Jump to: Topical • ISBE • Easton's • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms Topical Encyclopedia In the context of the Bible, the concept of "chance" is often understood in relation to God's sovereignty and divine providence. While the term "chance" might imply randomness or lack of purpose in modern usage, the biblical perspective often integrates the idea of chance within the framework of God's overarching plan and control over the universe.Scriptural References: 1. Ecclesiastes 9:11 : "I saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor wealth to the discerning, nor favor to the skillful; for time and chance happen to them all." This verse acknowledges the presence of chance in human affairs, suggesting that outcomes are not always determined by human ability or effort. However, within the broader context of Ecclesiastes, it reflects on the limitations of human understanding and the mysterious ways in which God governs the world. 2. Proverbs 16:33 : "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD." This proverb highlights the belief that what might appear as random chance, such as the casting of lots, is ultimately under God's control. The casting of lots was a common practice in ancient Israel for making decisions, and this verse reassures believers that even seemingly random events are directed by God. 3. Ruth 2:3 : "So Ruth departed and went out into the field and gleaned after the harvesters. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech." The phrase "happened to come" suggests a chance occurrence, yet the narrative of Ruth is deeply embedded in the theme of divine providence. Ruth's "chance" encounter with Boaz is portrayed as part of God's plan to provide for her and Naomi, ultimately leading to the lineage of King David and, by extension, Jesus Christ. Theological Implications: The concept of chance in the Bible is often juxtaposed with the belief in God's sovereignty. While human perspective may perceive events as random or coincidental, the biblical narrative frequently affirms that God is actively involved in the details of life. This understanding provides comfort and assurance to believers, emphasizing that nothing is outside of God's control or purpose. Historical and Cultural Context: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the casting of lots and other practices perceived as involving chance were common methods for decision-making. The Israelites, however, distinguished their use of such practices by attributing the outcome to God's will, as seen in the selection of Saul as king (1 Samuel 10:20-24) and the division of the Promised Land among the tribes (Joshua 18:10). Philosophical Considerations: The interplay between chance and divine providence raises philosophical questions about free will, determinism, and the nature of God's interaction with the world. While the Bible affirms human responsibility and the reality of choice, it simultaneously upholds the belief that God is ultimately guiding history toward His intended purposes. In summary, while the Bible acknowledges the appearance of chance in human experience, it consistently points to a divine order and purpose behind all events, encouraging believers to trust in God's wisdom and sovereignty. Topical Bible Verses Genesis 2:7And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Topicalbible.org 2 Kings 8:12 Easton's Bible Dictionary (Luke 10:31). "It was not by chance that the priest came down by that road at that time, but by a specific arrangement and in exact fulfilment of a plan; not the plan of the priest, nor the plan of the wounded traveller, but the plan of God. By coincidence (Gr. sungkuria) the priest came down, that is, by the conjunction of two things, in fact, which were previously constituted a pair in the providence of God. In the result they fell together according to the omniscient Designer's plan. This is the true theory of the divine government." Compare the meeting of Philip with the Ethiopian (Acts 8:26, 27). There is no "chance" in God's empire. "Chance" is only another word for our want of knowledge as to the way in which one event falls in with another (1 Samuel 6:9; Ecclesiastes 9:11). Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (n.) A supposed material or psychical agent or mode of activity other than a force, law, or purpose; fortune; fate; -- in this sense often personified.2. (n.) The operation or activity of such agent. 3. (n.) The supposed effect of such an agent; something that befalls, as the result of unknown or unconsidered forces; the issue of uncertain conditions; an event not calculated upon; an unexpected occurrence; a happening; accident; fortuity; casualty. 4. (n.) A possibility; a likelihood; an opportunity; -- with reference to a doubtful result; as, a chance to escape; a chance for life; the chances are all against him. 5. (n.) Probability. 6. (v. i.) To happen, come, or arrive, without design or expectation. 7. (v. t.) To take the chances of; to venture upon; -- usually with it as object. 8. (v. t.) To befall; to happen to. 9. (a.) Happening by chance; casual. 10. (adv.) By chance; perchance. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia CHANCEchans: The idea of chance in the sense of something wholly fortuitous was utterly foreign to the Hebrew creed. Throughout the whole course of Israel's history, to the Hebrew mind, law, not chance, ruled the universe, and that law was not something blindly mechanical, but the expression of the personal Yahweh. Israel's belief upon this subject may be summed up in the couplet, "The lot is cast into the lap; But the whole disposing thereof is of Yahweh" (Proverbs 16:33). A number of Hebrew and Greek expressions have been translated "chance," or something nearly equivalent, but it is noteworthy that of the classical words for chance, suntuchia, and tuche, the former never occurs in the Bible and the latter only twice in the Septuagint. Greek 4795. sugkuria -- chance ... chance. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: sugkuria Phonetic Spelling: (soong-koo-ree'-ah) Short Definition: a coincidence, accident, chance ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4795.htm - 7k 1793. entugchano -- to chance upon, by impl. confer with, by ext. ... 3909. paratugchano -- to happen to be near or present 5177. tugchano -- to hit, hit upon, meet, happen 4940. suntugchano -- to meet with 1345. dikaioma -- an ordinance, a sentence of acquittal or ... 2013. epitugchano -- to light upon, ie to obtain Strong's Hebrew 6294. pega -- occurrence, chance... 6293, 6294. pega. 6295 . occurrence, chance. Transliteration: pega Phonetic Spelling: (peh'-gah) Short Definition: chance. Word ... /hebrew/6294.htm - 6k 4745. miqreh -- accident, chance, fortune 7137. qareh -- chance, accident 7122. qara -- to encounter, befall Library In Regard to Things Above Our Comprehension, we Should Glorify the ... Petilianus Said: "Or if any one Chance to Recollect the Chants of ... The True God, However, Neither Employs Irrational Animals, nor any ... Book V Here She Made an End and was for Turning the Course of Her ... That to Work is not a Matter of Pain and Weariness to God. Concerning what is in Our Own Power, that Is, Concerning Free-Will ... Human Soot But I Beg You to Listen Patiently as I Follow Him in his Continual ... The Prophecies Courage Thesaurus Chance (78 Occurrences)... Easton's Bible Dictionary (Luke 10:31). "It was not by chance that the priest came down by that road at that time, but by ... There is no "chance" in God's empire. ... /c/chance.htm - 37k Hap (1 Occurrence) Haply (26 Occurrences) Venture (10 Occurrences) Lot (145 Occurrences) Random (3 Occurrences) Adventure (3 Occurrences) Decision (174 Occurrences) Games (2 Occurrences) Division (135 Occurrences) Resources Will there be a second chance for salvation after death? | GotQuestions.orgWill there be a second chance for salvation after the rapture? | GotQuestions.org What does the Bible say about luck? | GotQuestions.org Chance: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Chance (78 Occurrences)Matthew 13:29 Matthew 26:16 Matthew 27:35 Mark 6:21 Mark 11:13 Mark 15:24 Luke 10:31 Luke 11:54 Luke 22:2 Luke 22:6 Luke 23:34 John 7:1 Acts 1:26 Acts 21:38 Acts 25:16 Acts 27:12 Acts 27:29 Romans 7:8 Romans 7:11 1 Corinthians 7:21 1 Corinthians 15:37 1 Corinthians 16:12 2 Corinthians 5:12 2 Corinthians 11:12 Galatians 5:13 Galatians 6:10 1 Timothy 5:14 2 Timothy 2:25 Hebrews 2:1 Hebrews 3:12 Hebrews 12:17 Hebrews 12:25 1 Peter 4:18 Genesis 18:24 Genesis 18:28 Genesis 18:29 Genesis 18:32 Genesis 24:5 Genesis 27:12 Leviticus 6:3 Leviticus 6:4 Deuteronomy 22:6 Deuteronomy 24:19 Joshua 8:20 Judges 9:33 Judges 15:15 Ruth 2:3 1 Samuel 6:9 1 Samuel 10:7 1 Samuel 19:2 1 Samuel 20:12 2 Samuel 1:6 1 Kings 11:40 1 Kings 18:27 1 Kings 20:39 2 Kings 18:23 1 Chronicles 26:13 Nehemiah 11:1 Esther 2:21 Esther 3:7 Esther 9:24 Psalms 22:18 Proverbs 1:14 Proverbs 16:33 Proverbs 18:18 Ecclesiastes 5:14 Ecclesiastes 9:11 Ecclesiastes 10:5 Song of Songs 8:10 Isaiah 36:8 Isaiah 58:3 Isaiah 65:11 Lamentations 3:29 Joel 3:3 Obadiah 1:11 Jonah 1:6 Jonah 1:7 Nahum 3:10 Subtopics Related Terms |