📖 Biblical Definition
Work in Scripture is activity that produces something. It is given pre-Fall (Gen 2:15: dress and keep the garden); cursed in its soil post-Fall (Gen 3:17-19, sweat and thorns); redeemed in Christ; consummated in the new earth (Isa 65:21-22, the saints will build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit). Work is good in essence, sweat-soaked in this age, glorious in the next.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Activity that produces something; given pre-Fall, cursed post-Fall, redeemed in Christ.
expand to see more
Three biblical horizons: Eden (work as unfallen vocation), this age (work cursed in soil but redeemed in worker), new earth (work restored without curse).
Paul commands work (1 Thess 4:11, Eph 4:28); forbids idleness (2 Thess 3:10); honors all kinds (Col 3:23).
📖 Key Scripture
Genesis 2:15 — "And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it."
Colossians 3:23 — "Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men."
1 Thessalonians 4:11 — "To do your own business, and to work with your own hands."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity often demeans work or absolutizes it; Scripture honors it as part of image-bearing without making it ultimate.
expand to see more
Genesis 2:15 establishes work as pre-Fall vocation. The household's daily labor is therefore worship, when received as call (Col 3:23). The new earth retains work; the curse on its soil is what is removed.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew avad; Greek ergon.
expand to see more
Hebrew avad — to work, serve, till.
Greek ergon — work, deed.
Usage
"Work is good in essence, sweat-soaked in this age, glorious in the next."
"Do it heartily, as to the Lord."
"The curse on the soil is what is removed; the work itself remains."