Topical Encyclopedia
Definition: Sufficiency refers to the state of being adequate or enough to meet the needs or purposes of a particular situation. In a biblical context, it often pertains to God's provision and the adequacy of His grace, power, and resources for believers.
Biblical References:1.
God's Sufficiency: The Bible emphasizes that God is the ultimate source of sufficiency for His people. In
2 Corinthians 3:5, Paul writes, "Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God." This verse highlights the belief that human sufficiency is derived from God, not from personal abilities or resources.
2.
Grace as Sufficient: One of the most profound expressions of sufficiency in the New Testament is found in
2 Corinthians 12:9, where the Lord tells Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness." This passage underscores the idea that God's grace is enough to sustain believers, even in their weaknesses and trials.
3.
Provision for Needs: Philippians 4:19 assures believers of God's provision: "And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." This promise reflects the sufficiency of God's resources to meet the physical and spiritual needs of His people.
4.
Contentment and Sufficiency: The concept of sufficiency is closely linked to contentment. In
1 Timothy 6:6-8, Paul writes, "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these." This passage suggests that true sufficiency is found in a life of godliness and contentment with what God provides.
5.
Sufficiency in Christ: Colossians 2:10 states, "And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority." This verse affirms that believers find their sufficiency in Christ, who fulfills all spiritual needs and empowers them to live according to God's will.
Theological Implications:·
Dependence on God: The doctrine of sufficiency encourages believers to rely on God rather than their own strength or resources. It teaches that God is the ultimate provider and sustainer, capable of meeting every need.
·
Trust in God's Provision: Believers are called to trust in God's provision, recognizing that He knows their needs and is faithful to supply them. This trust is rooted in the understanding that God's resources are limitless and His timing is perfect.
·
Contentment in All Circumstances: The sufficiency of God's grace and provision leads to a life of contentment, regardless of external circumstances. Believers are encouraged to find satisfaction in God's presence and promises, rather than in material possessions or worldly success.
·
Empowerment for Service: The sufficiency of God's grace empowers believers to serve others and fulfill their God-given purposes. It assures them that they have all they need to accomplish the tasks God has set before them.
Practical Application:·
Prayer for Sufficiency: Believers are encouraged to pray for God's sufficiency in their lives, seeking His guidance and provision in all areas.
·
Living with Gratitude: Recognizing God's sufficiency should lead to a life of gratitude, acknowledging His constant care and provision.
·
Embracing Weakness: Understanding that God's power is perfected in weakness allows believers to embrace their limitations and rely on His strength.
·
Pursuing Godliness: Acknowledging the sufficiency of God's grace motivates believers to pursue godliness and contentment, trusting that He will provide all that is necessary for a life that honors Him.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Adequacy; ample supply or provision.
2. (n.) Qualification for any purpose; ability; capacity.
3. (n.) Adequate substance or means; competence.
4. (n.) Supply equal to wants; ample stock or fund.
5. (n.) Conceit; self-confidence; self-sufficiency.
Greek
841. autarkeia -- self-satisfaction, ie self-sufficiency ... self-satisfaction, ie self-
sufficiency. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration:
autarkeia Phonetic Spelling: (ow-tar'-ki-ah) Short Definition: self
... 2426. hikanotes -- sufficiency
... sufficiency. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: hikanotes Phonetic
Spelling: (hik-an-ot'-ace) Short Definition: sufficiency, ability, power ...
842. autarkes -- self-sufficient, sufficient
... fulness). This inward sufficiency is as valid in "low times" (suffering)
as in "high times" (temporal prosperity). See 841 (). 842 ...
4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... what a mistake to take our belief in God and call of faith . . . Christ, the living
word, is our sufficiency . . . (Charles Price, , Logos/publications). ...
Strong's Hebrew
4530. missah -- sufficiency... 4529, 4530. missah or missath. 4531 .
sufficiency. Transliteration: missah
or missath Phonetic Spelling: (mis-saw') Short Definition: tribute.
... 1952. hon -- wealth, sufficiency
... 1951, 1952. hon. 1953 . wealth, sufficiency. Transliteration: hon Phonetic
Spelling: (hone) Short Definition: wealth. Word Origin ...
8231a. sepheq -- sufficiency, plenty
... sufficiency, plenty. Transliteration: sepheq Short Definition: plenty. Word Origin
from saphaq Definition sufficiency, plenty NASB Word Usage plenty (1). ...
1767. day -- sufficiency, enough
... 1766, 1767. day. 1768 . sufficiency, enough. Transliteration: day Phonetic
Spelling: (dahee) Short Definition: often. Word Origin a prim. ...
8231. shaphar -- sufficiency, plenty
... 8230b, 8231. shaphar. 8231a . sufficiency, plenty. Transliteration: shaphar
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-far') Short Definition: goodly. goodly ...
5607. sepheq -- handclapping, mockery
... stroke, sufficiency. Or sepheq (Job 20:22; job 36:18) {seh'-fek}; from caphaq;
chastisement; also satiety -- stroke, sufficiency. see HEBREW caphaq. ...
Library
All Sufficiency
... All Sufficiency. "The LORD GOD is a Sun and Shield: the LORD will give
grace and glory: "No good thing will He withhold from them ...
On the Sufficiency and Perfection of the Holy Scriptures In
... DISPUTATION 3 ON THE SUFFICIENCY AND PERFECTION OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
IN. OPPOSITION TO HUMAN TRADITIONS RESPONDENT: DE COIGNEE. ...
On the Sufficiency and Perfection of the Holy Scriptures In
... DISPUTATION 2 ON THE SUFFICIENCY AND PERFECTION OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES IN.
OPPOSITION TO TRADITIONS RESPONDENT: ABRAHAM VLIET I. When ...
Sufficiency of Pardon.
... of the stanza. Hymn 2:85. Sufficiency of pardon. 1 Why does your face,
ye humble souls, Those mournful colours wear? What doubts ...
Sufficiency of the Scriptures.
... THE SCRIPTURES. 190. " Sufficiency of the Scriptures. 190. CM Episcopal
Coll. Sufficiency of the Scriptures. 1 Great God, with ...
Songs of the Cross the Sufficiency of God.
... Songs of the Cross The Sufficiency of God. XIII. The Sufficiency of God.
7,7,7,7. Sollt es denn bisweilen scheinen. [371]C. Titius.1641-1703. ...
The Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures to be the Only Rule of ...
... Article VII The Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures to Be the Only Rule of Faith?
The Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures to Be the Only Rule of Faith ...
Sufficiency of Pardon.
... Hymns, Book II HYMN 85 Sufficiency of pardon. CM Sufficiency of pardon. Why
does your face, ye humble souls,. Those mournful colors wear? ...
Psalm 16 Part 2 Christ's All-Sufficiency.
... THE PSALMS OF DAVID PSALM 16 PART 2 Christ's all-sufficiency. LM Christ's
all-sufficiency. How fast their guilt and sorrows rise. ...
Twelfth Sunday after Trinity. Not that we are Sufficient of ...
... Twelfth Sunday after Trinity. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think
anything as if of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God. ...
Thesaurus
Sufficiency (18 Occurrences)... 4. (n.) Supply equal to wants; ample stock or fund. 5. (n.) Conceit; self-confidence;
self-
sufficiency. Multi-Version Concordance
Sufficiency (18 Occurrences).
...All-sufficiency (1 Occurrence)
All-sufficiency. Alloyed, All-sufficiency. All-surpassing .
Multi-Version Concordance All-sufficiency (1 Occurrence). ...
Sufficient (28 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 3:5 not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as
from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God; (WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT). ...
Enough (655 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) A sufficiency; a quantity which satisfies desire, is adequate to the want,
or is equal to the power or ability; as, he had enough to do take care of ...
Distrust (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (vt) To feel lack of confidence in; not to confide in or rely upon; to deem of
questionable sufficiency or reality; to doubt; to be suspicious of; to ...
Adequacy (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The state or quality of being adequate, proportionate,
or sufficient; a sufficiency for a particular purpose; as, the adequacy ...
Supply (40 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To fill up, or keep full; to furnish with what is wanted; to afford, or
furnish with, a sufficiency; as, rivers are supplied by smaller streams; an ...
Plenty (43 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Full or adequate supply; enough and to spare; sufficiency; specifically,
abundant productiveness of the earth; ample supply for human wants; abundance ...
Abundance (194 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) An overflowing fullness; ample sufficiency; great
plenty; profusion; copious supply; superfluity; wealth: -- strictly applicable ...
Ascension (1 Occurrence)
... and Session are regarded as the culminating point of Christ's redemptive work (Hebrews
8:1), and at the same time the demonstration of the sufficiency of His ...
Resources
What is the doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture? What does it mean that the Bible is sufficient? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the rule of faith? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the differences between Catholics and Protestants? | GotQuestions.orgSufficiency: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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