Passion is described as an emotion, an intense desire or enthusiasm about something. This can be positive, like a strong desire for God or righteous actions, or negative, like sinful desires or uncontrolled anger. In the New King James Bible, “passion” is used in Romans 7:5 and Galatians 5:24 to describe bodily desires or affections that can lead to sin. In Colossians 3:5, “passion” is mentioned alongside other negative desires, suggesting it refers to inappropriate cravings or lustful appetites.
Different translations of the Bible may use slightly different wording. For example, some translations might use “lust” or “inordinate affection” instead of “passion” in certain verses. In other contexts, “passion” can refer to zeal or fervor, like the desire to see God’s house cleansed (John 2:17).
The meaning of passion as a strong emotion can also be associated with love. It is more than just being happy or excited, but it could be something that we are eager or zealous, energetic, or spirited about; hence, a true passion. When it comes to each one of us personally, we may be passionate about something in our own different way, things that we love and are enthusiastic about. Can people around us recognize what our passions are? Is the love for God’s Law and the Truth our true passion?
David is a great example of someone in the Bible who had a passion for God’s Law, which he elaborates on in Psalm 119 (which he wrote according to tradition) by seeking God “with the whole heart,” delighting in His commandments with devotion, Godly fear, and righteousness.
He also had a passion for building God a temple, but due to his punishment for sin, only his son, Solomon, would be able to do it. “…I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made preparations to build it. But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for My name, because you have been a man of war and have shed blood.’ …He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. Now He said to me, ‘It is your son Solomon who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his Father. Moreover I will establish his kingdom forever, if he is steadfast to observe My commandments and My judgments, as it is this day” (1 Chronicles 28:2-7).
David’s advice to Solomon is explained in the following verses 9-10 and in verse 20: “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever. Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it… Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God—my God—will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.”
To put it in another perspective, husbands and wives should have a passion for each other (compare Ephesians 5:25-33), as they are both one, “just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” (verse 25).
In the Song of Solomon, the husband and wife (future and present) have a passion for each other. Full of metaphors and imagery, it also pictures Israel as God’s betrothed bride and the Church as the bride of Christ (Hosea 2:19-20). Humanly speaking, our highest fulfillment should be the love we have for each other and especially for our spouse. That same love should be reflected in our spiritual life, in showing our love towards God’s people and Christ’s love for the church. Christ requires, “that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another”(John 13:34-35).
The Jews in Babylon had a passion to return to Jerusalem. After 70 years of exile, God fulfilled His promise to return His people from captivity to the land of promise (Ezra 2:1-2). The first six chapters have to do with the rebuilding of the temple, led by Zerubbabel, the first return from Babylon, and how Satan interfered by stopping the work for 15 years. God encouraged His people to continue the work of God, and the temple was completed in chapter six. They kept the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread with joy (Ezra 6:19-22).
The second return was with Ezra, described in chapters 7-10, and he was determined to help strengthen the spiritual condition of the people. His passion to seek God obediently is expressed in verse 10 of chapter 7. The third and final return to Jerusalem from Babylon was with Nehemiah. He prayed for his people in Nehemiah, chapter 1. He was sent to Judah and encouraged his people to rebuild the wall in Jerusalem, despite opposition from enemies. He continued to do God’s Will and put it all in His hands (6:15-16). He brought captives back, and yet he still had to work with the people and teach them. The task to reestablish and reform the people of God within the rebuilt wall demanded years of his godly life and leadership, just like we need to be reminded continuously what God’s purpose and plan are all about.
As we are also to be faithful servants to our Father, our talents can be used wisely, if we are truly passionate about our task and responsibility, as the parable of the talents explains in Matthew 25:14-29.
Another great example is that of Paul, who had an unwavering passion for God’s Law, proven also through all the sufferings he endured for Christ’s sake (2 Corinthians 11:24-28).
God is very passionate about His plan for mankind. Christ was driven by His task, where He said that He came to fulfill the Work, and as He was dying on the cross, He said that it (His Work, given to Him) was finished (John 19:30).
Passion could also refer to suffering, particularly the suffering of Jesus. Gotquestions.org states that “The word passion is from the Latin pati, which simply means ‘to endure’ or ‘to suffer.’ The term passion of Christ has taken on a technical or semi-technical meaning in theology, referring to the time from Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane to His death on the cross—the time of His greatest suffering.”
In the book of Isaiah, much is said about God’s passion for His plan, especially in chapters 46 and 48. Isaiah 53 talks about the “passion” of Christ through all the suffering He had to endure when He was on this earth, for our sake, so WE can be saved. He offered up His life so that we can live for righteousness, but only after repentance (1 Peter 2:24).
We read in Isaiah 53:3-12, in the New International Version:
“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering… Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away… For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
The Bible concludes with the wonderful plan that God has in store for all of mankind, something that He is truly passionate about, where John describes a vision of “a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’ And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son’” (Revelation 21:1-7).
There is indeed much revealed in the Bible about passion with its various descriptions. As God has the right kind of passion for His ultimate plan for us, we ought to strive continuously and passionately to improve in strength, zealousness, diligence, love, patience, and in overcoming until Christ returns.
Lead Writer: Michael Link