The concept of acting voluntarily is deeply embedded in the biblical narrative, reflecting the importance of free will and intentionality in the life of faith. In the Scriptures, voluntary actions are often associated with offerings, service, and obedience to God's commandments, highlighting the value of a willing heart in the eyes of the Lord.

Voluntary Offerings

In the Old Testament, the idea of voluntary offerings is prominently featured. These offerings were given freely and without compulsion, as an expression of devotion and gratitude to God. In Leviticus 22:18, the Lord instructs Moses, "Speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites and say to them: ‘If any of you—whether an Israelite or a foreigner residing in Israel—presents a gift for a burnt offering to the LORD, either to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering, it must be without defect or blemish to be acceptable.’" This passage underscores the importance of the heart's willingness in giving, as well as the requirement for offerings to be pure and sincere.

Voluntary Service

The theme of voluntary service is also evident in the lives of biblical figures who chose to serve God and others out of their own volition. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul speaks of his own ministry as a voluntary act. In 1 Corinthians 9:17, he states, "If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; but if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me." Here, Paul distinguishes between service that is rendered willingly and that which is performed out of obligation, emphasizing the spiritual reward associated with voluntary service.

Voluntary Obedience

Voluntary obedience to God's commandments is a recurring theme throughout the Bible. The psalmist expresses a desire to follow God's laws willingly in Psalm 119:108, "Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me Your judgments." This verse highlights the connection between voluntary obedience and a teachable spirit, suggesting that a willing heart is open to divine instruction and guidance.

Voluntary Sacrifice

The ultimate example of voluntary sacrifice is found in the life and work of Jesus Christ. In John 10:18, Jesus declares, "No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from My Father." Jesus' willingness to lay down His life for humanity is the epitome of voluntary sacrifice, demonstrating the depth of His love and commitment to fulfilling the Father's will.

Voluntary Giving

The early church also exemplified the principle of voluntary giving. In Acts 4:32-35, the believers are described as having "one heart and soul," and they shared their possessions freely, ensuring that "there was no needy person among them." This communal sharing was not mandated but was a voluntary expression of their unity and love for one another.

In summary, the biblical concept of acting voluntarily encompasses offerings, service, obedience, sacrifice, and giving. It reflects a heart that is aligned with God's purposes, motivated by love, and committed to serving Him and others freely and joyfully.(adv.) In a voluntary manner; of one's own will; spontaneously.1596. hekousios -- voluntarily
... voluntarily. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: hekousios Phonetic Spelling:
(hek-oo-see'-ose) Short Definition: willingly Definition: willingly, of one's ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1596.htm - 6k

2135. eunouchos -- a eunuch
... Definition: (a) a chamberlain, keeper of the bed-chamber of an eastern potentate,
eunuch, (b) a eunuch, castrated person, or one who voluntarily abstains from ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2135.htm - 7k

1635. hekon -- of one's own free will, voluntary
... Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: hekon Phonetic Spelling: (hek-own') Short
Definition: willing, willingly Definition: willing, willingly, voluntarily ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1635.htm - 6k

4623. siopao -- to be silent
... siopao Phonetic Spelling: (see-o-pah'-o) Short Definition: I keep silence Definition:
I keep silence, am silent, either voluntarily or involuntarily. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4623.htm - 7k

4433. ptocheuo -- to be a beggar, be destitute
... 4433 ("become destitute") is only used in 2 Cor 8:9 of the physical humiliations
Christ voluntarily experienced in His mission here on earth. See 4434 (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4433.htm - 7k

5594. psucho -- to breathe, blow, to make cool
... A primary verb; to breathe (voluntarily but gently, thus differing on the one hand
from pneo, which denotes properly a forcible respiration; and on the other ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5594.htm - 7k

1399. doule -- female slave, bondmaid.
... female slave, bondwoman Feminine of doulos; a female slave (involuntarily or
voluntarily) -- handmaid(-en). see GREEK doulos. (doulas) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1399.htm - 6k

2603a. chanan -- to show favor, be gracious
... favor, be gracious NASB Word Usage begged (1), dealt graciously (1), favor (1),
feel pity (1), finds...favor (1), give them to us voluntarily (1), gracious (45 ...
/hebrew/2603a.htm - 6k

5071. nedabah -- voluntariness, freewill offering
... voluntariness, freewill offering NASB Word Usage freely (1), freewill offering
(12), freewill offerings (9), plentiful (1), voluntarily (1), volunteer freely ( ...
/hebrew/5071.htm - 6k

Whether we Can Suffer Injustice Willingly?
... Therefore a man can voluntarily suffer injustice especially if it be inflicted by
himself. ... Therefore a man may happen to suffer an injustice voluntarily. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether we can suffer injustice.htm

Whether the Judicial Power Corresponds to Voluntary Poverty?
... etc. Since then those who are voluntarily poor are not all apostles, it
would seem that the judicial power is not competent to all. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the judicial power corresponds.htm

Whether Vengeance Should be Taken on those who have Sinned ...
... overthrown by the Philistines on account of the sin of the sons of Heli (1 Kings
4). Therefore a person is to be punished without having deserved it voluntarily ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether vengeance should be taken.htm

The Third Theological Oration.
... What is their next objection, how full of contentiousness and impudence? He, they
say, either voluntarily begat the Son, or else involuntarily. ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xxix the third theological.htm

Chapter vi.
... that many professing to be original witnesses of the Christian miracles, passed
their lives in labours, dangers, and sufferings, voluntarily undergone in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/paley/evidences of christianity/chapter vi.htm

That There are not Two Kingdoms.
... very good [2627] , so far as they were made: if, therefore, they remain just as
they were created, they are very good, but when they voluntarily depart from ...
/.../john/exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter xx that there are not.htm

He Continues in this Strain: "If He had Determined Upon These ...
... determined upon these things, and underwent chastisement in obedience to his Father,
it is manifest that, being a God, and submitting voluntarily, those things ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xxiii he continues in.htm

Whether a Vow Should Always be About a Better Good?
... Now a promise is about something that one does voluntarily for someone else: since
it would be not a promise but a threat to say that one would do something ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether a vow should always.htm

Whether Religion is a virtue?
... Reply to Objection 2: Even a slave can voluntarily do his duty by his master,
and so "he makes a virtue of necessity" [*Jerome, Ep. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether religion is a virtue.htm

The Arguments Usually Alleged in Support of Free Will Refuted.
... For whence that impotence of which the wicked so readily avail themselves as an
excuse, but just because Adam voluntarily subjected himself to the tyranny of ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 5 the arguments usually.htm

Voluntarily (6 Occurrences)
...Voluntarily (6 Occurrences). 1 Corinthians 9:17 For if I do this voluntarily, I
have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with an administration. ...
/v/voluntarily.htm - 8k

Voluntary (17 Occurrences)
... 1 Maccabees 2:42 has "voluntarily" as part of the translation of hekousiazo, the
Revised Version (British and American) "willingly.". Multi-Version Concordance ...
/v/voluntary.htm - 14k

Volunteer (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) One who enters into service voluntarily, but who, when in service, is subject
to discipline and regulations like other soldiers; -- opposed to conscript ...
/v/volunteer.htm - 8k

Volume (4 Occurrences)

/v/volume.htm - 8k

Willing (152 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) Received of choice, or without reluctance; submitted to voluntarily; chosen;
desired. 4. (vt) Spontaneous; self-moved. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/w/willing.htm - 35k

Office (64 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) That which a person does, either voluntarily or by appointment, for, or
with reference to, others; customary duty, or a duty that arises from the ...
/o/office.htm - 30k

Oversight (23 Occurrences)
... 1 Peter 5:2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight,
not under compulsion, but voluntarily, not for dishonest gain, but willingly ...
/o/oversight.htm - 14k

Gift (148 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (vt) Anything given; anything voluntarily transferred
by one person to another without compensation; a present; an offering. ...
/g/gift.htm - 59k

Greedy (24 Occurrences)
... 1 Peter 5:2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight,
not under compulsion, but voluntarily, not for dishonest gain, but willingly ...
/g/greedy.htm - 13k

Waste (668 Occurrences)
... injury. 7. (v.) To damage, impair, or injure, as an estate, voluntarily, or
by suffering the buildings, fences, etc., to go to decay. 8 ...
/w/waste.htm - 37k

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Voluntarily: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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