The term "Well-beloved" is a designation found in the Bible that conveys deep affection, favor, and special status. It is often used to describe individuals who hold a unique place in the heart of God or others, highlighting a relationship characterized by love and esteem.

Biblical Usage:

1. Christ as the Well-beloved Son:
The most significant use of "Well-beloved" in Scripture is in reference to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In the New Testament, God the Father expresses His profound love and approval of Jesus. At the baptism of Jesus, a voice from heaven declares, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17). This divine affirmation is repeated at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:5), underscoring Jesus' unique status as the Well-beloved of the Father.

2. The Church as the Beloved:
The term is also applied to the Church, the collective body of believers, who are described as beloved by God. In Ephesians 1:6 , Paul writes about the grace bestowed upon believers "in the Beloved," referring to the Church's position in Christ, the Well-beloved Son. This indicates that the love God has for His Son extends to those who are in Christ, making them recipients of divine favor and affection.

3. Individual Believers:
The apostle Paul frequently uses the term "beloved" to address individual believers and congregations, reflecting the deep love and bond shared within the Christian community. For instance, in Romans 1:7 , Paul writes, "To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints." This usage emphasizes the personal and communal aspect of being beloved by God and by fellow believers.

4. Old Testament References:
While the specific term "Well-beloved" is more prevalent in the New Testament, the concept is present in the Old Testament. The Song of Solomon, a poetic book celebrating love, often uses similar language to describe the intimate and cherished relationship between the bride and the bridegroom, which is traditionally interpreted as an allegory of God's love for His people.

Theological Significance:

The designation "Well-beloved" carries profound theological implications. It highlights the nature of God's love as both personal and covenantal. In Christ, believers are brought into a relationship where they are cherished and valued, not based on their merit but on their union with the Well-beloved Son. This status as beloved children of God is foundational to Christian identity and assurance.

Practical Application:

Understanding oneself as "Well-beloved" by God can transform a believer's life, fostering a sense of security, purpose, and motivation to live in a manner worthy of such love. It encourages believers to love others as they have been loved, reflecting the love of Christ in their relationships and communities.

In summary, the term "Well-beloved" in the Bible encapsulates the depth of God's love for His Son, His Church, and individual believers, serving as a powerful reminder of the grace and favor bestowed upon those who are in Christ.27. agapetos -- beloved
... beloved, dear. From agapao; beloved -- (dearly, well) beloved, dear. see GREEK
agapao. (agapeta) -- 2 Occurrences. (agapete) -- 3 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/27.htm - 8k3039. yadid -- beloved
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition beloved NASB Word Usage beloved (5),
lovely (1), well-beloved (2). amiable, well-beloved, loves. ...
/hebrew/3039.htm - 6k

1730. dod -- beloved, love, uncle
... well-beloved, father's brother, love, uncle. Or (shortened) dod {dode}; from
an unused root meaning properly, to boil, ie (figuratively ...
/hebrew/1730.htm - 6k

The Well-Beloved.
... THE WELL-BELOVED. A COMMUNION ADDRESS AT MENTONE."Yea, He is altogether
lovely.""Song of Solomon v.16. THE WELL-BELOVED. THE ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/till he come/the well-beloved.htm

The Well-Beloved's vineyard.
... THE WELL-BELOVED'S VINEYARD. ... IN MR. SPURGEON'S OWN ROOM AT MENTONE."My
Well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill.""Isaiah 5:1. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/till he come/the well-beloveds vineyard.htm

Letter cclvi. To the Very Well Beloved and Reverend Brethren the ...
... To the very well beloved and reverend brethren the presbyters Acacius, Aetius, Paulus,
and Silvanus; the deacons Silvinus and Lucius, and the rest of the ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter cclvi to the very.htm

Of the Repose of a Soul Recollected in Her Well-Beloved.
... BOOK VI. OF THE EXERCISES OF HOLY LOVE IN PRAYER. CHAPTER VIII. OF THE
REPOSE OF A SOUL RECOLLECTED IN HER WELL-BELOVED. The soul ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter viii of the repose.htm

A Bundle of Myrrh is My Well-Beloved unto Me; He Shall Abide ...
... COMMENTARY. CHAPTER I. 12. A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me;
he shall abide between my breasts. When the Bride, or rather ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/12 a bundle of myrrh.htm

How Holy Benevolence Produces the Praise of the Divine Well ...
... COMPLACENCY AND BENEVOLENCE. CHAPTER VIII. HOW HOLY BENEVOLENCE PRODUCES
THE PRAISE OF THE DIVINE WELL-BELOVED. Honour, my dear ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter viii how holy benevolence.htm

Dedicatory Prayer
... O Saviour Jesus, to whom could I better dedicate words on thy love, than
to the most amiable heart of the well-beloved of thy soul? ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/dedicatory prayer.htm

Of the Loving Recollection of the Soul in Contemplation.
... as he who should cast a piece of loadstone amongst a number of needles would instantly
see them turn all their points towards their well-beloved adamant, and ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter vii of the loving.htm

Of the Sacred Complacency of Love; and First of what it Consists.
... more than in our own, and it is this love which gave so much content to the Saints
when they could recount the perfections of their well-beloved, and which ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter i of the sacred.htm

How we Practise the Love of Benevolence in the Praises which Our ...
... And indeed the heavenly King in a particular manner invites her to sing: Show me
thy face, says he, my well-beloved, let thy voice sound in my ears: for thy ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xi how we practise.htm

Wellbeloved (3 Occurrences)
...Wellbeloved (3 Occurrences). Mark 12:6 Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved,
he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. (KJV) ...
/w/wellbeloved.htm - 7k

Well-beloved (5 Occurrences)
Well-beloved. Wellbeloved, Well-beloved. Well-built . Multi-Version Concordance ...
Wellbeloved, Well-beloved. Well-built . Reference Bible.
/w/well-beloved.htm - 7k

Well-being (19 Occurrences)
Well-being. Well-armed, Well-being. Wellbeloved . Noah Webster's Dictionary ...
(BBE). Well-armed, Well-being. Wellbeloved . Reference Bible.
/w/well-being.htm - 11k

Hillside (6 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 5:1 Let me sing of my well-beloved, a song of my beloved touching his vineyard.
my well-beloved had a vineyard in a very fruitful hill; (See NIV). ...
/h/hillside.htm - 8k

Well-built (1 Occurrence)
Well-built. Well-beloved, Well-built. Well-conceived . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(WEB NIV). Well-beloved, Well-built. Well-conceived . Reference Bible.
/w/well-built.htm - 6k

Reverence (42 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV WBS YLT). Mark 12:6 Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent
him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. ...
/r/reverence.htm - 21k

Epenetus (1 Occurrence)
... Romans 16:5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved
Epenetus, who is the first-fruits of Achaia to Christ. (WBS NIV). ...
/e/epenetus.htm - 6k

Epaenetus (1 Occurrence)
... As being the first convert in that region, he was peculiarly dear to the apostle.
He calls him his "wellbeloved.". Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. EPAENETUS. ...
/e/epaenetus.htm - 8k

Betwixt (16 Occurrences)
... (KJV). Song of Songs 1:13 A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me; he
shall lie all night betwixt my breasts. (KJV JPS ASV WBS). ...
/b/betwixt.htm - 11k

Beloved (117 Occurrences)
... as above 47 times is 9 times "dearly beloved" (the Revised Version (British and
American) uniformly omits "dearly") and 3 times "wellbeloved" (the Revised ...
/b/beloved.htm - 40k

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