Page 588 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

SERPENT - SEVEN SPIRITS

salvation, but in reality it is the fruit of salvation. To and they are His servants forever (Ro. 6:16-20; 1 Co.
“hunger and thirst after righteousness” (Mt. 5:6) is the 21-23; Ga. 4:7; Re. 22:3). [See Deacon.]
change of life that follows salvation (Ep. 2:8-10). No SERVE THEMSELVES OF. To make use of; employ
sinner hungers after righteousness unless he has been (Je. 27:7; 30:8; Eze. 34:27).
regenerated (Titus 3:5). To be “pure in heart” (Mt. 5:8) SERVITOR. A servant; personal attendant (2 Ki.
requires the change that follows salvation (Acts 15:9). It 4:43).
is impossible for the sinner to be pure in heart until he
is born again, because the heart is naturally deceitful SET. (1) To put; place; fix; attach to (Ge. 1:17; Mt.
and wicked (Je. 17:9). The “peacemakers” (Mt. 5:9) are 5:14). (2) Fixed (Ge. 17:21; 21:2; Ec. 8:11; Ac. 12:21).
those who have first found peace with God (Ro. 5:1). (3) Seated (Mt. 5:1). (4) To dim; to darken; to
The World Council of Churches ecumenists and others extinguish (1 Ki. 14:4). (5) To be against; to be fixed in
who teach that peacemakers in general are the children opposition (Eze. 24:2). (6) To put in a position or estate
of God are taking this passage out of context and are (De. 28:1).
ignoring the rest of the Bible. Apart from salvation in SET AT NOUGHT. [See Naught, Set At.]
Jesus Christ, sinners are children of the devil (Jn. 8:44). SET BY. To value; esteem (1 Sa. 18:30; Ps. 15:4).
The sinner is adopted into God’s family only through SET FORTH. (1) To promote; further; set off to
faith in Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:12; Ga. 3:26; Ep. 1:5). There advantage; to publish; declare; put forward prominently
is no true peace to the wicked (Isaiah 48:22; 57;21). (Eze. 27:10; Jude 7). (2) To set out on a journey (Nu.
The peacemakers of this world who are not committed 2:9).
to the Bible are false prophets (1 Th. 5:3). (For more SET FORWARD. To further; promote (1 Ch. 23:4; 2
about the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount see the Ch. 34:12; Ezr. 3:8-9; Job 30:13).
Way of Life Advanced Bible Studies Series course “The SET ON. To attack; instigate; incite; animate to
Four Gospels.) action (Ac. 18:10).
SERPENT. (1) A snake (Ex. 4:3; 7:9-15; De. 8:15; SET THE BATTLE IN ARRAY. Place troops in fighting
32:24; Nu. 21:6-9; Mt. 7:10; Mk. 16:18; 1 Co. 10:9; Ja. order (1 Sa. 17:2). [See Military.]
3:7). “The Hebrew word most commonly translated
serpent is nachash, agreeing with ophis in the N.T., so SET THEM AT ONE. Reconcile (Ac. 7:26).
called because of its ‘hissing’” (Concise). Types of SET TO HIS SEAL. To affix a seal, as a seal of
serpents alluded to in Scripture are the “cockatrice” (Is. authenticity; to have confidence that something is true
11:8), the “adder” (Ge. 49:17; Ps. 58:4; 91:13; 140:3; (Jn. 3:33).
Pr. 23:32), the “asp” (De. 32:33; Job. 20:14, 16; Is. SETH (substituted). Through Adam’s son Seth, God
11:8; Ro. 3:13), and the “viper” (Is. 30:6; 59:5; Mt. 3:7; continued the godly seed and the genealogy of Jesus
12:34; 23:33; Ac. 28:3). (2) Satan (Ge. 3:1; Re. 12:9; 2 Christ (Ge. 4:25, 26; 5:3-22; Lk. 3:38). [See Genealogy.]
Co. 11:3). (3) The dragon (De. 32:33; Ps. 91:13). In SETHUR (a hiding place). Nu. 13:13.
these passages the dragon is used in poetic parallel to SETTER FORTH. A proclaimer; one who publishes or
the adder or asp. (4) Leviathan (Is. 27:1). (5) The propounds; a teacher (Ac. 18:10).
serpent is frequently used to describe some
characteristic in man and devils (Ge. 49:17; Ps. 58:4; SETTLE. (1) To fix; establish; place in a permanent
140:3; Pr. 23:32; 30:19; Je. 46:22; Mi. 7:17; Mt. 3:7; position (1 Ch. 17:14). (2) A bench or seat (Eze. 43:14,
10:16; 12:34; 23:33; Ro. 3:13). [See Adder, Asp, Brass 17, 20; 45:19).
Serpent, Dragon, Leviathan, Satan.] SEVEN SPIRITS. The phrase “the seven Spirits of
SERUG (binding). Ge. 11:20. God” in Revelation 3:1; 4:5; 5:6 is explained by
comparing Scripture with Scripture. The figurative
SERVANT. The servant in Bible times referred to a language refers to the following things: (1) It refers to
hired servant (Ge. 24:2; Le. 25:39-41; De. 24:14-15; Ru. the omniscience of the Holy Spirit. In Re. 4:5 the seven
2:5; 1 Sa. 9:5) or to a bond servant or slave who had Spirits are likened to lamps of fire, which refers to the
been sold into servitude (Ge. 37:28; Ex. 21:1-11; 22:3; Holy Spirit’s impartation of understanding to all of the
Le. 25:44-47) or had been captured (2 Ki. 5:2). The creation. We also see this in Isaiah 11:2-3, where the
New Testament gives many instructions to servants (Ep. Spirit of God is the spirit of wisdom, understanding, and
6:5-8; Co. 3:22-25; 1 Ti. 6:1; Tit. 2:9-10; 1 Pe. 2:18). counsel. Seven is the number of perfection in the Bible,
When the Apostles described themselves as a “servant of so the Spirit’s understanding is perfect and infinite. (2)
Jesus Christ,” they were referring to themselves as His It refers to the omnipresence of the Spirit. In Re. 5:6 the
humble bond servants (Ro. 1:1; Ph. 1:1; Col. 4:12; Tit. seven Spirits are “sent forth into all the earth.” The Holy
1:1; Ja. 1:1; 2 Pe. 1:1; Jude 1). Christ has purchased His Spirit is everywhere present on the earth. (3) The seven
people from the slave market of sin with His own blood, Spirits also refers to the seven characteristics or works

588 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity