The term "unreal" does not appear directly in the Bible; however, the concept can be explored through various biblical themes and teachings that address the nature of reality, truth, and deception. In Scripture, the contrast between what is real and what is false or deceptive is a recurring theme, particularly in the context of spiritual truth versus falsehood.

Truth and Reality in Scripture

The Bible consistently emphasizes the importance of truth and the reality of God's word. In John 17:17, Jesus prays, "Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth." This verse underscores the belief that God's word is the ultimate reality and standard of truth. The Scriptures are seen as a reliable and true revelation of God's nature and His will for humanity.

Deception and Falsehood

The concept of the "unreal" can be associated with deception and falsehood, which are frequently warned against in the Bible. In 2 Corinthians 11:14, Paul writes, "And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light." This passage highlights the deceptive nature of evil, which can present itself as something good or real, yet is ultimately false and misleading.

The Bible also warns against false prophets and teachers who present unreal doctrines. In Matthew 7:15, Jesus cautions, "Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." This imagery illustrates the danger of those who appear genuine but are, in fact, promoting falsehoods.

Idolatry as Unreal Worship

Idolatry is another biblical theme that can be related to the concept of the unreal. Idols are described as lifeless and powerless, in contrast to the living God. In Jeremiah 10:5, idols are depicted as "like scarecrows in a cucumber field; they cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk." This portrayal emphasizes the futility and unreality of worshiping anything other than the true God.

Faith and the Unseen Reality

The Bible also speaks to the reality of the unseen, which is apprehended through faith. Hebrews 11:1 states, "Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see." This verse suggests that faith allows believers to grasp the reality of God's promises and the spiritual realm, which may not be visible or tangible in the present world.

Eternal versus Temporal

The distinction between the eternal and the temporal is another aspect of the real versus the unreal. In 2 Corinthians 4:18, Paul writes, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." This passage encourages believers to focus on the eternal realities of God's kingdom rather than the fleeting, unreal nature of worldly things.

Conclusion

While the term "unreal" is not explicitly found in the Bible, the Scriptures provide a rich framework for understanding the nature of reality, truth, and deception. Through the teachings on truth, idolatry, faith, and the eternal versus the temporal, the Bible offers guidance on discerning what is truly real and aligning one's life with the ultimate reality found in God and His word.(a.) Not real; unsubstantial; fanciful; ideal.2758. kenoo -- to empty
... to empty. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kenoo Phonetic Spelling:
(ken-o'-o) Short Definition: I empty, deprive of content, make unreal Definition: ( ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2758.htm - 7k

3152. mataios -- vain, useless
... Transliteration: mataios Phonetic Spelling: (mat'-ah-yos) Short Definition: vain,
unproductive, godless Definition: vain, unreal, ineffectual, unproductive ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3152.htm - 7k

2756. kenos -- empty
... empty, vain, hollow Definition: (a) empty, (b) met: empty (in moral content), vain,
ineffective, foolish, worthless, (c) false, unreal, pretentious, hollow. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2756.htm - 7k

3155. maten -- in vain, to no purpose
... to no purpose. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: maten Phonetic Spelling:
(mat'-ane) Short Definition: in vain Definition: in vain, in an unreal way, to ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3155.htm - 6k

A Drama in Five Acts
... at the things which are seen in their true character, and never to build substantial
hopes on unsubstantial comforts, nor seek for solid joy from unreal things ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/a drama in five acts.htm

Simon the Sorcerer
... I. An instance of a wholly unreal, because inoperative, faith. ... The event showed
that it was not. What was it which made his faith thus unreal? ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/simon the sorcerer.htm

Whether Christ's Mother was a virgin in his Birth?
... Objection 2: Further, nothing should have taken place in the mystery of
Christ, which would make His body to seem unreal. Now it ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christs mother was a.htm

The Way of Fellowship
... Sin always involves us in being unreal, pretending, duplicity, window dressing,
excusing ourselves and blaming others"and we can do all that as much by our ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hession/the calvary road/chapter 3 the way of.htm

Of the Rituals of False Gods Instituted by the Kings of Greece in ...
... Now, even although the play celebrates an unreal crime of the gods, yet to delight
in the ascription of an unreal crime is a real one. Footnotes: ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 12 of the rituals of.htm

Impressive Phrases
... disingenuous. artificial, soulless, hectic, and unreal. assemble, amass, accumulate,
and acquire. ... zealot. fanciful, unreal, fantastic, and grotesque. ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section iv impressive phrases.htm

The Heathens Made Gods Like Themselves, Whence Springs all ...
... You needs must seek for it a real cure; Now 'tis not so. And for the unreal ill.
I've found an unreal cure. Believe that it. Will do thee good. ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter iv the heathens made gods.htm

Christ Truly Lived and Died in Human Flesh Incidents of his Human ...
... We have said above that He might possibly have undergone the unreal mockeries [7004]
of an imaginary birth and infancy. ... [7011] That is, imaginary and unreal. ...
/.../tertullian/ on the flesh of christ/chapter v christ truly lived and.htm

He Does Wrong in Assuming, to Account for the Existence of the ...
... of all existence, the radically unsubstantial circumscribing a substantial nature,
the operative force of creation contained, in the last resort, in the unreal ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 20 he does wrong.htm

Letter vii. (AD 389. )
... yet been subjected to the deceptive influence of the senses, and of things sensible;
and yet who can doubt that these images are much more unreal than those ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter vii a d 389.htm

Unreal (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Not real; unsubstantial; fanciful; ideal.
Multi-Version Concordance Unreal (3 Occurrences). Acts 14 ...
/u/unreal.htm - 7k

Unreality (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The quality or state of being unreal; want of
reality. Multi-Version Concordance Unreality (1 Occurrence). ...
/u/unreality.htm - 6k

Vapor (6 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) Wind; flatulence. 4. (n.) Something unsubstantial, fleeting, or transitory;
unreal fancy; vain imagination; idle talk; boasting. ...
/v/vapor.htm - 11k

Vanity (100 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) That which is vain; anything empty, visionary, unreal, or unsubstantial;
fruitless desire or effort; trifling labor productive of no good; empty ...
/v/vanity.htm - 39k

Vision (106 Occurrences)
... 5. (v.) Hence, something unreal or imaginary; a creation of fancy. 6. (vt) To see
in a vision; to dream. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. VALLEY OF VISION. ...
/v/vision.htm - 45k

Natures (12 Occurrences)
... Acts 14:15 We also are but men, with natures kindred to your own; and we bring you
the Good News that you are to turn from these unreal things, to worship the ...
/n/natures.htm - 10k

Unready (1 Occurrence)

/u/unready.htm - 6k

Obtaining (5 Occurrences)
... 15:2 through which also you are obtaining salvation, if you bear in mind the words
in which I proclaimed it--unless indeed your faith has been unreal from the ...
/o/obtaining.htm - 7k

Offered (320 Occurrences)
... Romans 1:25 For they had bartered the reality of God for what is unreal, and had
offered divine honours and religious service to created things, rather than to ...
/o/offered.htm - 37k

Imagery (5 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Fig.: Unreal show; imitation; appearance. 3. (n.) The work of the
imagination or fancy; false ideas; imaginary phantasms. ...
/i/imagery.htm - 10k

What is absolute reality? | GotQuestions.org

What is simulation theory? Is all of reality actually a simulation? | GotQuestions.org

Unreal: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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