Ever crack open your Bible and come across a weird old word like “quicken” that makes you scratch your head? Yeah, those antique terms can be confusing! But don’t worry, we’ll explore exactly what it means when the Bible talks about being “quickened.” This is gonna be an eye-opening look at a phrase you’ve probably seen before but never really understood.
In just a few minutes, you’ll be an expert on this odd biblical word.
Get ready to find out what it’s all about as we dive into the original meaning of “quicken” and how it applies to your faith today.
You may be surprised by what these verses are saying.
So buckle up and get ready to learn something new from that good ol’ book!
The Definition of “Quicken” in the Bible
In the Bible, the word “quicken” means to give life or restore life.
To quicken is to revive or make alive.
Several verses use “quicken” to refer to God giving spiritual life to those who were once dead in sin.
For example, Ephesians 2:1 says, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.”
God Quickeneth All Things
God is the source of all life, and He can quicken and revive.
According to 1 Timothy 6:13, God “quickeneth all things.” He gives life to all creation.
The Psalmist also declares in Psalm 71:20 that God “shall quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.” This signifies God’s power over life and death.
A Prayer to be Quickeneth
The psalmist prays in Psalm 119:25, “My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.” He asks God to revive and refresh him according to His promise.
In Psalm 80:18, the psalmist pleads, “So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.” The people ask God to restore them to life and vitality so they can worship Him.
Quicken Your Mortal Bodies
God will one day quicken even our mortal bodies.
Romans 8:11 says, “But if the Spirit of him that raised Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Though our earthly bodies die and decay, God will revive them by the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.
What an amazing promise of eternal life!
Old Testament Usages of “Quicken”
In the Old Testament, the word “quicken” means to revive or make alive.
It often refers to God giving life or reviving people physically, spiritually, or nationally.
Physical Life
God is frequently described as the one who “quickens” or gives life.
For example, in 1 Samuel 2:6, Hannah proclaims that “the Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.” The Psalmist also declares that God “quickeneth the dead and calleth those things which be not as though they were” (Romans 4:17).
Spiritual Life
The Old Testament also uses “quicken” to describe God reviving people spiritually or giving them new spiritual life.
The psalmist, for example, prays “quicken me according to thy word” (Psalm 119:25).
He asks God to give him a new spiritual life and vitality according to His word.
National Life
God also promises to “quicken” or revive the nation of Israel.
In Hosea 6:2, God says through the prophet “After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us, and we shall live in his sight.” Here, God promises to revive and restore the nation after a period of judgment.
So in summary, to “quicken” in the Old Testament means to make alive, revive, or give new life, whether physically, spiritually, or nationally.
It highlights God as the giver of life in all senses.
With a proper understanding of this word, many passages in the Old Testament come alive with new meaning and depth.
New Testament Usages of “Quicken”
In the New Testament, the word “quicken” is used to convey the idea of making alive or giving life.
When the Bible talks about God quickening us, it means He makes us alive spiritually by breathing new life into our mortal bodies.
Jesus is the Source of New Life
According to the Gospel of John, Jesus said, “The Son gives life to whom He will.” (John 5:21) Jesus demonstrated this power by raising people from the dead, such as Lazarus.
But Jesus also breathed into His disciples the Holy Spirit, who gives us new life in Him.
Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “You has He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” (Ephesians 2:1) Before we knew Christ, we were spiritually dead, but now we have been made alive in Him.
This is the quickening power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
The Spirit Transforms Us
The Holy Spirit works in us to transform us into the image of Christ.
Paul said, “If the Spirit of Him that raised Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.” (Romans 8:11)
The Spirit quickens us by transforming our hearts and minds.
As we yield to His promptings, He helps us put to death the deeds of the flesh and walk in the newness of life.
We become new creations in Christ, having new desires and purposes.
This is what it means for the Spirit to quicken our mortal bodies.
The Bible teaches that while we were once dead in sin, Christ has made us alive by the power of His Spirit.
His Spirit breathes new life into us each day as we walk with Him.
This “quickening” transforms us from the inside out, conforming us to the image of Christ.
What an amazing gift to receive new life in Him!
Theological Significance of Being “Quickened”
In the Bible, to be “quickened” means to be made alive spiritually.
When you accept Jesus as your savior, your spirit is quickened, or brought to life.
Before this, your spirit is dead in sin and separated from God.
But through faith in Christ, you are born again and your dead spirit is made alive.
A New Creation
When you are quickened, you become a new creation in Christ.
The old you die, and you are resurrected with Jesus into new life.
As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things become new.” Your old sinful nature is gone, and you now have the mind of Christ.
Indwelt by the Holy Spirit
When your spirit is quickened, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within you.
You are sealed with the Holy Spirit, who acts as a guarantee of your salvation and inheritance in Christ.
The Spirit’s presence signifies you belong to God and are united with Christ.
As Paul says in Romans 8:11, “But if the Spirit of him that raised Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
Eternal Life
To be quickened means you have eternal, spiritual life.
Though your physical body will die, your quickened spirit will live on.
Jesus said, “And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:28).
Because your spirit is alive in Christ, you have the promise of eternal life in Heaven.
When you understand the depth of what it means to be quickened, you can’t help but praise God for His amazing grace and mercy in bringing you from death to life through faith in His Son.
Your quickened spirit is a gift that should fill you with hope, joy, and purpose.
Common Questions About “Quicken” in Scripture
The Bible mentions being “quickened” or made alive by the Spirit many times.
What exactly does it mean to be quickened? Here are some common questions about this concept:
What does “quicken” mean in the Bible?
To “quicken” means to make alive or give life.
When the Bible talks about God quickening us, it means He is making us alive spiritually by imparting eternal life through the Holy Spirit.
Without this quickening, we are “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1).
How does God quicken us?
God quickens us by his grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
When we believe in Christ, we are born again of the Spirit and made alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:5).
The Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us, sealing us for eternity.
This is the new birth Jesus told Nicodemus he needed (John 3:3).
What happens when we are quickened?
When we are quickened by the Spirit, we become new creations in Christ.
We receive a new heart and new spirit, and God’s laws are written on our hearts (Ezekiel 36:26).
We gain an understanding of spiritual things and develop a desire to please God.
Our priorities, desires, and purposes in life change as the Spirit leads us.
What is the result of being quickened?
As quickened believers, we walk in “newness of life” by the power of the Spirit (Romans 6:4).
We become salt and light in the world, bearing the fruits of the Spirit like love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
We fulfill the good works God prepared for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).
Most importantly, we have eternal life and a home in heaven when we die!
Being quickened by the Spirit is a gift of God’s grace.
It breathes life into our mortal bodies and gives a foretaste of the resurrection to come.
What a blessing to be made alive in Christ!
