Earnest


[ur-nist] /ˈɜr nɪst/

adjective
1.
serious in intention, purpose, or effort; sincerely zealous:
an earnest worker.
2.
showing depth and sincerity of feeling:
earnest words; an earnest entreaty.
3.
seriously important; demanding or receiving serious attention.
noun
4.
full seriousness, as of intention or purpose:
to speak in earnest.
[ur-nist] /ˈɜr nɪst/
noun
1.
a portion of something, given or done in advance as a pledge of the remainder.
2.
Law. .
3.
anything that gives pledge, promise, or indication of what is to follow.
/ˈɜːnɪst/
adjective
1.
serious in mind or intention: an earnest student
2.
showing or characterized by sincerity of intention: an earnest promise
3.
demanding or receiving serious attention
noun
4.
seriousness
5.
in earnest, with serious or sincere intentions
/ˈɜːnɪst/
noun
1.
a part or portion of something given in advance as a guarantee of the remainder
2.
(contract law) Also called earnest money. something given, usually a nominal sum of money, to confirm a contract
3.
any token of something to follow; pledge; assurance
adj.

from Old English eornoste (adj.) “zealous,” or from Old English noun eornost “seriousness, serious intent” (surviving only in the phrase in earnest), from Proto-Germanic *ern “vigor, briskness” (cf. Old Saxon ernust, Old High German arnust “seriousness, firmness, struggle,” German Ernst “seriousness;” Gothic arniba “safely, securely;” Old Norse ern “able, vigorous,” jarna “fight, combat”). The proper name Ernest (literally “resolute”) is from the same root. Related: Earnestly; earnestness.

The Spirit is the earnest of the believer’s destined inheritance (2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5; Eph. 1:14). The word thus rendered is the same as that rendered “pledge” in Gen. 38:17-20; “indeed, the Hebrew word has simply passed into the Greek and Latin languages, probably through commercial dealings with the Phoenicians, the great trading people of ancient days. Originally it meant no more than a pledge; but in common usage it came to denote that particular kind of pledge which is a part of the full price of an article paid in advance; and as it is joined with the figure of a seal when applied to the Spirit, it seems to be used by Paul in this specific sense.” The Spirit’s gracious presence and working in believers is a foretaste to them of the blessedness of heaven. God is graciously pleased to give not only pledges but foretastes of future blessedness.

see: in earnest

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    [ur-nist] /ˈɜr nɪst/ adjective 1. serious in intention, purpose, or effort; sincerely zealous: an earnest worker. 2. showing depth and sincerity of feeling: earnest words; an earnest entreaty. 3. seriously important; demanding or receiving serious attention. noun 4. full seriousness, as of intention or purpose: to speak in earnest. /ˈɜːnɪst/ adjective 1. serious in mind […]

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