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Location of Scripture in the Heart and Mind

In biblical thought, the "heart" is understood as the central core of human existence, encompassing not only emotions but also intellect, will, and spiritual activity [1, 6, 10]. It is the seat of personal life, determining whether a person is wise, pure, upright, or pious [1]. The heart is crucial in the struggle between wisdom and foolishness, righteousness and evil [6].

The concept of the heart as the center of thought and feeling is evident throughout Scripture. For instance, Ecclesiastes states, "The heart of the wise is in a house of mourning, and the heart of fools in a house of mirth" [2, 4]. This highlights the heart's role in processing experiences and guiding responses. Similarly, the command to "set your heart on these matters" in Haggai 1:5 calls people to think carefully and draw conclusions, indicating the heart as the place where thinking, feeling, and willing converge [10].

The Bible often uses "heart" and "soul" interchangeably, as seen in Deuteronomy 6:5 and Matthew 22:37, where the command to love God involves both [1]. However, the heart is more specifically identified as the "home of the personal life" [1]. The spirit of man is also described as being located "in the midst of him," which some Jewish traditions interpret as being in the heart, positioned centrally within the body [9].

The idea of God's word residing in the heart is a significant theme. Romans 10:8 quotes, "The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart," referring to the word of faith [5]. This suggests that true reception of God's word involves internalizing it deeply, not merely speaking it or having it pass through the mind superficially [8]. Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, notes that while some Jews believed the Scriptures, they did not allow them to "take hold of their hearts," meaning the word was "in their mouth, but not in their mind" [8]. David's psalm, "Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee" (Psalm 119:11), exemplifies this desired internalization [8].

The heart is also seen as the proper dwelling place for Christ through faith [11]. John Calvin, as cited by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, emphasized that it is not enough for Christ to be "on the tongue, or flit through the brain; the heart is His proper seat" [11]. This implies a deep, abiding presence that transforms the individual. The "eyes of your heart" being enlightened is a metaphor for spiritual understanding, contrasting with the "unbelieving heart" [12]. This enlightenment is considered the first effect of the Spirit's work in the new creation, bringing spiritual light and life [12].

Rabbinic traditions, such as those noted by Ainsworth, liken the human heart to God's sanctuary, where the Divine glory (Shechinah) dwelt. Just as the ark, tables, and cherubim were in the sanctuary, so too should God's presence be met in the heart of man [7]. This underscores the heart's sacred potential as a place of divine encounter.

While the heart is central to spiritual and intellectual life, the understanding is also crucial. The apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 14:15, distinguishes between spiritual experiences where the understanding is "asleep" (like dreams) and those where it plays an active role (like prophecy) [3]. This suggests that while divine influence can extend to sleeping thoughts, conscious understanding is valued more highly in the context of revelation [3]. However, under the Christian dispensation, dreams are not typically referred to as vehicles of divine revelation, unlike visions and trances [3].

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Heart — According to the Bible, the heart is the centre not only of spiritual activity, but of all the operations of human life. "Heart" and "soul" are often used interchangeably (Deut. 6:5; 26:16; comp. Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30, 33), but this is not generally the case. The heart is the "home of the personal life," and hence a man is designated, according to his heart, wise (1 Kings 3:12, etc.), pure (Ps. 24:4; Matt. 5:8, etc.), upright and righteous (Gen. 20:5, 6; Ps. 11:2; 78:72), pious and good (Luke 8:15), etc. In these and such passages the word "soul" could not ”
  2. Ecclesiastes “Ecclesiastes 7:4 (YLT) — The heart of the wise <FI>is<Fi> in a house of mourning, And the heart of fools in a house of mirth.”
  3. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Dreams — The Scripture declares that the influence of the Spirit of God upon the soul extends to its sleeping as well as its waking thoughts. But, in accordance with the principle enunciated by St. Paul in (1 Corinthians 14:15) dreams, in which the understanding is asleep, are placed below the visions of prophecy, in which the understanding plays its part. Under the Christian dispensation, while we read frequently of trances and vision, dreams are never referred to as vehicles of divine revelation. In exact accordance with this principle are the actual records of the ”
  4. Ecclesiastes “Ecclesiastes 7:5 (DRC) — The heart of the wise is where there is mourning, and the heart of fools where there is mirth.”
  5. Romans “But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart”; that is, the word of faith, which we preach: -- Romans 10:8”
  6. Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 4:23: 4:23 In the Old Testament, the heart represents the center of emotions, thinking, and reasoning (e.g., Gen 6:5; Deut 4:29; Ps 131:1). The heart is crucial in the battle between wisdom and foolishness, between righteousness and evil (see Matt 5:8; 13:15; John 12:40; Rom 6:17).”
  7. Exodus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Exodus 25:22: And there I will meet with thee - That is, over the mercy-seat, between the cherubim. In this place God chose to give the most especial manifestations of himself; here the Divine glory was to be seen; and here Moses was to come in order to consult Jehovah, relative to the management of the people. Ainsworth has remarked that the rabbins say, "The heart of man may be likened to God's sanctuary; for as, in the sanctuary, the shechinah or Divine glory dwelt, because there were the ark, the tables, and the cherubim; so, in the heart of man, it is meet that a place be m”
  8. John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 5:38: Ye have not his word abiding in you - Though ye believe the Scriptures to be of God, yet ye do not let them take hold of your hearts - his word is in your mouth, but not in your mind. What a miserable lot! to read the Scriptures as the true sayings of God, and yet to get no salvation from them! Thy word, says David, (Psa 119:11), have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. This, these Jews had not done. Reader, hast thou?”
  9. Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Exodus 8:18: [THAT I AM THE LORD IN THE MIDST OF THE EARTH.] This is a metaphor. It is the manner of kings to establish their residences in the middle of their kingdoms so as to be equidistant to their borders. The Lord similarly placed the heart, which is “king” over man’s body, in the center of the human corporeal frame. Man’s spirit too is located in the center of the body, as it is written, And (the Lord) formed the spirit of man in the midst of him (Zech. 12:1). 42 I.E. believed that man’s soul is located in the heart, which is in the center of the body. He held that Z”
  10. Haggai (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Haggai 1:5: 1:5 Look at what’s happening to you (literally Set your heart on these matters): For the Hebrews, the heart is the place where thinking, feeling, and willing all occur. So this command (also 1:7; 2:15, 18) calls upon the people to think carefully and draw the proper conclusions about the connection between what’s happening to them (drought and poverty, 1:6) and their failure to restore proper worship of the Lord (1:8-9).”
  11. Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 3:17: That--So that. dwell--abidingly make His abode (Joh 14:23). Where the Spirit is there Christ is (Joh 14:16, Joh 14:18). by faith--Greek, "through faith," which opens the door of the heart to Jesus (Joh 3:20). It is not enough that He be on the tongue, or flit through the brain: the heart is His proper seat [CALVIN]. "You being rooted and grounded in love" (compare Eph 3:19), is in the Greek connected with this clause, not with the clause, "that ye may be able to comprehend." "Rooted" is an image from a tree; "grounded" (Greek, "founder," "having”
  12. Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 1:18: understanding--The oldest manuscripts, versions, and Fathers, read "heart." Compare the contrary state of unbelieving, the heart being in fault (Eph 4:18; Mat 13:15). Translate, "Having the eyes of your heart enlightened" (Eph 5:14; Mat 4:16). The first effect of the Spirit moving in the new creation, as in the original physical creation (Gen 1:3; Co2 4:6). So THEOPHILUS to AUTOLYCUS (1.3), "the ears of the heart." Where spiritual light is, there is life (Joh 1:4). The heart is "the core of life" [HARLESS], and the fountain of the thoughts; whence "”
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