Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

ECSTASY

A state of heightened emotion (Gk. ékstasis, from the verb exístēmi, lit., “to put out of place”). The phenomenon itself is difficult to define but is found generally throughout the whole of biblical and Greek literature (e.g., Philo Heres 264). The concept encompasses a variety of experiences in both the OT and NT. In Gen. 15:12 Abraham falls into a deep trance where he receives a word from the Lord. Other examples include a trance brought on by song and dance (1 Sam. 10:5, 12; 19:20; 2 Sam. 6:12-23), natural phenomena (1 Kgs. 19:11-18), and revelation of God’s word (Jer. 23:9; Isa. 6; Amos 7–9).

In the NT ecstasy tends to focus more on two specific realms. The first is a state of intense astonishment or amazement to the point of being beside oneself (e.g., Mark 5:42, lit., “they were amazed with great amazement”; cf. 16:8; Luke 5:26; 24:22; Acts 3:10; 13:12). The second is a visionary state accompanied by an altered mental state. In Acts 10:10 Peter falls into a trance (cf. 11:5). Other possible occurrences of this phenomenon may be found in Jesus’ temptation experience (Luke 4:1-12), the transfiguration (Mark 9:2-8), Pentecost (Acts 2), Paul’s experience on the Damascus road (Acts 9, 22, 26; Gal. 1:15-16), and Paul’s description of the third heaven (2 Cor. 12:1-9).

Vaughn CroweTipton

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

ECSTASY

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)