Topical Bible: Man: Possessed of Memory

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Memory is a fundamental aspect of human nature, intricately woven into the fabric of man's existence as depicted in the Bible. The ability to remember is not merely a cognitive function but a divine gift that plays a crucial role in spiritual life, moral responsibility, and the continuity of faith.

Biblical Foundation of Memory

The Bible frequently emphasizes the importance of memory in the life of believers. In Deuteronomy 6:12 , Moses warns the Israelites, "Be careful not to forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." Here, memory serves as a safeguard against spiritual amnesia, urging the faithful to recall God's mighty acts and maintain their covenant relationship with Him.

Memory as a Tool for Worship and Obedience

Memory is also portrayed as a tool for worship and obedience. The psalmist declares in Psalm 77:11 , "I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember Your wonders of old." This act of remembering God's past deeds fosters a spirit of worship and trust, reinforcing the believer's faith and commitment to God's commandments.

The Role of Memory in Moral Responsibility

Memory is integral to moral responsibility, as it enables individuals to recall God's laws and teachings. In Proverbs 3:1 , Solomon advises, "My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments." The retention of divine instruction is essential for living a righteous life, as it guides one's actions and decisions in accordance with God's will.

Memory and the Continuity of Faith

The transmission of faith across generations relies heavily on memory. In Joshua 4:6-7 , the Israelites set up stones as a memorial, so that "when your children ask in time to come, 'What do these stones mean to you?' you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD." This practice of remembrance ensures that the knowledge of God's faithfulness is preserved and passed down, strengthening the community's collective faith.

Memory in the New Testament

In the New Testament, memory continues to play a vital role. Jesus Himself instituted the Lord's Supper as a memorial, instructing His disciples in Luke 22:19 , "Do this in remembrance of Me." This sacrament serves as a perpetual reminder of Christ's sacrifice and the new covenant established through His blood.

The apostle Paul also underscores the importance of memory in spiritual growth and perseverance. In 2 Timothy 2:8 , he exhorts Timothy, "Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David, as proclaimed by my gospel." Here, memory is a means of anchoring one's faith in the foundational truths of the Gospel.

Conclusion

Throughout Scripture, memory is depicted as a divine endowment that enriches the spiritual life of believers. It is a means of recalling God's faithfulness, adhering to His commandments, and ensuring the continuity of faith across generations. The biblical portrayal of memory underscores its significance in the life of man, serving as a constant reminder of God's presence and promises.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 41:9
Then spoke the chief butler to Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Corinthians 15:2
By which also you are saved, if you keep in memory what I preached to you, unless you have believed in vain.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Whether Pleasure Causes Thirst or Desire for Itself?
... give him pleasure, but distaste: for instance, the memory of food in respect of
a man who has ... movement of desire, tending to what was not possessed, ceases ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether pleasure causes thirst or.htm

God's Exhaustive Knowledge of Man. [*Continued]
... of self-inspection, and of memory; and when ... this subject is exhaustive; while man's
self-knowledge ... contradiction, if mankind generally were possessed of even ...
/.../shedd/sermons to the natural man/gods exhaustive knowledge of man 2.htm

God's Exhaustive Knowledge of Man.
... of the Redeemer; the equally imbruted man, woman, or ... both of them alike with ourselves
possessed of these awful powers of self-knowledge and of memory. ...
/.../shedd/sermons to the natural man/gods exhaustive knowledge of man.htm

State in which Man was Created. The Faculties of the Soul --The ...
... of the Trinity, inasmuch as it comprehends within itself, intellect, will, and memory. ...
In this upright state, man possessed freedom of will, by which, if he ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 15 state in which.htm

Plato's Inconsistency He Supposes the Soul Self-Existent, yet ...
... But there is not a man living, who does not himself feel his soul possessed with
a presage ... to divination, it will not, I suppose, be injurious to memory. ...
/.../a treatise on the soul/chapter xxiv platos inconsistency he supposes.htm

Whether one Man Can Teach Another?
... who held that our souls are possessed of knowledge from ... For in every man there is
a certain principle of ... to certain particular things, the memory or experience ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether one man can teach.htm

Of the State Wherein Man was Created, and How the Image of God is ...
... of that blessedness, than that we went out with the exact memory of all that ... And
now from the first devilish invention, the heart of man is possessed with a ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture xxiii of the state.htm

Prayer --Fills Man's Poverty with God's Riches
... overcome and all the inheritance is to be possessed. ... Man's approach to this great
God"what lowliness ... mere habit, riveted by custom and memory, something which ...
/.../bounds/the reality of prayer/ii prayerfills mans poverty with.htm

Of the Three Perturbations, which the Stoics Admitted in the Soul ...
... has its object in good that is possessed, and this ... have no place in the mind of the
wise man, inasmuch as ... For they say that Alcibiades (if my memory does not ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 8 of the three perturbations.htm

The Lame Man at the Temple Gate.
... the heart and leave for ever a treasure of happy memory. ... men would stop to examine;
a man like Luther ... Possessed of those qualities, any one may communicate that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/dods/how to become like christ/the lame man at the.htm