Become
Becoming: Transformation of State
The most common biblical use of "become" describes a change of condition or state. The Hebrew word hayah and the Greek ginomai both convey the idea of coming into being or transitioning from one reality to another. In Genesis 2:7, God formed man from dust and "he became a living creature." In John 1:14, "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." Jesus told His disciples, "Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3). These passages use "become" to describe the most profound transformations in Scripture, creation, incarnation, and conversion.
What Becomes: Fitness and Propriety
The second biblical meaning of "become" relates to what is fitting, suitable, or appropriate. The Greek word prepei and the Hebrew na'ah express this sense. In Matthew 3:15, Jesus told John the Baptist, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." The psalmist declared, "Holiness becomes your house, O LORD, forevermore" (Psalm 93:5), meaning that holiness is fitting and proper for God's dwelling. Paul urged believers to live in ways that "become" or befit their calling, saying to walk "becomingly toward outsiders" (1 Thessalonians 4:12).
Becoming New in Christ
The New Testament uses transformation language powerfully to describe what happens when someone comes to faith in Christ. Paul wrote, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Believers become children of God (John 1:12), become partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4), and are being transformed into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). This ongoing process of becoming reveals that the Christian life is not static but a continual transformation.
Conduct Becoming the Gospel
Paul frequently urged believers to live in ways that were "becoming", fitting and worthy of their identity in Christ. "Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ" (Philippians 1:27). He instructed older women to be "reverent in behavior", literally, in behavior becoming to holiness (Titus 2:3). In Ephesians 5:3, he warned that sexual immorality "must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints." The standard of becoming conduct is not arbitrary social convention but flows from the character of God Himself.
The Ultimate Becoming
Scripture points toward a final, glorious transformation when believers will fully become what God intends. "We know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2). Paul described this hope: "We await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body" (Philippians 3:20-21). The journey of becoming that begins at creation and continues through salvation will find its completion in the resurrection, when believers fully become what they were always meant to be.
Biblical Context
The concept of 'becoming' spans the entire Bible. In the Old Testament, hayah appears in creation accounts (Genesis 2:7), covenant language (Deuteronomy 27:9), and worship (Psalm 93:5). In the New Testament, ginomai describes the incarnation (John 1:14), conversion (Matthew 18:3), and new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). The fitness sense appears in Matthew 3:15, 1 Timothy 2:10, Ephesians 5:3, and 1 Thessalonians 4:12.
Theological Significance
The biblical concept of becoming reveals that God is a God of transformation. He transforms chaos into creation, sinners into saints, and mortal bodies into glorified ones. The fitness meaning teaches that God has standards of propriety rooted in His own holiness. Together, these two senses show that God both changes people (making them new) and calls them to live in ways consistent with their new identity (what is becoming of saints).
Historical Background
The Greek concept of what is 'fitting' (prepei) had deep roots in classical philosophy, where living according to one's nature was considered the highest virtue. The Stoics particularly emphasized living in accordance with one's true identity. Paul's use of this concept gave it a distinctly Christian foundation: what is fitting for believers is determined not by philosophical reasoning but by the character of God and the reality of the gospel. The Hebrew concept of hayah (becoming) was also philosophically significant, as it related to God's self-revelation as the One who IS (Exodus 3:14).