Agree
The Meaning of Agreement in Scripture
The primary Greek word translated as "agree" in the New Testament is sumphōneō, which literally means "to sound together" or "to be harmonious." It's the root of our English word "symphony." This indicates that biblical agreement is not just intellectual assent but a deep, resonant unity of purpose and will. Another term, isos, appears in Mark 14:56, emphasizing that testimony must "agree" or be "equal to" the legal standard required.
Key Biblical Passages on Agreement
The Power of Agreed Prayer (Matthew 18:19-20) Jesus makes a profound promise: "If two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." This agreement (sumphōneō) is not casual consensus but a Spirit-led unity where believers align their requests with God's will. The context is church discipline (Matthew 18:15-18), showing that agreement is foundational for healthy community and effective spiritual authority.
Agreement in Testimony and Justice In legal contexts, agreement validates truth. The false witnesses against Jesus failed because "their testimony did not agree" (Mark 14:56). Conversely, the unity of testimony from "three that testify"-the Spirit, the water, and the blood-"agree" (sumphōneō) in 1 John 5:8, confirming Jesus's identity. In Acts 5:9, Peter confronts Sapphira about conspiring with her husband Ananias, showing that their secret "agreement" to test the Spirit made them equally guilty.
Agreement in the Early Church The early Christian community prioritized unity. The Jerusalem Council concluded with a letter stating, "it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord..." (Acts 15:25). Paul urged the Corinthians, "I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10). This agreement was essential for witness and mission.
The Limits of Forced Agreement Not all agreement is positive. In John 9:22, the Jewish leaders had "already agreed" that anyone confessing Jesus as Messiah would be expelled. This was a human, fear-based pact against God's work. Jesus also used the image of incompatible patches and wineskins (Luke 5:36) to show that new and old covenants cannot simply "agree" or be forced together.
Agreement as a Spiritual Reality
Biblical agreement is ultimately a work of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit who creates unity in diversity within the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:3). True agreement flows from being "of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind" (Philippians 2:2), which is modeled on Christ's humility. It is the practical outworking of Jesus's prayer that his followers "may all be one" (John 17:21).
Biblical Context
The concept of agreement appears throughout Scripture, with particular density in the Gospels and Epistles. In the Gospels, Jesus establishes agreement as a spiritual principle for prayer and community (Matthew 18:19). The Book of Acts shows the early church striving for and operating from agreement in decision-making (Acts 15:25). The Epistles, especially 1 Corinthians and Philippians, exhort believers to cultivate agreement as essential to Christian identity and witness. The term also appears in legal/judicial contexts (Mark 14:56, 1 John 5:8) where agreement validates truth.
Theological Significance
Agreement is a profound theological concept that reveals God's nature and desires. First, it reflects the perfect unity within the Trinity. Father, Son, and Spirit exist in eternal, loving agreement. Second, it is essential to effective prayer, as Jesus taught that agreement on earth releases the Father's action in heaven (Matthew 18:19). Third, it is the foundation of the church's health and witness; division contradicts the gospel of reconciliation. Fourth, it demonstrates the work of the Holy Spirit, who creates unity among diverse believers. Ultimately, Christian agreement is about aligning human will with God's will, participating in divine harmony.
Historical Background
In the first-century Greco-Roman world, the concept of harmony (sumphōnia) was important in philosophy, music, and politics. Philosophers like Plato wrote about harmony in the soul and state. The New Testament appropriates this cultural concept but fills it with distinctively Christian content, harmony rooted in Christ. In Jewish tradition, the requirement for multiple agreeing witnesses in capital cases (Deuteronomy 19:15) provided the backdrop for the Gospel accounts of Jesus's trial. The early church's emphasis on agreement also addressed practical needs: as a minority movement spreading across cultures, unity was necessary for survival and credibility against external persecution and internal disagreements, such as the Gentile inclusion debate in Acts 15.