The concept of being "well-trained" in the Bible often relates to the development of spiritual, moral, and practical skills necessary for living a life that honors God. This training is not merely academic or physical but encompasses the whole person, including the heart, mind, and spirit.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the idea of training is frequently associated with the upbringing and instruction of children. Proverbs 22:6 states, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." This verse underscores the importance of instilling godly principles and wisdom from a young age, ensuring that these teachings become a lifelong guide.

The training of individuals for specific roles, such as priests or warriors, is also evident. For example, the Levites underwent rigorous training to perform their duties in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple (Numbers 8:5-26). Similarly, the training of soldiers is implied in the preparation for battles, as seen in the accounts of David's mighty men (2 Samuel 23:8-39).

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of being well-trained is often linked to discipleship and spiritual growth. The Apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of training in godliness. In 1 Timothy 4:7-8 , he writes, "Train yourself for godliness. For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come." Here, Paul contrasts physical training with spiritual training, highlighting the eternal benefits of the latter.

The training of the early disciples by Jesus is a prime example of spiritual preparation. Jesus spent three years teaching, correcting, and equipping His disciples for the mission of spreading the Gospel (Matthew 28:19-20). This training involved not only instruction but also practical experiences, such as sending them out to preach and heal (Luke 9:1-6).

Spiritual Training and Discipline

The Bible also speaks to the necessity of discipline in the process of becoming well-trained. Hebrews 12:11 states, "No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it." This passage highlights the transformative power of discipline, which, though challenging, results in spiritual maturity and righteousness.

Role of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in the training of believers. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would teach and remind His followers of all He had said (John 14:26). The Spirit guides believers into all truth (John 16:13), equipping them for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Practical Application

Being well-trained in a biblical sense involves a commitment to studying Scripture, prayer, and active participation in the life of the church. It requires a willingness to be corrected and to grow in character and faith. The goal of such training is to become more like Christ, equipped for every good work, and ready to fulfill God's purposes in the world.

A Sight of the Crowned Christ
... He was well trained but not yet transformed. The fires had to be kindled,
purifying, melting, fusing fires. And only fire kindles fire. ...
/.../quiet talks on the crowned christ of revelation/iii a sight of the crowned.htm

Abstraction from Material Things Necessary in Order to Attain to ...
... portals of unutterable words." Beautifully, therefore, Isocrates writes in the
Panathenaic, having put the question, "Who, then, are well trained?" adds, "First ...
/.../the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xi abstraction from material things.htm

The Ten Commandments of God.
... of old, though little of it has been taught and treated correctly until both young
and old who are called and wish to be Christians, are well trained in them ...
/.../luther/the large catechism/the ten commandments of god.htm

Of the Literary Labors of the Two Apollinares and the Emperor's ...
... The younger Apollinaris, who was well trained in eloquence, expounded the gospels
and apostolic doctrines in the way of dialogue, as Plato among the Greeks had ...
/.../chapter xvi of the literary labors.htm

Letter xv. --To Adelphius the Lawyer .
... of the fish as he selected; and they seemed no strangers to the fisherman's touch,
being tame and submissive under the artist's hands, like well-trained dogs. ...
/.../gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/letter xv to adelphius the lawyer.htm

A Notice of Aetius, Eunomius' Master in Heresy, and of Eunomius ...
... namely that, just as Aristotle's evil skill supplied Aetius with his impiety, so
the simplicity of his dupes secured a fat living for the well-trained pupil as ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 6 a notice of.htm

That the Example of Certain Saints who Seem to have Exercised ...
... Wise and well trained hounds run afield or come back according to the huntsman's
call, but untrained young hounds break away and are disobedient. ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xvi that the example.htm

Of the Practice of Loving Indifference, in Things Belonging to the ...
... the arrows of his heavenly love shot into human hearts, he made himself master of
men, and then handled them at his pleasure, not unlike to a horse well trained ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter vi of the practice.htm

Bit and Bridle: How to Escape Them
... volumes. Well-trained children of God have their faces toward him, and soon
perceive his mind, and this secures their prompt obedience. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/bit and bridle how to.htm

The Triumph of Humility.
... All these monsters only come into the world to exercise the courage of the children
of God, and if these are well trained, God gives them the pleasure of ...
/.../abandonment to divine providence/section xii the triumph of humility.htm

Well-trained (1 Occurrence)
Well-trained. Well-to-do, Well-trained. Well-tried . Multi-Version
Concordance Well-trained (1 Occurrence). 2 Chronicles ...
/w/well-trained.htm - 6k

Unstedfast (5 Occurrences)
... These men set traps to catch unstedfast souls, their own hearts being welltrained
in greed. They are fore-doomed to God's curse! (WEY ASV). ...
/u/unstedfast.htm - 8k

Well-to-do (1 Occurrence)
Well-to-do. Well-spring, Well-to-do. Well-trained . Noah Webster's Dictionary ...
(See NIV). Well-spring, Well-to-do. Well-trained . Reference Bible.
/w/well-to-do.htm - 6k

Well-tried (1 Occurrence)
Well-tried. Well-trained, Well-tried. Well-watered . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(WEY). Well-trained, Well-tried. Well-watered . Reference Bible.
/w/well-tried.htm - 6k

Fore-doomed (1 Occurrence)
... These men set traps to catch unstedfast souls, their own hearts being well
trained in greed. They are fore-doomed to God's curse! (WEY). ...
/f/fore-doomed.htm - 6k

Trained (37 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:52 "Therefore," He said, "remember that every Scribe welltrained for
the Kingdom of the Heavens is like a householder who brings out of his ...
/t/trained.htm - 19k

Traps (8 Occurrences)
... These men set traps to catch unstedfast souls, their own hearts being well
trained in greed. They are fore-doomed to God's curse! (WEY). ...
/t/traps.htm - 8k

Remember (230 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Matthew 13:52 "Therefore," He said, "remember that every Scribe welltrained
for the Kingdom of the Heavens is like a householder who brings out of his ...
/r/remember.htm - 41k

David (1052 Occurrences)
... David took his sling, and with a well-trained aim threw a stone "out of the brook,"
which struck the giant's forehead, so that he fell senseless to the ground. ...
/d/david.htm - 93k

Store (134 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Matthew 13:52 "Therefore," He said, "remember that every Scribe welltrained
for the Kingdom of the Heavens is like a householder who brings out of his ...
/s/store.htm - 39k

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