Topical Encyclopedia The concept of being prosperous in the Bible is often associated with God's blessing, favor, and provision. It encompasses not only material wealth but also spiritual well-being, success, and peace. The Bible presents prosperity as a holistic state of flourishing that aligns with God's will and purposes.Old Testament Understanding In the Old Testament, prosperity is frequently linked to obedience to God's commandments. Deuteronomy 28:1-6 outlines the blessings of obedience, stating, "Now if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God and are careful to follow all His commandments I am giving you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings will come upon you and overtake you, if you will obey the voice of the LORD your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. The fruit of your womb will be blessed, as well as the produce of your land and the offspring of your livestock, the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. Your basket and kneading bowl will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out." The patriarchs, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, experienced prosperity as a sign of God's covenantal faithfulness. Genesis 24:35 records Abraham's servant saying, "The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become wealthy. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, camels and donkeys." Wisdom Literature The wisdom literature, particularly the Book of Proverbs, frequently addresses the theme of prosperity. Proverbs 3:9-10 advises, "Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine." This passage highlights the principle of honoring God with one's resources as a pathway to prosperity. New Testament Perspective In the New Testament, the focus shifts from material wealth to spiritual prosperity. Jesus teaches in Matthew 6:19-21 , "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Here, prosperity is redefined in terms of eternal values and treasures in heaven. The Apostle Paul echoes this sentiment in 1 Timothy 6:17-19 , instructing, "Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share, treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life." Spiritual Prosperity Spiritual prosperity is emphasized as believers are encouraged to grow in their relationship with God. 3 John 1:2 expresses a prayer for holistic prosperity: "Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers." This verse underscores the importance of spiritual well-being as the foundation for all other forms of prosperity. Conclusion The biblical concept of prosperity is multifaceted, encompassing material, spiritual, and relational dimensions. It is ultimately rooted in a life aligned with God's will, characterized by obedience, faith, and a focus on eternal values. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (a.) Tending to prosperity; favoring; favorable; helpful.2. (a.) Being prospered; advancing in the pursuit of anything desirable; making gain, or increase; thriving; successful; as, a prosperous voyage; a prosperous undertaking; a prosperous man or nation. Greek 2137. euodoo -- to have a prosperous journey ... to have a prosperous journey. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: euodoo Phonetic Spelling: (yoo-od-o'-o) Short Definition: I cause to prosper, have a happy ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2137.htm - 7k 5415. Phortounatos -- "prosperous, lucky," Fortunatus, a Christian 2141. euporeo -- to prosper Strong's Hebrew 1878. dashen -- to be fat, grow fat... root Definition to be fat, grow fat NASB Word Usage anointed (1), become greasy (1), become prosperous (1), find your acceptable (1), made fat (1), prosper (1 ... /hebrew/1878.htm - 6k 6743b. tsaleach -- to advance, prosper 7488. raanan -- luxuriant, fresh 3474. yashar -- to be smooth, straight, or right 7487. ra'anan -- to be or grow luxuriant, fresh, or green 3559. kun -- to be firm 50. Abishua -- "my father is rescue," two Israelites 6555. parats -- to break through 7961. shalev -- quiet, at ease 1879. dashen -- fat Library How to Secure a Prosperous Voyage The Philistines, victorious in this Prosperous Battle, Brought the ... Happy Children and Prosperous Days Psalm 73 Part 1 Afflicted Saints Happy, and Prosperous Sinners ... Psalm 73:1. First Part. CM Afflicted Saints Happy, and Prosperous ... National Wealth Psalm XCII. The Rich and the Poor Smith -- Assurance in God A Little Sanctuary Thesaurus Prosperous (26 Occurrences)... 2. (a.) Being prospered; advancing in the pursuit of anything desirable; making gain, or increase; thriving; successful; as, a prosperous voyage; a prosperous... /p/prosperous.htm - 14k Successful (16 Occurrences) Success (29 Occurrences) Weal (1 Occurrence) Raamses (1 Occurrence) Ramses En-gannim (3 Occurrences) Engannim (3 Occurrences) Rameses (5 Occurrences) Prospered (35 Occurrences) Resources What does the Bible say about prosperity? | GotQuestions.orgIs the Word of Faith movement biblical? | GotQuestions.org What are some biblical examples of meditation? | GotQuestions.org Prosperous: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Prosperous (26 Occurrences)Romans 1:10 Genesis 24:21 Genesis 24:42 Genesis 30:43 Genesis 39:2 Leviticus 25:26 Deuteronomy 28:29 Deuteronomy 30:5 Deuteronomy 30:9 Deuteronomy 31:20 Joshua 1:8 Judges 18:5 Judges 18:7 Job 8:6 Job 8:7 Job 42:10 Psalms 10:5 Psalms 22:29 Psalms 37:7 Proverbs 11:25 Isaiah 48:15 Ezekiel 16:49 Ezekiel 34:29 Daniel 4:4 Zechariah 7:7 Zechariah 8:12 Subtopics Related Terms |