Topical Bible: Distribution

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the context of the Bible, "distribution" often refers to the allocation or sharing of resources, goods, or responsibilities among individuals or groups. This concept is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, reflecting God's provision, justice, and the communal life of His people.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, distribution is frequently associated with the division of land and resources among the tribes of Israel. After the Israelites entered the Promised Land, Joshua was responsible for distributing the land among the twelve tribes (Joshua 13-21). This distribution was not merely a logistical task but a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 12:7).

The concept of distribution also appears in the laws concerning the Year of Jubilee, where land was to be returned to its original owners every fifty years (Leviticus 25:8-17). This ensured that no family would permanently lose their inheritance, reflecting God's concern for justice and equity.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, distribution takes on a communal and charitable aspect, particularly in the early Church. The Book of Acts describes how the early Christians shared their possessions and distributed resources to those in need. Acts 4:34-35 states, "There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales, and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need."

The appointment of the seven deacons in Acts 6:1-6 was a response to the need for fair distribution of food to the widows, ensuring that the Greek-speaking widows were not overlooked in the daily distribution. This event highlights the importance of equitable distribution and the role of church leadership in managing resources.

Spiritual and Theological Implications

Distribution in the Bible is not merely about material goods but also involves the distribution of spiritual gifts. The Apostle Paul speaks of the distribution of spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit for the edification of the Church (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). Each believer receives gifts according to God's sovereign will, emphasizing the diversity and unity within the body of Christ.

Furthermore, the principle of distribution reflects God's character as a provider and sustainer. Jesus' feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 14:13-21) and the four thousand (Matthew 15:32-39) are miraculous examples of divine distribution, where limited resources are multiplied to meet the needs of the people.

Practical Application

The biblical principle of distribution calls believers to practice generosity, stewardship, and justice. Christians are encouraged to share their resources with those in need, reflecting the love and provision of God. The Apostle Paul exhorts the church in Galatians 6:10 , "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith."

In summary, distribution in the Bible encompasses the sharing of land, resources, and spiritual gifts, underscoring themes of justice, community, and divine provision. It challenges believers to live out their faith through acts of generosity and stewardship, mirroring the character of God in their daily lives.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) The act of distributing or dispensing; the act of dividing or apportioning among several or many; apportionment; as, the distribution of an estate among heirs or children.

2. (n.) Separation into parts or classes; arrangement of anything into parts; disposition; classification.

3. (n.) That which is distributed.

4. (n.) A resolving a whole into its parts.

5. (n.) The sorting of types and placing them in their proper boxes in the cases.

6. (n.) The steps or operations by which steam is supplied to and withdrawn from the cylinder at each stroke of the piston; viz., admission, suppression or cutting off, release or exhaust, and compression of exhaust steam prior to the next admission.

Greek

3311. merismos -- a dividing, distribution
... a dividing, distribution. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: merismos
Phonetic Spelling: (mer-is-mos') Short Definition: a distribution ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3311.htm - 7k

1243. diairesis -- a division
... of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: diairesis Phonetic Spelling:
(dee-ah'-ee-res-is) Short Definition: division, distribution, difference, distinction ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1243.htm - 7k

2596. kata -- down, against, according to
... In composition it retains many of these applications, and frequently denotes
opposition, distribution, or intensity. (kath) -- 61 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2596.htm - 9k

1266. diamerizo -- to distribute, to divide
... cloven, divided. From dia and merizo; to partition thoroughly (literally in
distribution, figuratively in dissension) -- cloven, divide, part. see GREEK dia. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1266.htm - 7k

1909. epi -- on, upon
... A primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order,
etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), ie Over, upon ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1909.htm - 8k

2842. koinonia -- fellowship
... ie (literally) participation, or (social) intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction --
(to) communicate(-ation), communion, (contri-)distribution, fellowship. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2842.htm - 7k

2818. kleronomos -- an heir
... Lot-casting determined land allotments (distribution) related to inheritance, as
well as to "title-deeds, legacy, inheritance, heritable estate" ().]. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2818.htm - 7k

4985. somatikos -- bodily
... from 4983 , "body") -- (used only in Col 2:9). It refers to "Christ's of the ('fullness
of God'), as contrasted with its supposed distribution through other ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4985.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

2515. chaluqqah -- part, portion
... Word Origin from chalaq Definition part, portion NASB Word Usage division (1). division.
Feminine of challuq; a distribution -- division. see HEBREW challuq. ...
/hebrew/2515.htm - 6k

Library

The Distribution of Talents
... L THE DISTRIBUTION OF TALENTS. Matthew xxv.14-30. The parable of the talents takes
up the side of life which is not emphasized in the parable of the sower. ...
/.../peabody/mornings in the college chapel/l the distribution of talents.htm

Varro's Distribution of his Book which He Composed Concerning the ...
... Book VI. Chapter 3."Varro's Distribution of His Book Which He Composed
Concerning the Antiquities of Human and Divine Things. ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 3 varros distribution of his.htm

God's Distribution must Regulate Our Desires, Otherwise we Become ...
... Book I. Chapter IX."God's Distribution Must Regulate Our Desires, Otherwise
We Become the Prey of Ambition and Its Attendant Evils. ...
/.../on the apparel of women/chapter ix gods distribution must regulate.htm

Of the Distribution of the Keys, and their Power, or of the ...
... II. Of the Distribution of the Keys, and their power, or of the severall sorts thereof.
THE ordinary Distribution of the keys is wont to be thus delivered. ...
/.../chap ii of the distribution.htm

1879-1880. Experiences among Indians --Picnic in the Bush ...
... CHAPTER VIII. 1879-1880. Experiences among Indians"Picnic in the Bush"Distribution
of Testaments""Till He come"""A Home and a hearty Welcome.". ...
/.../lowe/gods answers/chapter viii 1879-1880 experiences among.htm

The Power of Rome Romanized Aspect of all the Heathen Mythology. ...
... Book II. Chapter IX."The Power of Rome Romanized Aspect of All the Heathen
Mythology. Varro's Threefold Distribution Criticised. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/ad nationes/chapter ix the power of rome.htm

Of their Reception by the Notary Marianus; the Distribution of ...
... Book IV. Chapter XLIV."Of their Reception by the Notary Marianus; the
Distribution of Money to the Poor; and Offerings to the Church. ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter xliv of their reception by.htm

Whether Two Species of Justice are Suitably Assigned, viz. ...
... ii, 15): "He who receives becomes worse, and the more ready to expect that he will
receive again." Therefore distribution does not belong to any species of ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether two species of justice.htm

Reformation of Abuses at Rome by the Emperor Theodosius.
... them was the following: there were buildings of immense magnitude, erected in ancient
Rome in former times, in which bread was made for distribution among the ...
/.../chapter xviii reformation of abuses at.htm

Twenty-Sixth Proposition of Arminius
... TWENTY-SIXTH PROPOSITION OF ARMINIUS. Fifthly, because, according to it, the decree
is equivocal, and true only on condition of a distribution of its terms. ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 3/twenty-sixth proposition of arminius.htm

Thesaurus

Distribution (32 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The act of distributing or dispensing; the act of dividing or apportioning
among several or many; apportionment; as, the distribution of an estate ...
/d/distribution.htm - 18k

Distributed (30 Occurrences)
... (WEB WEY DBY RSV). Acts 4:35 and were laying them at the feet of the apostles, and
distribution was being made to each according as any one had need. ...
/d/distributed.htm - 16k

Heritages (7 Occurrences)
... Joshua 13:32 These are the heritages of which Moses made distribution in the lowlands
of Moab, on the other side of Jordan in Jericho, to the east. (BBE). ...
/h/heritages.htm - 8k

Distribute (23 Occurrences)
... 6. (vt) To employ (a term) in its whole extent; to take as universal in one premise.
7. (vi) To make distribution. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/d/distribute.htm - 14k

Numbers (136 Occurrences)
... LITERARY STRUCTURE 1. Alleged Grounds of Distribution 2. Objections to Same (1)
Hypothesis Unproved (2) Written Record Not Impossible (3) No Book Ever Thus ...
/n/numbers.htm - 71k

Decision (174 Occurrences)
... Numbers 26:55 But let the distribution of the land be made by the decision of the
Lord: by the names of the tribes of their fathers let their heritage be given ...
/d/decision.htm - 41k

Record (71 Occurrences)
... Joshua 18:4 Take from among you three men from every tribe; and I will send them
to go through the land and make a record of it for distribution as their ...
/r/record.htm - 29k

Raven (7 Occurrences)
... A bird of such universal distribution that it is known from Iceland to Japan, all
over Asia, Europe and Africa, but almost extinct and not of general ...
/r/raven.htm - 14k

Deacon (4 Occurrences)
... This jealousy early appeared in the Christian community. It was alleged by the
Hellenists that their widows were overlooked in the daily distribution of alms. ...
/d/deacon.htm - 14k

Dispensation (8 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The act of dealing out; distribution; allocation; often used of the
distribution of good and evil by God to man, or more generically, of the acts and ...
/d/dispensation.htm - 11k

Resources

Who was Prochorus in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is Christian Socialism? | GotQuestions.org

Who were the Hellenistic Jews in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Distribution: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Distribution (32 Occurrences)

Acts 4:35
and laid them at the apostles' feet, and distribution was made to each, according as anyone had need.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Acts 6:1
Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was increasing, protests were made by the Greek Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were not taken care of in the distribution of food every day.
(BBE RSV NIV)

Acts 6:2
And the Apostles sent for all the disciples and said, It is not right for us to give up preaching the word of God in order to make distribution of food.
(BBE)

2 Corinthians 9:13
Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
(KJV WBS)

Hebrews 2:4
And God was a witness with them, by signs and wonders, and by more than natural powers, and by his distribution of the Holy Spirit at his pleasure.
(BBE DBY YLT)

1 Peter 4:10
Making distribution among one another of whatever has been given to you, like true servants of the unmeasured grace of God;
(BBE)

Genesis 10:5
From these came the distribution of the isles of the nations, according to their lands, every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.
(DBY)

Genesis 10:32
These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations. And from these came the distribution of the nations on the earth after the flood.
(DBY)

Numbers 26:55
But let the distribution of the land be made by the decision of the Lord: by the names of the tribes of their fathers let their heritage be given them.
(BBE)

Numbers 26:56
As it is ordered by the decision of the Lord, let distribution be made between those who are more in number and those who are less.
(BBE)

Numbers 33:54
And you will take up your heritage in the land by the decision of the Lord, to every family its part; the greater the family the greater its heritage, and the smaller the family the smaller will be its heritage; wherever the decision of the Lord gives to any man his part, that will be his; distribution will be made to you by your fathers' tribes.
(BBE)

Numbers 34:17
These are the names of the men who are to make the distribution of the land among you: Eleazar the priest and Joshua, the son of Nun.
(BBE)

Numbers 34:18
And you are to take one chief from every tribe to make the distribution of the land.
(BBE)

Numbers 34:29
These are they to whom the Lord gave orders to make the distribution of the heritage among the children of Israel in the land of Canaan.
(BBE)

Numbers 36:2
And said, The Lord gave orders to my lord to make distribution of the land as their heritage to the children of Israel: and my lord was ordered by the Lord to give the heritage of Zelophehad, our brother, to his daughters.
(BBE)

Joshua 13:32
These are the heritages of which Moses made distribution in the lowlands of Moab, on the other side of Jordan in Jericho, to the east.
(BBE)

Joshua 18:4
Take from among you three men from every tribe; and I will send them to go through the land and make a record of it for distribution as their heritage; then let them come back to me.
(BBE)

Joshua 18:6
And you are to have the land marked out in seven parts, and come back to me with the record; and I will make the distribution for you here by the decision of the Lord our God.
(BBE)

Joshua 18:8
So the men got up and went; and Joshua gave orders to those who went, to make a record of the land, saying, Go up and down through the land, and make a record of it and come back here to me, and I will make the distribution for you here by the decision of the Lord in Shiloh.
(BBE)

Joshua 18:10
And Joshua made the distribution for them in Shiloh by the decision of the Lord, marking out the land for the children of Israel by their divisions.
(BBE)

Joshua 19:49
So the distribution of the land and its limits was complete; and the children of Israel gave Joshua, the son of Nun, a heritage among them;
(BBE)

Joshua 19:51
These are the heritages which Eleazar the priest and Joshua, the son of Nun, and the heads of families of the tribes of the children of Israel gave out at Shiloh, by the decision of the Lord, at the door of the Tent of meeting. So the distribution of the land was complete.
(BBE)

Joshua 21:10
These were for the children of Aaron among the families of the Kohathites, of the children of Levi: for they came first in the distribution.
(BBE)

Judges 18:1
In those days there was no king in Israel, and in those days the Danites were looking for a heritage for themselves, to be their living-place; for up to that time no distribution of land had been made to them among the tribes of Israel.
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 24:3
And David, with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, made distribution of them into their positions for their work.
(BBE)

2 Chronicles 31:14
And Kore, the son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the east door, had control of the offerings freely given to God, and the distribution of the offerings of the Lord and the most holy things.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 9:22
And you gave them kingdoms and peoples, making distribution to them in every part of the land: so they took for their heritage the land of Sihon, even the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og, king of Bashan.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 13:13
And I made controllers over the store-houses, Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and with them was Hanan, the son of Zaccur the son of Mattaniah: they were taken to be true men and their business was the distribution of these things to their brothers.
(BBE)

Ezekiel 45:1
And when you are making a distribution of the land, by the decision of the Lord, for your heritage, you are to make an offering to the Lord of a part of the land as holy: it is to be twenty-five thousand long and twenty thousand wide: all the land inside these limits is to be holy.
(BBE)

Ezekiel 47:22
And you are to make a distribution of it, by the decision of the Lord, for a heritage to you and to the men from other lands who are living among you and who have children in your land: they will be the same to you as if they were Israelites by birth, they will have their heritage with you among the tribes of Israel.
(BBE)

Ezekiel 48:29
This is the land of which distribution is to be made by the decision of the Lord, among the tribes of Israel for their heritage, and these are their heritages, says the Lord.
(BBE)

Daniel 11:24
Against fertile places, and will make waste a part of the country; and he will do what his fathers have not done, or his fathers' fathers; he will make distribution among them of goods taken in war and by force, and of property: he will even make designs against the strong places for a time.
(BBE)

Subtopics

Distribution

Related Terms

Distribution (32 Occurrences)

Joint-witness (1 Occurrence)

Distributor (1 Occurrence)

Gift (148 Occurrences)

Besides (178 Occurrences)

Acts (271 Occurrences)