Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  8000 The life of the believer  »  8200 The character of the believer  »  8341 separation

A setting apart. Separation is at the heart of the biblical idea of holiness. God is separate from his creation and has set apart his people from the world. Sin causes alienation between God and humanity, making necessary the reconciling work of Jesus Christ. The end of the age will bring the final separation between the righteous and the wicked.

God is without equal

Exodus 15:11 See also Psalm 89:6; Isaiah 40:25-26

God is separate from his creation

Isaiah 40:22 See also Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 29:16; Isaiah 45:11-12; Romans 1:25

The separateness of God's people

Deuteronomy 7:6 See also Exodus 19:5-6; Deuteronomy 14:2; Psalm 135:4

1 Peter 2:9 See also 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Titus 2:14

Separation from the world

Leviticus 20:26 See also Numbers 23:9; Nehemiah 9:2; Nehemiah 10:28

John 15:18-19 See also John 17:16; Philippians 3:20; 1 Peter 2:11

Separation from sin

2 Corinthians 6:17 See also Isaiah 52:11; Leviticus 15:31; Ezra 6:21; 1 Corinthians 6:18; Corinthians 15:34; 2 Corinthians 7:1

Avoidance of evil association

1 Corinthians 15:33 See also Proverbs 13:20

Isarel forbidden to associate and intermarry with Canaanite peoples:

Deuteronomy 7:2-3; Joshua 23:7 Ezra 4:3; Ezra 10:11; Psalm 119:115; 2 Corinthians 6:14

Excommunication

Israelites refusing to follow God's commands to be cut off from God's people:

Leviticus 18:29; Numbers 15:30; Numbers 19:20; Matthew 18:15-17 separation from unrepentant believers; Romans 16:17 separation from false teachers; 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 separation from wilfully sinful believers; 2 Thessalonians 3:6 separation from wilfully disobedient believers; Titus 3:9-11 separation from divisive people

Separation for service to God

Numbers 6:2-3 the Nazirites; Numbers 16:9 the Levites; 1 Chronicles 23:13 Aaron and his descendants; 1 Chronicles 25:1 prophets; Jeremiah 1:5 Jeremiah

Paul:

Romans 1:1; Galatians 1:15

Separation of holy places

Exodus 26:33 the Most Holy Place separated by a curtain; Exodus 33:7 the Tent of Meeting placed outside the camp; Ezekiel 42:20 Ezekiel's temple separated by a wall

Separation caused by sin

Separation from God

Isaiah 59:2 See also Habakkuk 1:13; Ephesians 4:18; Colossians 1:21

Separation at the final judgment

Matthew 25:32-33 See also Matthew 13:40-42,47-50

Separation of people from one another

Ruth 1:16-17 Ruth will not be separated from Naomi; 2 Kings 2:11 Elisha separated from Elijah; Phm 15 Philemon separated from Onesimus; John 4:9 separation between Jews and Samaritans; Ephesians 2:11-12 separation between Jews and Gentiles

The pain of separation

Acts 20:37-38 See also 1 Samuel 20:41; John 16:20 Jesus Christ foretells his death and resurrection; 2 Timothy 1:4

The pain of separation through death

Acts 8:2 See also Genesis 37:33-35; Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:18

Husband and wife not to be separated

Matthew 19:5-6 pp Mark 10:7-9 See also Genesis 2:24; 1 Corinthians 7:10-13

Reconciliation through Jesus Christ ends the separation from God

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 See also Matthew 27:46 pp Mark 15:34; Psalm 22:1 Reconciliation with God is possible because Jesus Christ bore the punishment of separation from God that human sin deserves; Matthew 27:51 pp Mark 15:38 pp Luke 23:45; Romans 8:35-39 Nothing can separate believers from God's love shown in Christ; Ephesians 2:14-15 Jew and Gentile reconciled through mutual reconciliation to God

See also

1065  God, holiness of
5004  human race & sin
5675  divorce
6026  sin, judgment on
6109  alienation
6717  reconciliation, world to God
7025  church, unity
7344  curtain
7922  fellowship with God
8270  holiness, set apart
9020  death
9240  last judgment