Consecrate; Consecration
What is Consecration?
Consecration, in biblical terms, refers to the process of dedicating people, objects, times, or places exclusively to God's service, marking them as holy and set apart. The concept appears throughout Scripture, from the dedication of priests and temples to the calling of all believers to live consecrated lives. Unlike mere ritual, true consecration involves both external acts and internal transformation—a heart fully devoted to God.
Consecration in the Old Testament
The Old Testament uses several Hebrew words to convey consecration, each with distinct nuances. The most common term, qadhesh, means "to be set apart" or "to be holy." This applied to priests (Exodus 28:3; 30:30), sacrifices (2 Chronicles 29:33), and dedicated objects like the spoils from Jericho (Joshua 6:19). Another significant term, mille' yadh (literally "to fill the hand"), described the installation of priests into office through symbolic offerings placed in their hands (Exodus 29:9; Leviticus 8:33).
Consecration rituals were elaborate for the Aaronic priesthood, involving washing, special garments, anointing with oil, and sacrificial offerings (Exodus 29; Leviticus 8). The Nazirite vow represented a temporary consecration where individuals (like Samson or Samuel) dedicated themselves to God through specific abstentions (Numbers 6). Even buildings and altars required consecration before use in worship (Ezekiel 43:26).
Consecration in the New Testament
The New Testament shifts the focus from external rituals to internal reality through Christ. Jesus Himself is presented as the ultimate consecrated one—the perfect High Priest who consecrated Himself for our sake (John 17:19). The language of consecration appears in Hebrews, where Christ's sacrifice "perfects" (teleioō) those who are being made holy (Hebrews 10:14) and where believers have confidence to enter the "new and living way" Christ dedicated (egkainizō) for us (Hebrews 10:20).
All believers are now called to live consecrated lives. Paul urges Christians to present their bodies as "living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God" as their spiritual worship (Romans 12:1). This New Testament consecration isn't about temple rituals but about everyday holiness—being set apart in speech, conduct, and purpose (1 Peter 1:15-16).
The Purpose and Meaning of Consecration
Consecration serves multiple purposes in Scripture. First, it acknowledges God's supreme ownership—everything belongs to Him, and consecration is our response of stewardship. Second, it creates boundaries between the holy and the common, reminding God's people of His transcendence. Third, it prepares people and objects for divine service, whether priests ministering in the tabernacle or Christians serving in the world.
Ultimately, consecration points to God's desire for relationship. He calls people to be set apart not for isolation but for intimate fellowship with Him. The rituals of the Old Testament foreshadowed the complete consecration accomplished through Christ's sacrifice, which enables believers to "draw near to God with a sincere heart" (Hebrews 10:22).
Living a Consecrated Life Today
For contemporary believers, consecration involves intentional dedication of every aspect of life to God. This includes our time (setting apart regular moments for prayer and Scripture), resources (using finances and possessions for God's purposes), relationships (pursuing holiness in interactions), and vocations (viewing work as worship). It's both a one-time decision of surrender and a daily practice of choosing God's ways over worldly patterns.
The Holy Spirit empowers this consecrated living, transforming believers "into his image with ever-increasing glory" (2 Corinthians 3:18). As we yield to God's work in us, we become living testimonies of His sanctifying power in a world that desperately needs to encounter the holy.
Biblical Context
Consecration appears throughout Scripture, beginning with God sanctifying the seventh day (Genesis 2:3). The concept develops significantly in Exodus and Leviticus with the consecration of priests (Exodus 29), the tabernacle and its furnishings (Exodus 40:9-11), and the people of Israel (Exodus 19:10-11). The historical books record the consecration of temples (1 Kings 8; 2 Chronicles 7) and occasional reforms where people re-consecrated themselves to God (2 Chronicles 29-31). The prophets called for heart consecration beyond mere ritual (Jeremiah 4:4). In the New Testament, Jesus consecrates Himself for believers (John 17:19), and epistles call all Christians to consecrated living (Romans 12:1; 1 Peter 1:15-16).
Theological Significance
Consecration reveals God's holiness and His desire for a people set apart for relationship with Him. It demonstrates that God doesn't merely want rituals but transformed hearts fully devoted to Him. The progression from Old Testament physical consecrations to New Testament spiritual consecration through Christ shows God's plan to make all believers priests (1 Peter 2:9) with direct access to His presence. Consecration teaches that salvation includes both justification and sanctification—being declared righteous and being made holy. It emphasizes that God claims ownership of our entire lives, not just our religious activities.
Historical Background
Ancient Near Eastern cultures practiced various forms of consecration, dedicating objects, buildings, and people to their deities. Archaeological findings show temple consecration rituals in Mesopotamia and Egypt that share similarities with biblical practices, such as anointing and purification rites. However, Israel's consecration practices were distinctive in their monotheistic focus and ethical requirements. The Hebrew concept of holiness (qodesh) involved both separation from impurity and positive dedication to Yahweh's service. Extra-biblical texts like the Dead Sea Scrolls reveal that consecration remained important in Second Temple Judaism, with the Qumran community emphasizing ritual purity and separation from mainstream society.