What is the Bible heart?
Introduction. The Bible has over 600 references to the heart. Mr. Vine comments on the Greek term "kardia", one noun translated heart, as follows: "The chief organ of physical life, 'for the life of the flesh is in the blood,' Lev. 17: 11, occupies the most important place in the human system. By an easy transition the word came to stand for man's entire mental and moral activity, both the rational and the emotional elements" (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words).
The Bible heart consists of four elements, if you will. The heart has emotion (John 14: 1, Matt. 5: 28), will or volition (Ex. 35: 5), the intellect (John 12: 40, Rom. 1: 21), and the conscience (Acts 2: 37). All four of these elements are essential. Man is to "obey from the heart that form of doctrine..." (Rom. 6: 17). To "obey from the heart..." involves will and emotion while to obey "that form of doctrine" or the truth requires the intellect to understand and determine the form of doctrine taught. When one is baptized (involved in the "form" per Rom. 6: 1-17), one is experiencing "the answer of a good conscience toward God" (1 Pet. 3: 20, 21).
Bible facts relative to the spiritual heart. God's acceptance of man is based on the whole heart (Ps. 9: 1, Prov. 3: 5), God knows the secrets of the heart (Ps. 44: 20, 21), and God's law must be in our heart (Ps. 37: 27-31). Man is taught to keep his heart (Prov. 4: 23), and to be of a pure heart (Matt. 5: 8, 2 Tim. 2: 22). The Bible teaches that our speech mirrors our heart (Matt. 12: 31-35). The heart is urgently important, but the heart can be wrong if not guided by God's word (Prov. 28: 26).
Bible teaches heart-felt service to God. However, the Bible also teaches the involvement of the whole heart, not just emotions alone. The intellect must guide our emotions, for instance.
The Bible heart consists of four elements, if you will. The heart has emotion (John 14: 1, Matt. 5: 28), will or volition (Ex. 35: 5), the intellect (John 12: 40, Rom. 1: 21), and the conscience (Acts 2: 37). All four of these elements are essential. Man is to "obey from the heart that form of doctrine..." (Rom. 6: 17). To "obey from the heart..." involves will and emotion while to obey "that form of doctrine" or the truth requires the intellect to understand and determine the form of doctrine taught. When one is baptized (involved in the "form" per Rom. 6: 1-17), one is experiencing "the answer of a good conscience toward God" (1 Pet. 3: 20, 21).
Bible facts relative to the spiritual heart. God's acceptance of man is based on the whole heart (Ps. 9: 1, Prov. 3: 5), God knows the secrets of the heart (Ps. 44: 20, 21), and God's law must be in our heart (Ps. 37: 27-31). Man is taught to keep his heart (Prov. 4: 23), and to be of a pure heart (Matt. 5: 8, 2 Tim. 2: 22). The Bible teaches that our speech mirrors our heart (Matt. 12: 31-35). The heart is urgently important, but the heart can be wrong if not guided by God's word (Prov. 28: 26).
Bible teaches heart-felt service to God. However, the Bible also teaches the involvement of the whole heart, not just emotions alone. The intellect must guide our emotions, for instance.