θέλημα
thelēma
will/desire
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word θέλημα (thelēma) is a concept that encompasses both the will and desire of an individual. With 63 occurrences in the Bible, it is a significant term that appears across various contexts. At its core, θέλημα refers to a strong inclination or intention, often driven by emotions or personal preferences. In the Bible, θέλημα is used to describe both positive and negative desires. For instance, it can refer to a person's desire for God or spiritual things (e.g., Matthew 22:37), but also to their sinful inclinations (e.g., Galatians 5:17). This dual nature highlights the complexity of human desires and the need for self-reflection and spiritual guidance. The frequency and versatility of θέλημα in the Bible underscore its importance in understanding human nature and the role of desires in shaping our lives. By examining this concept, we can gain insight into the human experience and the ongoing struggle between our desires and our values.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
63 total occurrences across the text — showing 50
Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 7:21Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 12:50For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
Matthew 18:14Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Matthew 21:31Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering into God’s Kingdom before you.
Matthew 26:42Again, a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup can’t pass away from me unless I drink it, your desire be done.”
Mark 3:35For whoever does the will of God is my brother, my sister, and mother.”
Luke 11:2He said to them, “When you pray, say, ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Luke 12:47That servant, who knew his lord’s will, and didn’t prepare, nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes,
Luke 12:47That servant, who knew his lord’s will, and didn’t prepare, nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes,
John 5:30I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous; because I don’t seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.
John 5:30I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous; because I don’t seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.
Luke 22:42saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
Luke 23:25He released him who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus up to their will.
John 1:13who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:13who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 4:34Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
John 6:38For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.
John 6:38For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.
John 6:39This is the will of my Father who sent me, that of all he has given to me I should lose nothing, but should raise him up at the last day.
John 6:40This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son, and believes in him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
John 7:17If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from God, or if I am speaking from myself.
John 9:31We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God, and does his will, he listens to him.
Acts 13:22When he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, to whom he also testified, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’
Acts 21:14When he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The Lord’s will be done.”
Acts 22:14He said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth.
Romans 1:10requesting, if by any means now at last I may be prospered by the will of God to come to you.
Romans 2:18know his will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,
Romans 12:2Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Romans 15:32that I may come to you in joy through the will of God, and together with you, find rest.
1 Corinthians 1:1Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
1 Corinthians 7:37But he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no urgency, but has power over his own will, and has determined in his own heart to keep his own virgin, does well.
1 Corinthians 16:12Now concerning Apollos, the brother, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers; and it was not at all his desire to come now; but he will come when he has an opportunity.
2 Corinthians 1:1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the assembly of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:
2 Corinthians 8:5This was not as we had expected, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.
Galatians 1:4who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father—
Ephesians 1:1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 1:5having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire,
Ephesians 1:9making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him
Ephesians 1:11We were also assigned an inheritance in him, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who does all things after the counsel of his will,
Ephesians 2:3We also all once lived among them in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
Ephesians 5:17Therefore don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Ephesians 6:6not in the way of service only when eyes are on you, as men pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
Colossians 1:1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
Colossians 1:9For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don’t cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
Colossians 4:12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
1 Thessalonians 4:3For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality,
1 Thessalonians 5:18In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.
2 Timothy 1:1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus,
2 Timothy 2:26and they may recover themselves out of the devil’s snare, having been taken captive by him to his will.