Spur
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In biblical terms, the concept of "spur" is often associated with the idea of encouragement, motivation, or provocation towards a particular action or behavior, especially in the context of faith and good works. The term itself is not frequently used in the Bible, but its thematic implications are significant in understanding Christian conduct and community life.

Biblical References:

1. Hebrews 10:24 : "And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds." This verse is a direct exhortation to believers to actively encourage and motivate each other towards love and good works. The imagery of a spur, which is a device used to urge a horse forward, is metaphorically applied to the Christian community, emphasizing the importance of mutual encouragement and accountability.

2. Proverbs 27:17 : "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." While the term "spur" is not used here, the concept is similar. The idea of sharpening implies a process of improvement and refinement, much like spurring involves prompting someone to action. This proverb highlights the value of relationships in fostering spiritual growth and moral excellence.

Theological Implications:

The notion of spurring one another is deeply rooted in the communal aspect of the Christian faith. It underscores the responsibility of believers to support and challenge each other in their spiritual journeys. This encouragement is not merely passive but involves active engagement and sometimes even confrontation to promote growth and adherence to Christian values.

Practical Application:

In practical terms, spurring one another can take various forms, such as offering words of encouragement, providing constructive feedback, or setting an example through one's own actions. It involves a balance of grace and truth, ensuring that the motivation provided is both loving and aligned with biblical principles.

Historical Context:

In the early Christian communities, as depicted in the New Testament, the practice of spurring one another was vital for maintaining faithfulness amidst persecution and societal pressures. The communal gatherings, teachings, and shared life experiences served as platforms for believers to encourage and edify each other.

Related Concepts:

· Exhortation: Closely related to the idea of spurring, exhortation involves urging someone to pursue a course of action, often with a sense of urgency and earnestness.
· Accountability: The practice of holding one another accountable is a form of spurring, ensuring that individuals remain committed to their faith and moral obligations.
· Discipleship: Spurring is an integral part of discipleship, where more mature believers guide and motivate others in their spiritual growth.

In summary, the concept of "spur" in the biblical context is a powerful metaphor for the role of encouragement and motivation within the Christian community, emphasizing the collective responsibility to foster love, good deeds, and spiritual maturity.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) A sparrow.

2. (n.) A tern.

3. (n.) An implement secured to the heel, or above the heel, of a horseman, to urge the horse by its pressure. Modern spurs have a small wheel, or rowel, with short points. Spurs were the badge of knighthood.

4. (n.) That which goads to action; an incitement.

5. (n.) Something that projects; a snag.

6. (n.) One of the large or principal roots of a tree.

7. (n.) Any stiff, sharp spine, as on the wings and legs of certain birds, on the legs of insects, etc.; especially, the spine on a cock's leg.

8. (n.) A mountain that shoots from any other mountain, or range of mountains, and extends to some distance in a lateral direction, or at right angles.

9. (n.) A spiked iron worn by seamen upon the bottom of the boot, to enable them to stand upon the carcass of a whale, to strip off the blubber.

10. (n.) A brace strengthening a post and some connected part, as a rafter or crossbeam; a strut.

11. (n.) The short wooden buttress of a post.

12. (n.) A projection from the round base of a column, occupying the angle of a square plinth upon which the base rests, or bringing the bottom bed of the base to a nearly square form. It is generally carved in leafage.

13. (n.) Any projecting appendage of a flower looking like a spur.

14. (n.) Ergotized rye or other grain.

15. (n.) A wall that crosses a part of a rampart and joins to an inner wall.

16. (n.) A piece of timber fixed on the bilge ways before launching, having the upper ends bolted to the vessel's side.

17. (n.) A curved piece of timber serving as a half to support the deck where a whole beam can not be placed.

18. (v. t.) To prick with spurs; to incite to a more hasty pace; to urge or goad; as, to spur a horse.

19. (v. t.) To urge or encourage to action, or to a more vigorous pursuit of an object; to incite; to stimulate; to instigate; to impel; to drive.

20. (v. t.) To put spurs on; as, a spurred boot.

21. (v. i.) To spur on one' horse; to travel with great expedition; to hasten; hence, to press forward in any pursuit.

Greek
3951. parotruno -- to urge on, to stir up
... urge on. Word Origin from para and otruno (to spur) Definition to urge
on, to stir up NASB Word Usage incited (1). stir up. From ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3951.htm - 6k

1936. epithesis -- a laying on, an assault
... [1 Tim 4:14 shows how the "laying on of hands" helps spur people to receive God's .
These endowments bring great fruitfulness to the Lord's Church. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1936.htm - 7k

3729. hormao -- to set in motion, to hasten on
... run violently, rush. From horme; to start, spur or urge on, ie (reflexively)
to dash or plunge -- run (violently), rush. see GREEK horme. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3729.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew
7926. shekem -- shoulder
... place of burdens. From shakam; the neck (between the shoulders) as the place of
burdens; figuratively, the spur of a hill -- back, X consent, portion, shoulder. ...
/hebrew/7926.htm - 6k
Library

Due Measure must be Observed in Liberality, that it May not be ...
... bags. As, then, method [487] must be observed in liberality, so also at
times it seems as though the spur must be applied. Method ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xvi due measure must.htm

Whether the Vestments of the Ministers are Fittingly Instituted in ...
... the wayward (this is denoted by the curve at the head of the crozier), to uphold
the weak (this is denoted by the stem of the crozier), and to spur on the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the vestments of the.htm

The Work of God in Our Work.
... It is a fact that God is pleased to use man as an instrument, and by the spur
of his own ability and responsibility to incite him to activity. ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xiii the work of god.htm

The Nile and Egypt
... Westward, the littoral followed closely the contour of the Libyan plateau;
but a long limestone spur broke away from it at about 31 deg. ...
/.../chapter i the nile and egypt.htm

The Preface
... look on it as a part of their birth-right; nay, do not only let their tongues loose,
but studiously suggest inordinacies to them, and use the spur where they ...
//christianbookshelf.org/allestree/the government of the tongue/the preface.htm

The Secret of True Obedience.
... To rouse and spur on that defective life by arguments and motives has its use, but
their chief blessing must be that they make us feel the need of a different ...
/.../murray/the school of obedience/iii the secret of true.htm

The Third Season
... It is true, most men need the spur rather then the reins in this case; yet some
men sit down discouraged under a sense of the Church's troubles. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/flavel/on keeping the heart/iii the third season.htm

Of Revenge.
... Chapter X."Of Revenge. There is, too, another chief spur of impatience, the lust
of revenge, dealing with the business either of glory or else of malice. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/of patience/chapter x of revenge.htm

Application of these Motives
... late he hath done many others for a warning to us; and that we may presently resolve
in concord to mend our pace, before we feel a sharper spur than hitherto ...
//christianbookshelf.org/baxter/the reformed pastor/article 4.htm

Grundtvig's Later Years
... Under the spur of this question he undertook the translation of the sagas and developed
his now widely recognized ideas of folk life and folk education, which ...
/.../hymns and hymnwriters of denmark/chapter sixteen grundtvigs later years.htm

Thesaurus
Spur (3 Occurrences)
... (n.) Any projecting appendage of a flower looking like a spur. ... (vt) To prick with
spurs; to incite to a more hasty pace; to urge or goad; as, to spur a horse. ...
/s/spur.htm - 9k

Spurred (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (imp. & pp) of Spur. 2. (a.) Wearing spurs; furnished with a spur or spurs; having
shoots like spurs. 3. (a.) Affected with spur, or ergot; as, spurred rye. ...
/s/spurred.htm - 7k

Prick (2 Occurrences)
... 1. (v.) That which pricks, penetrates, or punctures; a sharp and slender thing;
a pointed instrument; a goad; a spur, etc.; a point; a skewer. ...
/p/prick.htm - 11k

Zion (169 Occurrences)
... The sites suited for settlement in early Canaanite times were all, if we may judge
from a number of them now known, of this nature-a rocky spur isolated on ...
/z/zion.htm - 49k

City
... It originated on the slopes of a bare rocky spur, in which the Neolithic Troglodytes
quarried their habitations out of the solid rock, the stones therefrom ...
/c/city.htm - 43k

Zarephath (4 Occurrences)
... It can be no other than the modern Sarafend, about 13 miles North of Tyre, on the
spur of the mountain which divides the plain of Tyre from that of Sidon. ...
/z/zarephath.htm - 11k

Offset (3 Occurrences)
... in exchange or retaliation; a set-off. 4. (n.) A spur from a range of hills
or mountains. 5. (n.) A horizontal ledge on the face ...
/o/offset.htm - 8k

Gear (3 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) Business matters; affairs; concern. 8. (n.) A toothed wheel, or cogwheel;
as, a spur gear, or a bevel gear; also, toothed wheels, collectively. ...
/g/gear.htm - 8k

Gerizim (4 Occurrences)
... those on Mt. Ebal to the cursings, as these were spoken "with a loud voice"
by the Levites. From a spur of Mt. Gerizim Jotham spoke ...
/g/gerizim.htm - 14k

Improvise (1 Occurrence)
... preparation. 3. (vt) To invent, or provide, offhand, or on the spur of the
moment; as, he improvised a hammer out of a stone. 4. (vi ...
/i/improvise.htm - 7k

Resources
Does a Christian have to attend every service a church has? | GotQuestions.org

What are the three woes of Revelation? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about trusting others? | GotQuestions.org

Spur: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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