Purpose
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words [1]
"a purpose or will" (akin to boulomai, "to will, wish, purpose"), "a deliberate intention," occurs in Acts 27:43 , "purpose;" Romans 9:19 , "will;" 1—Peter 4:3 , in the best mss. (some have thelema), AV, "will," RV, "desire." See Will.
"a setting forth" (used of the "showbread"), "a purpose" (akin to B, No. 3), is used (a) of the "purposes of God," Romans 8:28; 9:11; Ephesians 1:11; 3:11; 2—Timothy 1:9; (b) of "human purposes," as to things material, Acts 27:13; spiritual, Acts 11:23; 2—Timothy 3:10 . See Shewbread.
"an opinion, purpose, judgement," is used in the genitive case with ginomai, "to come to be," in Acts 20:3 , "he purposed," AV (RV, "he determined"), lit., "he came to be of purpose."
Romans 9:17 Ephesians 6:22 Colossians 4:8 Acts 26:16 1—John 3:8 Matthew 26:8 Mark 14:4
"to take counsel, resolve," always in the Middle Voice in the NT, "to take counsel with oneself," to determine with oneself, is translated "I purpose" in 2—Corinthians 1:17 (twice). See Counsel , B, No. 1.
"to put, place," is used in the Middle Voice in Acts 19:21 , "purposed," in the sense of resolving.
"to set before, set forth" (pro, "before," and No. 2, akin to A, No. 2), is used in Romans 3:25 , "set forth," RV marg., "purposed," AV marg., "foreordained," Middle Voice, which lays stress upon the personal interest which God had in so doing; either meaning, "to set forth" or "to purpose," would convey a scriptural view, but the context bears out the former as being intended here; in Romans 1:13 , "I purposed;" Ephesians 1:9 , "He purposed (in Him)," RV. See Set.
"to make," is translated "He purposed" in Ephesians 3:11 (for the noun prothesis, in the same verse, see A, No. 2). See Do , No. 1.
"to bring forth or forward," or, in the Middle Voice, "to take by choice, prefer, purpose," is translated "He hath purposed" in 2—Corinthians 9:7 , RV (AV, "he purposed").
Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology [2]
(Heb. yaas [ Proverbs 19:21; 20:5; Isaiah 46:10-11; Jeremiah 32:19 ). God's plans stand firm forever ( Psalm 33:11 ); his purpose will stand ( Isaiah 46:10 ). What God intends, what he has in mind, what he purposes and plans, what he pleasesthese together give the basis for a theology of history. God stands in the center of history as One who Acts. He has a goal in what he does. Nothing can thwart his plan. His purpose is consistently related to what he does in the world.
Two key passages in Isaiah reveal how God will carry out his purpose to deliver his people from darkness and oppression. Isaiah 9:6 refers to the "Wonderful Counselor" who will reign on David's throne and administer justice and righteousness forever. Isaiah 11:2 refers to the stump of Jesse who will be given "the Spirit of counsel and of power."
The New Testament . While David served God's purpose as ruler over Israel ( Acts 13:36 ), the Pharisees and legal experts reject God's purpose for them and refuse to submit to John's baptism ( Luke 7:30 ).
It was by God's set purpose and foreknowledge that Jesus was handed over to death at the hands of wicked people ( Acts 2:23 ). His power and will decided that critical, necessary salvific event beforehand (4:28).
A key passage is Epheisans 1:9-11. Paul explains that God works out everythingbrings all things under Christin conformity with the purpose of his will. The whole economy of God is linked with his purpose.
Paul understands that the believer's part in the people of God is not an accident or random phenomenon, but part of the divine purpose from the very beginning of time ( Romans 8:28-29 ). God's purpose is specifically characterized by the words "foreknew" and "predestined."
The good pleasure that God purposed in Christ has now been put into effect and will be seen in its completion when he sums up all things in Christ. In the meantime, however, God has called his people to live a holy life because of his own purpose and gracea grace given before the beginning of time in Christ Jesus, but now revealed in the Savior's appearing.
Walter M. Dunnett
See also Foreknowledge; Predestination
King James Dictionary [3]
PUR'POSE, n. L. propositum, propono pro, before,and pono, to set or place.
1. That which a person sets before himself as an object to be reached or accomplished the end or aim to which the view is directed in any plan, measure or exertion. We believe the Supreme Being created intelligent beings for some benevolent and glorious purpose, and if so, how glorious and benevolent must be his purpose in the plan of redemption! The ambition of men is generally directed to one of two purposes, or to both the acquisition of wealth or of power. We build houses for the purpose of shelter we labor for the purpose of subsistence. 2. Intention design. This sense, however, is hardly to be distinguished from the former as purpose always includes the end in view.
Every purpose is established by counsel. Proverbs 20
Being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. Ephesians 1
3. End effect consequence, good or bad. What good purpose will this answer? We sometimes labor to no purpose. Men often employ their time, talents and money for very evil purposes.
To what purpose is this waste? Matthew 26
4. Instance example. Not in use. 5. Conversation. Not in use.
Of purpose, on purpose, with previous design with the mind directed to that object. On purpose is more generally used, but the true phrase is of purpose.
PUR'POSE,v.t. To intend to design to resolve to determine on some end or object to be accomplished.
I have purposed it,I will also do it. Isaiah 46; Ephesians 3
Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem. Acts 19 .
Webster's Dictionary [4]
(1): ( n.) Proposal to another; discourse.
(2): ( n.) Instance; example.
(3): ( v. t.) To set forth; to bring forward.
(4): ( v. i.) To have a purpose or intention; to discourse.
(5): ( n.) That which a person sets before himself as an object to be reached or accomplished; the end or aim to which the view is directed in any plan, measure, or exertion; view; aim; design; intention; plan.
(6): ( v. t.) To propose, as an aim, to one's self; to determine upon, as some end or object to be accomplished; to intend; to design; to resolve; - often followed by an infinitive or dependent clause.
