A passionate ardour for any person or cause. There are various kinds of zeal; as,
1. An ignorant zeal, Romans 10:2; Romans 3:1-31 :
2. A persecuting zeal, Philippians 3:6 .
3. A superstitious zeal, 1 Kings 18:1-46 : Galatians 1:14 .
4. An hypocritical zeal, 2 Kings 10:16 .
5. A contentious zeal, 1 Corinthians 11:16 .
6. A partial zeal, Hosea 7:8 .
7. A temporary zeal, 2 Kings 12:1-21; 2 Kings 13:1-25 : Galatians 4:15-16 .
8. a genuine zeal, which is a sincere and warm concern for the glory of God, and the spiritual welfare of mankind. This is generally compounded of sound knowledge, strong faith, and disinterested regard; and will manifest itself by self-denial, patient endurance, and constant exertion.
The motives to true zeal are,
1. The divine command, Revelation 3:19 .
2. The example of Christ, Acts 10:38 .
3. The importance of the service of Christ.
4. The advantage and pleasure it brings to the possessor.
5. The instances and honourable commendation of it in the Scriptures: Moses, Phineas, Caleb, David, Paul, &c. Galatians 4:18 . Revelation 3:15 , &c. Titus 2:14 .
6. The incalculable good effects it produces on others, James 5:20 .
See Reynolds and Orton on Sacred Zeal; Evan's Christian Temper, ser. 37; Hughes's Sermon on Zeal; Mason's Christ. Mor. ser. 28.
Despite a stated reliance on the plain meaning of the Bible and the dictates of common sense, Buck's Theological Dictionary, first published in London in 1802, seeks to provide a textual basis for the evangelical community. By combining brief essays on orthodox belief and practice with historical entries on various denominations, Buck provided an interpretive lens that allowed antebellum Protestants to see Christianity's almost two millennia as their own history.Wikipedia
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