.htm

Dionysius the Presbyter, to his Fellow-Presbyter Timothy.
... essence of unembodied things by means of those which have bodily form, [53] by the
same law of truth the boundless [54] Super-Essence surpasses Essences, the ...
/.../rolt/dionysius the areopagite/chapter i dionysius the presbyter.htm

Whether Man Can Attain Happiness by his Natural Powers?
... But final Happiness prepared for the saints, surpasses the intellect and will of
man; for the Apostle says (1:Cor.2:9) "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether man can attain happiness.htm

Whether Liberality is the Greatest of the virtues?
... For the Divine good surpasses all manner of human good; and among human goods the
public good surpasses the good of the individual; and of the last named the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether liberality is the greatest.htm

Whether Outward Pain is Greater than Interior Sorrow?
... of the heart is every wound [Douay: 'plague'], and the wickedness of a woman is
all evil." Therefore, just as the wickedness of a woman surpasses all other ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether outward pain is greater.htm

Whether There is Will in the Angels?
... Reply to Objection 1: Reason surpasses sense in a different way from that
in which intellect surpasses reason. Reason surpasses ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether there is will in 2.htm

Whether Sin is Fittingly Divided into Sin against God, against ...
... among whom he has to dwell. Of these orders the second contains the first
and surpasses it. For whatever things are comprised under ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether sin is fittingly divided.htm

Whether one Miracle is Greater than Another?
... from a bucket, and are counted as the smallest grain of a balance." But a thing
is called a miracle by comparison with the power of nature which it surpasses. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether one miracle is greater.htm

On the Incarnation of Christ.
... 2. But of all the marvellous and mighty acts related of Him, this altogether surpasses
human admiration, and is beyond the power of mortal frailness to ...
/.../origen/origen de principiis/chapter vi on the incarnation of.htm

Surpasses (5 Occurrences)
...Surpasses (5 Occurrences). ... Ephesians 3:19 and to know Christ's love which surpasses
knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. ...
/s/surpasses.htm - 7k

Superior (18 Occurrences)
... 9. (n.) One who is above, or surpasses, another in rank, station, office, age, ability,
or merit; one who surpasses in what is desirable; as, Addison has no ...
/s/superior.htm - 13k

Surpassed (7 Occurrences)

/s/surpassed.htm - 8k

Zion (169 Occurrences)
... It was surrounded on all sides, except the north, by deep valleys, that of the
Tyropoeon (qv) separating it from Moriah (qv), which it surpasses in height by ...
/z/zion.htm - 49k

New (1850 Occurrences)
... There is a solidarity of evil and a solidarity of good, but the latter far surpasses
the former in the quality of the obedience of Christ as compared with Adam ...
/n/new.htm - 101k

Greatly (297 Occurrences)
... Matthew 5:20 For I assure you that unless your righteousness greatly surpasses that
of the Scribes and the Pharisees, you will certainly not find entrance into ...
/g/greatly.htm - 34k

Fig-tree (33 Occurrences)
... much as 25 ft. The summer foliage is thick and surpasses other trees of
its size in its cool and dense shade. In the summer owners ...
/f/fig-tree.htm - 26k

Figtree
... much as 25 ft. The summer foliage is thick and surpasses other trees of
its size in its cool and dense shade. In the summer owners ...
/f/figtree.htm - 15k

Testament (13 Occurrences)
... There is a solidarity of evil and a solidarity of good, but the latter far surpasses
the former in the quality of the obedience of Christ as compared with Adam ...
/t/testament.htm - 101k

Resplendent (3 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 3:10 For, in fact, that which was once resplendent in glory has no
glory at all in this respect, that it pales before the glory which surpasses it ...
/r/resplendent.htm - 7k

What is the peace that passes all understanding? | GotQuestions.org

What is the baptism of love? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of “from glory to glory” in 2 Corinthians 3:18? | GotQuestions.org

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