Hospitality in the Bible

Christian Alexander
Christian Alexander Member Posts: 746
edited November 21 in English Forum

What does it mean to be hospitable? I am doing a study of the Bible and its definition. Where do I begin? While modern culture conveys that hospitality is about perfect homes and expert table settings, the Bible insists on hospitality as a means for loving our neighbors as ourselves.

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  • MJ. Smith
    MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 53,136
    1. Read the Rule of St. Benedict - preferable with notes - hospitality does not appear to be a systematic theology topic
    2. Collection the Bible passage referenced
    3. Look those passages up in your commentaries and journal articles ... the bulk of the relevant materials may be medieval or prior

    Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

  • Martin Hall
    Martin Hall Member Posts: 288 ✭✭

    https://www.logos.com/product/130458/mobile-ed-nt391-hospitality-in-the-new-testament 

    This is a pretty good class that gives pretty good insight as to the role of hospitality in the Christian Life. 

  • David Thomas
    David Thomas Member Posts: 3,246 ✭✭✭

    https://www.logos.com/product/156996/the-gospel-comes-with-a-house-key-practicing-radically-ordinary-hospitality-in-our-post-christian-world

    https://www.logos.com/product/163662/open-heart-open-home-a-practical-guide-to-evangelism-in-the-home 

    https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj66YPaw6f1AhWGgGoFHf6fA2IQFnoECBEQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FOpen-Heart-Home-Hospitable-Welcome%2Fdp%2F083082300X&usg=AOvVaw1rSSQHSbJ3ks7SO3ilG-FN' 

    Where do I begin?

    Search for the word in your heart language

    right click on the word in translation of your choice.

    Open Bible Word Study to determine lemmas rendered as your target word.

    Click on lemmas in BWS to open a usage of your word, then right-click to reveal Bible Dictionaries/Lexicons that address the lemma.

    Making Disciples! Logos Ecosystem = LogosMax on Microsoft Surface Pro 7 (Win11), Android app on tablet, FSB on iPhone & iPad mini, Proclaim (Proclaim Remote on Fire Tablet).

  • SineNomine
    SineNomine Member Posts: 7,043

    What does it mean to be hospitable? I am doing a study of the Bible and its definition. Where do I begin?

    For ALL topics, when doing research in Logos/Verbum, you can safely begin with the Factbook and the Topic Guide.

    After that, you can safely ask on the forums for more assistance in finding sources. [:)]

    “The trouble is that everyone talks about reforming others and no one thinks about reforming himself.” St. Peter of Alcántara

  • Dave Hooton
    Dave Hooton MVP Posts: 35,682

    Christian,

    Where do I begin?

    This should have been the final sentence of your query, albeit that you should know about Factbook.

    While modern culture conveys that hospitality is about perfect homes and expert table settings, the Bible insists on hospitality as a means for loving our neighbors as ourselves.

    You need to make it clear that you are not inviting forum users to debate this statement, let alone help to prove/disprove it, as that is outside Forum Guidelines. Any conclusion about what the Bible "insists" upon has to come from your research using the tools in Logos and elsewhere.

    Dave
    ===

    Windows 11 & Android 13

  • MJ. Smith
    MJ. Smith MVP Posts: 53,136

    Removed due to Disciple II politely suggesting I was going beyond skating the edge of acceptable. He was correct.

    Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."

  • Simon’s Brother
    Simon’s Brother Member Posts: 6,816 ✭✭✭

    While modern culture conveys that hospitality is about perfect homes and expert table settings, the Bible insists on hospitality as a means for loving our neighbors as ourselves.

    I have no idea how you came up with this as it is far outside the understanding of hospitality in the culture in which I embedded - I get rather annoyed when people attribute to me or to my culture something that is inaccurate.. The evidence of those who get hospitality right -- their funeral overflows a church that holds 900 easily. As Dave says, this appears to be outside your question and is appropriate only if you are asking specifically for resources that affirm it ... 

    If I exclude what I have understood about hospitality from a Christian perspective, then I would say what the OP has said is in line with what I have seen modern culture present as hospitality some situations. You can do courses at college in hospitality management and those courses are not about developing one's individual qualities but developing skills in hospitality such as how to correctly set a table.  It's one of those words that can mean different things to different people in different contexts so I respect you don't see hospitality as the OP framed it or I may do so. While you opened the door on something Dave suggested the OP should have put a lock on, I'll say no more other than what I have done.