Discovery
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Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Context:
In the biblical context, "discovery" often refers to the act of uncovering or revealing something previously hidden or unknown. This can pertain to divine truths, personal revelations, or the uncovering of sin. The concept of discovery is intertwined with themes of revelation, wisdom, and understanding, as God often reveals His will and purposes to His people.

Biblical Instances of Discovery:

1. Divine Revelation:
Discovery in the Bible frequently involves God revealing His plans and purposes to humanity. In the Old Testament, prophets often received divine revelations that they then communicated to the people. For example, Amos 3:7 states, "Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets." This underscores the idea that God chooses to disclose His intentions to those He calls.

2. Personal Revelation and Understanding:
The Bible speaks of personal discovery in terms of gaining wisdom and understanding. Proverbs 2:3-5 encourages believers to seek wisdom as one would search for hidden treasures, promising that such a pursuit will lead to the discovery of the knowledge of God: "If you seek it like silver and search it out like hidden treasure, then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God."

3. Uncovering Sin:
Discovery can also refer to the exposure of sin. Numbers 32:23 warns, "But if you do not do this, you will certainly sin against the LORD—and be assured that your sin will find you out." This passage highlights the inevitability of sin being discovered, emphasizing the importance of repentance and accountability.

4. The Discovery of God's Creation:
The Bible encourages the exploration and appreciation of God's creation, which can lead to the discovery of His majesty and power. Psalm 19:1-2 declares, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge." This suggests that the natural world is a source of ongoing discovery about God's character and creativity.

5. The Mystery of the Gospel:
In the New Testament, the discovery of the mystery of the Gospel is a central theme. Ephesians 3:8-9 speaks of the grace given to Paul to "preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things." The revelation of the Gospel to the Gentiles was a significant discovery that expanded the understanding of God's redemptive plan.

Theological Implications:
Discovery in the biblical sense is not merely an intellectual exercise but a spiritual journey that leads to a deeper relationship with God. It involves both the uncovering of divine truths and the personal transformation that comes from understanding and applying these truths. The Bible encourages believers to seek out wisdom and knowledge, promising that such endeavors will lead to a greater understanding of God's will and character.

Practical Application:
Believers are encouraged to actively seek discovery through prayer, study of the Scriptures, and reflection on God's creation. This pursuit is not only about gaining knowledge but also about growing in faith and obedience. As individuals discover more about God and His purposes, they are called to live out these truths in their daily lives, sharing the discoveries of God's love and grace with others.
Topical Bible Verses
Deuteronomy 22:1-30
You shall not see your brother's ox or his sheep go astray, and hide yourself from them: you shall in any case bring them again to your brother.
Topicalbible.org

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) The action of discovering; exposure to view; laying open; showing; as, the discovery of a plot.

2. (n.) A making known; revelation; disclosure; as, a bankrupt is bound to make a full discovery of his assets.

3. (n.) Finding out or ascertaining something previously unknown or unrecognized; as, Harvey's discovery of the circulation of the blood.

4. (n.) That which is discovered; a thing found out, or for the first time ascertained or recognized; as, the properties of the magnet were an important discovery.

5. (n.) Exploration; examination.

Strong's Hebrew
4672. matsa -- to attain to, find
... 1), befall (1), befallen (2), befell (1), came (2), caught (5), come (6), comes
(1), delivered (2), discover (8), discovered (4), discovery (1), enough (1 ...
/hebrew/4672.htm - 6k
Library

How on the Discovery of Prohibited Books among the Heretics, Many ...
... Book III. Chapter LXVI."How on the Discovery of Prohibited Books among
the Heretics, Many of them return to the Catholic Church. ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter lxvi how on the discovery.htm

A Discovery.
... Book VII. Chapter XXI."A Discovery. When Peter had thus spoken, the woman,
struck with astonishment, fainted. Then Peter began ...
/.../unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter xxi a discovery.htm

The Discovery of the Life-Bringing Cross and of the Holy
... Book II. Chapter I."The Discovery of the Life-Bringing Cross and of the Holy. ... furnishes
an additional story about the discovery, which he, however, confutes. ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of sozomenus/chapter i the discovery of the.htm

Discovery of the Remains of the Prophets Habakkuk and Micah. Death ...
... Book VII. Chapter XXIX."Discovery of the Remains of the Prophets Habakkuk
and Micah. Death of the Emperor Theodosius the Great. ...
/.../chapter xxix discovery of the remains.htm

Discovery of the Relics of Forty Holy Martyrs.
... Book IX. Chapter II."Discovery of the Relics of Forty Holy Martyrs. A
woman by name Eusebia, [1623] who was a deaconess of the ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of sozomenus/chapter ii discovery of the relics.htm

The Discovery of Truth is Difficult, but God Has Promised that He ...
... Book XII. Chapter I ."The Discovery of Truth is Difficult, But God Has
Promised that He Who Seeks Shall Find. 1. My heart, O Lord ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/chapter i the discovery of.htm

Discovery of the Honored Head of the Forerunner of Our Lord, and ...
... Book VII. Chapter XXI."Discovery of the Honored Head of the Forerunner
of our Lord, and the Events about it. About this time the ...
/.../chapter xxi discovery of the honored.htm

Discovery of the Relics of Zechariah the Prophet, and of Stephen ...
... Book IX. Chapter XVII."Discovery of the Relics of Zechariah the Prophet, and of
Stephen the Proto-Martyr. I shall first speak of the relics of the prophet. ...
/.../chapter xvii discovery of the relics.htm

Discovery of the Most Holy Sepulchre.
... Book III. Chapter XXVIII."Discovery of the Most Holy Sepulchre. This also
was accomplished without delay. But as soon as the original ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter xxviii discovery of the most.htm

Providential Preparations for the Discovery of America --Spiritual ...
... CHAPTER I. PROVIDENTIAL PREPARATIONS FOR THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA"SPIRITUAL REVIVAL
THROUGHOUT CHRISTENDOM, AND ESPECIALLY IN THE CHURCH OF SPAIN. ...
/.../a history of american christianity/chapter i providential preparations for.htm

Thesaurus
Discovery (24 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The action of discovering; exposure to
view; laying open; showing; as, the discovery of a plot. ...
/d/discovery.htm - 14k

Library
... NINEVEH, LIBRARY OF. I. THE DISCOVERY II. THE LIBRARY III. ... In the spring of 1850,
the workmen of Sir AH Layard at Nineveh made an important discovery. ...
/l/library.htm - 16k

Discovered (46 Occurrences)
... Genesis 36:24 And these are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah; that same Anah
who made the discovery of the water-springs in the waste land, when he was ...
/d/discovered.htm - 21k

Proverb (24 Occurrences)
... Animus of Proverbs II. LITERARY DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROVERB 1. Discovery
of Literary Value 2. The Differentiation III. AS UNIT OF ...
/p/proverb.htm - 29k

Cross (157 Occurrences)
... cross of later date, in which the pieces are equally long; (4) the crux decussata,
or Andrew's cross, which has the shape of the letter X. 2. Discovery of the ...
/c/cross.htm - 50k

Exploration
... 1. (n.) The act of exploring, penetrating, or ranging over for purposes of discovery,
especially of geographical discovery; examination; as, the exploration of ...
/e/exploration.htm - 38k

Ostraca
... 1. Hebrew Ostraca: A fortunate discovery at Samaria (1910), made among the ruins
of Ahab's palace, has brought to light 75 Hebrew ostraca inscribed with ink ...
/o/ostraca.htm - 10k

Aramaic (12 Occurrences)
... More recent has been the discovery of the Assouan papyri; these bear dates
which synchronize with Ezra and Nehemiah. Earlier than ...
/a/aramaic.htm - 31k

Across (172 Occurrences)
... (DBY). John 1:41 Early in the morning he came across his brother and said to him,
We have made discovery! It is the Messiah! (which is to say, the Christ). ...
/a/across.htm - 35k

Smyrna (2 Occurrences)
... the Turks. It was the discovery of America and the resulting discovery of a
sea route to India which ruined the Smyrna trade. 2. Modern ...
/s/smyrna.htm - 12k

Resources
Would the discovery of Noah's Ark be important? | GotQuestions.org

If aliens were proved to exist, how would that discovery impact the Christian faith? | GotQuestions.org

How would the discovery of alien life impact the Christian faith? | GotQuestions.org

Discovery: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Discovery (24 Occurrences)

Matthew 1:18
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was in this way: when his mother Mary was going to be married to Joseph, before they came together the discovery was made that she was with child by the Holy Spirit.
(BBE)

Matthew 7:14
For narrow is the door and hard the road to life, and only a small number make discovery of it.
(BBE)

John 1:41
Early in the morning he came across his brother and said to him, We have made discovery! It is the Messiah! (which is to say, the Christ).
(BBE)

John 1:45
Philip came across Nathanael and said to him, We have made a discovery! It is he of whom Moses, in the law, and the prophets were writing, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
(BBE)

John 11:17
Now when Jesus came, he made the discovery that Lazarus had been put into the earth four days before.
(BBE)

Acts 17:27
So that they might make search for God, in order, if possible, to get knowledge of him and make discovery of him, though he is not far from every one of us:
(BBE)

Acts 28:1
And when we were safe, we made the discovery that the island was named Melita.
(BBE)

Romans 7:10
And I made the discovery that the law whose purpose was to give life had become a cause of death:
(BBE)

Romans 10:20
And Isaiah says without fear, Those who were not searching for me made discovery of me; and I was seen by those whose hearts were turned away from me.
(BBE)

Romans 11:33
O how deep is the wealth of the wisdom and knowledge of God! no one is able to make discovery of his decisions, and his ways may not be searched out.
(BBE)

Genesis 36:24
And these are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah; that same Anah who made the discovery of the water-springs in the waste land, when he was looking after the asses of his father Zibeon.
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 22:28
If a man sees a young virgin, who has not given her word to be married to anyone, and he takes her by force and has connection with her, and discovery is made of it;
(BBE)

2 Kings 22:8
Then Hilkiah, the chief priest, said to Shaphan the scribe, I have made discovery of the book of the law in the house of the Lord. So Hilkiah gave it to Shaphan;
(BBE)

2 Kings 23:24
And all those who had control of spirits, and the wonder-workers, and the images, and the false gods, and all the disgusting things which were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, Josiah put away, so that he might give effect to the words of the agreement recorded in the book which Hilkiah the priest made discovery of in the house of the Lord.
(BBE)

2 Chronicles 34:15
Then Hilkiah said to Shaphan the scribe, I have made discovery of the book of the law in the house of the Lord. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.
(BBE)

Job 11:7
Are you able to take God's measure, to make discovery of the limits of the Ruler of all?
(BBE)

Psalms 36:2
For he flatters himself in his own eyes, too much to detect and hate his sin.
(See NAS)

Psalms 64:6
Or make discovery of our secret purpose? The design is framed with care; and the inner thought of a man, and his heart, is deep.
(BBE)

Psalms 89:20
I have made discovery of David my servant; I have put my holy oil on his head.
(BBE)

Psalms 119:162
I am delighted by your saying, like a man who makes discovery of great wealth.
(BBE)

Proverbs 3:13
Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge.
(BBE)

Proverbs 31:10
Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.
(BBE)

Ecclesiastes 7:25
I gave my mind to knowledge and to searching for wisdom and the reason of things, and to the discovery that sin is foolish, and that to be foolish is to be without one's senses.
(BBE)

Hosea 9:10
I made discovery of Israel as of grapes in the waste land; I saw your fathers as the first-fruits of the fig-tree in her early fruit time; but they came to Baal-peor, and made themselves holy to the thing of shame, and became disgusting like that to which they gave their love.
(BBE)

Subtopics

Discovery

Related Terms

Impeach (3 Occurrences)

Virgin (62 Occurrences)

Discredited (3 Occurrences)

Birth (357 Occurrences)

Discovery (24 Occurrences)

Exorcism

Exorcist (1 Occurrence)

Endeavour (7 Occurrences)

Disrepute (3 Occurrences)

Disgrace (73 Occurrences)

Discreditable (1 Occurrence)

Slander (34 Occurrences)

Greatness (63 Occurrences)

Business (147 Occurrences)

Divination (25 Occurrences)

Korahites (7 Occurrences)

Luke (4 Occurrences)

Sons (2429 Occurrences)

Lest (282 Occurrences)

Ethics

Korah (51 Occurrences)

Exodus (2 Occurrences)

Sabbath (126 Occurrences)

Anthropology

Law (670 Occurrences)

Joseph (248 Occurrences)

Gospel (108 Occurrences)

Fall (522 Occurrences)

Mary (50 Occurrences)

Revelation (52 Occurrences)

Messenger (235 Occurrences)

Criticism (1 Occurrence)

Bible

John (154 Occurrences)

Tabeel (2 Occurrences)

Discovering
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