Preparation is a recurring theme in the Bible, emphasizing the importance of readiness and forethought in spiritual, physical, and communal aspects of life. The concept of preparation is woven throughout Scripture, illustrating the necessity of being prepared for both temporal and eternal matters.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, preparation often involves physical readiness and obedience to God's commands. For instance, the Israelites were instructed to prepare for the Passover by selecting a lamb and following specific guidelines (Exodus 12:3-11). This act of preparation was not only a physical task but also a spiritual exercise in obedience and remembrance of God's deliverance.

The preparation of the heart is another significant aspect, as seen in the life of King David. In 1 Chronicles 29:18-19, David prays for his son Solomon, asking God to prepare Solomon's heart to keep His commandments and build the temple. This highlights the importance of spiritual preparation in fulfilling God's purposes.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, preparation takes on a heightened spiritual significance, particularly in the teachings of Jesus. The parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) underscores the necessity of being spiritually prepared for the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven. The wise virgins, who brought extra oil for their lamps, are commended for their foresight and readiness, while the foolish virgins are left unprepared and excluded from the wedding feast.

John the Baptist's ministry is another example of preparation, as he calls people to repentance to prepare the way for the Lord (Matthew 3:1-3). His message emphasizes the need for spiritual readiness to receive the Messiah.

Preparation for Service

Preparation is also essential for service in God's kingdom. The Apostle Paul, in his letters, often speaks of being prepared for every good work. In 2 Timothy 2:21, he writes, "If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master, and prepared to do any good work." This preparation involves sanctification and dedication to God's service.

Eschatological Preparation

The theme of preparation extends to eschatological readiness, as believers are called to be prepared for the return of Christ. In 1 Peter 1:13, believers are exhorted to "prepare your minds for action, be sober-minded, and set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." This preparation involves a vigilant and hopeful anticipation of Christ's second coming.

Practical Applications

Preparation in the biblical sense is both a spiritual discipline and a practical necessity. It involves prayer, study of Scripture, and a lifestyle of obedience and holiness. Believers are encouraged to prepare their hearts and minds, to be ready for service, and to live in anticipation of Christ's return. The biblical call to preparation is a reminder of the importance of readiness in all aspects of life, ensuring that one is equipped to fulfill God's purposes and to stand firm in faith.Preparation

The day on which our Savior was crucified was called the "day of preparation," or "the preparation of the Passover," as preceding the Passover Sabbath, which commend at sunset, Matthew 27:62; John 19:31.

1. (n.) The act of preparing or fitting beforehand for a particular purpose, use, service, or condition; previous arrangement or adaptation; a making ready; as, the preparation of land for a crop of wheat; the preparation of troops for a campaign.

2. (n.) The state of being prepared or made ready; preparedness; readiness; fitness; as, a nation in good preparation for war.

3. (n.) That which makes ready, prepares the way, or introduces; a preparatory act or measure.

4. (n.) That which is prepared, made, or compounded by a certain process or for a particular purpose; a combination. Specifically: (a) Any medicinal substance fitted for use. (b) Anything treated for preservation or examination as a specimen. (c) Something prepared for use in cookery.

5. (n.) An army or fleet.

6. (n.) The holding over of a note from one chord into the next chord, where it forms a temporary discord, until resolved in the chord that follows; the anticipation of a discordant note in the preceding concord, so that the ear is prepared for the shock. See Suspension.

7. (n.) Accomplishment; qualification.

PREPARATION

prep-a-ra'-shun: The concordances indicate that the word "preparation" occurs only twice in the Old Testament, once in 1 Chronicles 22:5, where it is used in the ordinary sense "to make preparation," and once in Nahum 2:3, "in the day of his preparation," both of them translating the same Hebrew root and requiring no special elucidation. In Ephesians 6:15 the apostle speaks of the equipment of the Christian as including the "feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace," which means, according to Thayer, "with the promptitude and alacrity which the gospel produces."

The word occurs with technical significance ("the Preparation") in the gospel narratives of the crucifixion, translating the Greek paraskeue (Matthew 27:62 Mark 15:42 Luke 23:54 John 19:14, 31, 42). It is used as a technical term indicating the day of the preparation for the Sabbath, that is, the evening of Friday. This is its use in Josephus, Ant, XVI, vi, 2, and presumably in the Synoptics. Later its use seems to have been extended to denote regularly the 6th day (Friday) of each week. So in the Didache, viii and the Martyrdom of Polycarp, vii.

The addition of the phrase tou pascha, "of the passover," in John 19:14, and of the phrase "for the day of that sabbath was a high day," in 19:31, seems to indicate that the author of the Fourth Gospel regarded the Passover as occurring on the Sabbath in the year of the crucifixion. This is clearly the natural interpretation of the words of John's Gospel, and if it were not for the seeming contradiction to the narrative of the Synoptics it is very doubtful whether any other interpretation would ever have been put upon them. This question is discussed in the articles on the date of the crucifixion and the Lord's Supper, and it will be necessary only to allude to it here.

It is possible that the phrase the "Preparation of the passover" in John 19:14 may mean it was the preparation day (Friday) of the Passover week (see Andrews, Life of our Lord, 451;; and most recently Zahn, Das Evangelium des Johannes, 1908, 637;). This method of harmonizing seems to the present writer to be forced, and it therefore seems wiser to give to the words of John 19:14 their natural interpretation, and to maintain that, according to the author of the Fourth Gospel, the Passover had not been celebrated at the time of the crucifixion. There seems to be reason to believe that the ordinary view that the Lord's Supper was instituted in connection with the Passover, based upon the narrative in Mark (14:12;), does not have the unanimous support of the Synoptic Gospels.

LITERATURE.

In addition to references in the body of the article, the commentaries, especially Plummer, Cambridge Bible, "St. John," Appendix A; Allen, ICC, "St. Matthew," 270-74; Godet, Commentary on the New Testament; Gospel of John, English translation, New York, 1886, II, 378, 379; and the significant articles on the interpretation of Luke 22:15, 16 by Burkitt and Brooke, Journal of Theological Studies, IX, 569;, and by Box, ib, X, 106.

Walter R. Betteridge

3904. paraskeue -- preparation, the day of preparation (for a ...
... preparation, the day of preparation (for a Sabbath or feast). Part of Speech: Noun,
Feminine Transliteration: paraskeue Phonetic Spelling: (par-ask-yoo-ay ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3904.htm - 6k

2091. hetoimasia -- preparation
... preparation. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: hetoimasia Phonetic
Spelling: (het-oy-mas-ee'-ah) Short Definition: preparation, readiness ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2091.htm - 6k

1780. entaphiasmos -- preparation for burial
... preparation for burial. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: entaphiasmos
Phonetic Spelling: (en-taf-ee-as-mos') Short Definition: embalming ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1780.htm - 6k

3487. nardos -- nard, ointment of nard
... 3487 -- nard (spikenard); an Indian plant, "used for the preparation of a fragrant
ointment; Mk 14:3; Jn 12:3" (). When refined, nard is a "perfume, made ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3487.htm - 6k

8499. tekunah -- arrangement, preparation, fixed place
... 8498, 8499. tekunah. 8500 . arrangement, preparation, fixed place. Transliteration:
tekunah Phonetic Spelling: (tek-oo-naw') Short Definition: seat. ...
/hebrew/8499.htm - 6k

3559. kun -- to be firm
... made it ready (1), made preparations (1), made provision (1), made...preparations
(1), made...ready (1), maintain his position (1), make preparation (1), make ...
/hebrew/3559.htm - 7k

4633. maarak -- an arrangement
... preparation. From arak; an arrangement, ie (figuratively) mental disposition --
preparation. see HEBREW arak. 4632, 4633. maarak. 4634 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/4633.htm - 6k

Of Preparation.
... I. Of Preparation. ... Fourthly, Because it has been ever the practice of all God's saints,
to use holy preparation before they would meddle with divine mysteries. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bayly/the practice of piety/i of preparation.htm

Preparation for Worship
... HYMNS OF THE EARLY CHURCH Preparation for Worship. 8,6,8,6 Preparation for Worship.
How shall we climb the hill of God,. And stand before His face". ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the early church/preparation for worship.htm

Preparation for Revival
... Preparation for Revival. A Sermon (No.597). Delivered on Sunday October 30th, 1864
by. CH SPURGEON,. At the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 10 1864/preparation for revival.htm

Whether Circumcision was a Preparation For, and a Figure of ...
... OF CIRCUMCISION (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether circumcision was a preparation
for, and a figure of Baptism? Objection 1: It seems that ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether circumcision was a preparation.htm

The Holy Communion the Preparation.
... The Holy Communion The Preparation. I. The Preparation. 10,9,10,7,5,8,8,8,8,5. Herr
Jesu Christe mein getreuer Hirte. [205]Johann Heermann.1630. ...
/.../the holy communion the preparation.htm

Whether a Preparation or Disposition for Grace is Required on the ...
... Article Two Whether a Preparation or Disposition for Grace is required on
the part of man. Whether a Preparation or Disposition for ...
/.../aquinas/nature and grace/article two whether a preparation.htm

The Preparation of Punishment is the Act of the Divine Pleasure...
... THESIS 17 The preparation of punishment is the act of the divine pleasure?
The preparation of punishment is the act of the divine ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 3/thesis 17 the preparation of.htm

On the Preparation of a Burial Ground.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN CCCIII. On the Preparation of a Burial Ground. 8.8.8.8
James Montgomery. On the Preparation of a Burial Ground. ...
/.../montgomery/sacred poems and hymns/hymn ccciii on the preparation.htm

The Preparation of the Heart.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN LXV. The Preparation of the Heart. 8.6.8.6 James Montgomery.
The Preparation of the Heart. Lord, teach us how to pray aright,. ...
/.../montgomery/sacred poems and hymns/hymn lxv the preparation of.htm

Preparation for Heaven.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN CCXXVII. Preparation for Heaven. 8.8.8.8 James Montgomery.
Preparation for Heaven. Heaven is a place of rest from sin; ...
/.../montgomery/sacred poems and hymns/hymn ccxxvii preparation for heaven.htm

Preparation (28 Occurrences)
... or fitting beforehand for a particular purpose, use, service, or condition; previous
arrangement or adaptation; a making ready; as, the preparation of land for ...
/p/preparation.htm - 19k

Preparation-day (1 Occurrence)
Preparation-day. Preparation, Preparation-day. Preparations .
Multi-Version Concordance Preparation-day (1 Occurrence). ...
/p/preparation-day.htm - 6k

Amos (12 Occurrences)
... a'-mos (`amoc, "burdensome" or "burden-bearer"; Amos): I. THE PROPHET 1. Name 2.
Native Place 3. Personal History 4. His Preparation (1) Knowledge of God (2 ...
/a/amos.htm - 44k

Elisha (70 Occurrences)
... God is salvalion"; Septuagint Eleisaie; New Testament Elisaios, Eliseus, (Luke
4:27 the King James Version): Contents I. HIS CALL AND PREPARATION 1. His Call 2 ...
/e/elisha.htm - 61k

Providence (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) The act of providing or preparing for
future use or application; a making ready; preparation. ...
/p/providence.htm - 44k

Preparations (16 Occurrences)
... house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnificent, of fame
and of glory throughout all countries; I will therefore make preparation for him ...
/p/preparations.htm - 11k

Exploration
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. PALESTINE EXPLORATION. (as of 1915) " Preliminary
Consideration I. ERA OF PREPARATION 1. Outside of ... I. Era of Preparation. ...
/e/exploration.htm - 38k

Precious (128 Occurrences)
... of the breastplate were made from Hebrew texts absolutely identical in respect of
the names of the stones with those used for the preparation of the English ...
/p/precious.htm - 71k

Great (10383 Occurrences)
... 2. His Preparation for His Career: He was also preparing his son for his
career. Alexander was, partly no doubt from being the pupil ...
/g/great.htm - 35k

Wash (105 Occurrences)
... 20. (n.) A liquid preparation for the hair; as, a hair wash. 21. (n.) A medical
preparation in a liquid form for external application; a lotion. 22. ...
/w/wash.htm - 45k

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