antithesis of zeal

Synonyms of zeal

• as in vigor
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Thesaurus Definition of zeal

Synonyms & Similar Words

• get - up - and - go
• spiritedness
• sprightliness
• animal spirits
• vivaciousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• indifference
• disinterestedness
• lukewarmness
• halfheartedness
• perfunctoriness
• sluggishness
• listlessness

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun zeal differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of zeal are ardor , enthusiasm , fervor , and passion . While all these words mean "intense emotion compelling action," zeal implies energetic and unflagging pursuit of an aim or devotion to a cause.

When is ardor a more appropriate choice than zeal ?

While in some cases nearly identical to zeal , ardor suggests warm and excited feeling likely to be fitful or short-lived.

Where would enthusiasm be a reasonable alternative to zeal ?

The words enthusiasm and zeal can be used in similar contexts, but enthusiasm applies to lively or eager interest in or admiration for a proposal, cause, or activity.

When could fervor be used to replace zeal ?

While the synonyms fervor and zeal are close in meaning, fervor implies a warm and steady emotion.

When can passion be used instead of zeal ?

The synonyms passion and zeal are sometimes interchangeable, but passion applies to an emotion that is deeply stirring or ungovernable.

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Thesaurus Entries Near zeal

Cite this entry.

“Zeal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zeal. Accessed 5 Apr. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on zeal

Nglish: Translation of zeal for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of zeal for Arabic Speakers

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noun as in enthusiasm

Strongest matches

• determination
• earnestness
• inclination
• perseverance

Strong matches

Weak matches

• stick-to-itiveness
• what it takes

Discover More

Related words.

Words related to zeal are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word zeal . Browse related words to learn more about word associations.

noun as in liveliness; promptness

• cheerfulness
• promptitude
• sprightliness
• willingness

noun as in eagerness

noun as in strong desire for success

• fire in belly
• get up and go
• right stuff

noun as in liveliness; activity

• exhilaration
• high spirits

Viewing 5 / 57 related words

Example Sentences

Uscinski, for his part, thinks the risk of a social desirability bias with QAnon is minimal, given the unabashed zeal with which proponents seem to demonstrate their support.

He brings the same intuitive scrutiny to Tolontan and his staff, as they chase down new angles of their corruption story with a zeal that ends up endangering them.

At least that’s what you’d conclude when you think about New Year’s resolutions and the zeal with which so many people make them.

That is, the communal zeal these days is not love for party but hate for elites.

If Carlson runs in 2024, he would be an instant frontrunner given his anti-establishment zeal and platform on the most popular cable news show by far.

It was his business acumen, his own unflagging zeal for the creative business solution, that had freed Sam to do this.

Thereafter, the 1960s swelled with political zeal and social unrest.

He implored me to do so with the zeal of someone who had just found God, emphatically praising the article.

Even as the ranks of culture warriors on the right diminish, their zeal seems to intensify.

One of those preachers admitted to The Daily Beast that he was taken aback by her zeal.

His zeal led him among foreigners as a missionary; after visiting Bohemia, he went among the Poles, by whom he was killed.

They have fought countless bloody wars and have committed countless horrible atrocities in their zeal for Him.

I have dared to relate this to your Majesty because of my zeal as a loyal vassal, and as one who looks at things dispassionately.

Zeal, who was sitting stiffly forward, his hands gripping the arms of his chair, laughed dryly.

He braced himself unconsciously, and after Zeal's next words did not relax his body, although his lips turned white and stiff.

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On this page you'll find 104 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to zeal, such as: ardor, determination, devotion, diligence, eagerness, and earnestness.

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

Volume 39 - Issue 3

Zeal without Knowledge: The Concept of Zeal in Romans 10, Galatians 1, and Philippians 3

Library of New Testament Studies 472. London: T&T Clark, 2012. xv + 215 pp. £62.15/$120.00.

The last four decades have witnessed an upheaval of seismic proportions in the academic study of Paul. The New Perspective on Paul has challenged settled exegetical opinion and proposed new approaches to Paul with far reaching implications. It is fair to say that the initial shock of the New Perspective has subsided. Contemporary exegetical and thematic studies of Paul’s letters have begun to reexamine some of the assumptions and conclusions that have proven so influential in recent Pauline studies.

Dane C. Ortlund’s published dissertation, Zeal without Knowledge , is one such study. Ortlund’s primary conversation partner is James D. G. Dunn, who has argued that the zeal that characterized Paul’s Jewish contemporaries and to which Paul so vigorously responded was “ethnic or social” rather than “ethical or moral or theological” in character (pp. 1–2). Ortlund concludes that Dunn has effectively proposed a false antithesis. For Paul, “zeal” was both “horizontal” and “vertical” (p. 2, et pass .). At the same time, Paul does not ascribe equal weight to these dimensions of “zeal.” For Paul (as for the OT writers and Second Temple literature), “zeal is generally that which pleases God and expresses obedience to God’s will—not that which, in the first instance, distinguishes from gentiles” (p. 5). It is not that there is no “horizontal” component to “zeal” in Paul. It is that this horizontal component is “secondary” and not “primary” in the apostle’s letters (p. 5).

After a brief discussion of how scholarship since Stendahl has understood “zeal” in Paul (pp. 6–23), Ortlund explores how the OT (pp. 24–61) and such Second Temple literature as the Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha, Dead Sea Scrolls, Philo, and Josephus (pp. 62–114) employ this motif. The OT writers, Ortlund concludes, understand human zeal primarily in terms of “intense fervor for Yahweh” (p. 59). While “corporate set-apartness” was necessarily implied in Israel’s obedience to God, it was nevertheless “not in the foreground” (p. 59). The Second Temple literature, Ortlund observes, maintains this emphasis, although not without “something of a horizontalizing of zeal”—the locus of zeal falls increasingly upon “the law” or “piety” or “the Jewish nation” (p. 113).

Ortlund then proceeds to address “zeal” in Paul’s letters (pp. 115–65). He offers a compelling justification for restricting his discussion to three texts—Rom 10:2 (9:30–10:3), Gal 1:14, and Phil 3:6 (pp. 115–16). It is in these three texts in particular that Paul most clearly reflects upon his former zeal in Judaism, and does so in conjunction with “several key Pauline themes beyond the references to zeal” (p. 115). Helpfully surveying the thicket of exegetical questions that have arisen in connection with Rom 9:30–10:2, Ortlund concludes that, for Paul, Israel’s zeal is her “ardency to keep Torah” (p. 136). Paul’s critique of that zeal lies not so much in Israel’s “failure to discharge the law” but in her “success,” that is, pursuing the law in “ignorance of, and refusal to submit to, God’s righteousness freely available in Christ” (pp. 135–36). Ortlund further argues that Paul’s former zeal for the “traditions of his fathers” (Gal 1:14) was a zeal especially directed towards authoritative “oral traditions” (p. 142). Even so, Paul does not represent that former zeal primarily in terms of “Jewish set-apartness” (pp. 146–47). The structure and content of Gal 1:11–16 show that Paul’s “concerns” are largely “vertical” (p. 146). Similarly, Paul’s representation of his former Jewish zeal in Phil 3:6 is in predominantly moral or ethical terms (pp. 150–62). While Dunn correctly observes the Jewish character of Paul’s former zeal, he nevertheless fails to grasp the primarily Godward orientation of that zeal (pp. 164–65).

In summary, Zeal without Knowledge is a balanced, perceptive, and irenic study of “zeal” in the letters of Paul. Whether or not Ortlund’s characterization of Dunn’s project as “ha[ving] set forth the ‘horizontal’ and the ‘vertical’ in inverse proportion to the way these dimensions worked in Paul’s theology” is an adequate one, one can only appreciate Ortlund’s textual demonstration that Paul understood Jewish “zeal” overwhelmingly in reference to God (p. 175). Ortlund is also correct to say that such a conclusion need not militate against recognizing the specifically Jewish character of this zeal and the ethnic separatism that it often spawned.

Ortlund is an engaging writer. His use of the spatial terms, “horizontal” and “vertical,” to set the terms of his project is well-defined, thoroughly documented, and consistently applied. On occasion, however, he employs terms that could benefit from further definition. The “form / essence” distinction, for example, is employed on several occasions, parallel to the “horizontal / vertical” distinction (cf. p. 175). A fuller explanation of that distinction and more precise explanation of its application to the questions under review would have strengthened the work.

In summary, Zeal without Knowledge demonstrates the ongoing exegetical viability of traditional and evangelical readings of Paul. It is also willing to learn from positions with which it differs. If only for these reasons, Zeal without Knowledge has made a valuable contribution to the study of Paul in the post-New Perspective landscape.

Guy Prentiss Waters

Guy Prentiss Waters Reformed Theological Seminary Jackson, Mississippi, USA

Other Articles in this Issue

Pastoral pensées: keeping eschatology and ethics together: the teaching of jesus, the work of albert schweitzer, and the task of evangelical pastor-theologians.

Jesus and the authors of the New Testament consistently link how Jesus’ followers are to live (ethics) with when they live (eschatology)...

The Gradual Nature of Sanctification: Σάρξ as Habituated, Relational Resistance to the Spirit

Possessing a helpful explanation of the slowness of spiritual change can be encouraging to Christians who are not growing spiritually as quickly or consistently as they might have hoped...

Participants in What We Proclaim: Recovering Paul’s Narrative of Pastoral Ministry

Many have written on the difficulties of pastoral ministry, backed by research into the demise of those who become discouraged in the work...

Three Reflections on Evangelical Academic Publishing

In light of John A. D’Elia’s A Place at the Table and Stanley E...

Bye-bye Bible? Progress Report on the Death of Scripture

A trio of recent books raises important questions on how Scripture is handled in halls of (certain kinds of) learning and how such handling affects Scripture’s perceived truth and message...

Other Reviews in this Issue

The Making of Korean Christianity: Protestant Encounters with Korean Religions, 1876–1915

John Chrysostom

The Inspiration and Interpretation of Scripture: What the Early Church Can Teach Us

The Epistle to Diognetus (with the Fragment of Quadratus): Introduction, Text, and Commentary

Basil of Caesarea: His Life and Impact

Zeal antonyms

What is the opposite word for zeal .

• indifference enthusiasm
• apathy enthusiasm
• laziness enthusiasm
• lethargy enthusiasm
• disinterest enthusiasm
• insincerity
• unenthusiasm
• discouragement

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English Guide

Help center

What is the Opposite(Antonym) of “zeal”?

The opposite(antonym) of “zeal”.

The antonyms of zeal are apathy and indifference . The antonyms apathy and indifference convey a lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern. They are the opposite of zeal , which means great enthusiasm or passion for something.

Explore all Antonyms of “zeal”

Indifference, definitions and examples of apathy, indifference.

Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!

Lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.

His apathy towards his studies resulted in poor grades.

Lack of interest, concern, or sympathy.

Her indifference to her friend's problems made her seem uncaring.

Key Differences: apathy vs indifference

• 1 Apathy is a general term that describes a lack of interest or concern.
• 2 Indifference is a more specific term that describes a lack of interest, concern, or sympathy.

Effective Usage of apathy, indifference

• 1 Express Opinions: Use apathy and indifference to express a lack of interest or concern about a topic.
• 2 Discuss Relationships: Incorporate antonyms in conversations to discuss how people feel about each other.
• 3 Write Reviews: Utilize these antonyms in reviews to describe how you felt about a product, service, or experience.

Remember this!

The antonyms have distinct nuances: Apathy conveys a general lack of interest, while indifference denotes a lack of interest, concern, or sympathy. Use these words to express opinions, discuss relationships, and write reviews.

This content was generated with the assistance of AI technology based on RedKiwi's unique learning data. By utilizing automated AI content, we can quickly deliver a wide range of highly accurate content to users. Experience the benefits of AI by having your questions answered and receiving reliable information!

Antithesis Definition

What is antithesis? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

Antithesis is a figure of speech that juxtaposes two contrasting or opposing ideas, usually within parallel grammatical structures. For instance, Neil Armstrong used antithesis when he stepped onto the surface of the moon in 1969 and said, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." This is an example of antithesis because the two halves of the sentence mirror each other in grammatical structure, while together the two halves emphasize the incredible contrast between the individual experience of taking an ordinary step, and the extraordinary progress that Armstrong's step symbolized for the human race.

Some additional key details about antithesis:

• Antithesis works best when it is used in conjunction with parallelism (successive phrases that use the same grammatical structure), since the repetition of structure makes the contrast of the content of the phrases as clear as possible.
• The word "antithesis" has another meaning, which is to describe something as being the opposite of another thing. For example, "love is the antithesis of selfishness." This guide focuses only on antithesis as a literary device.
• The word antithesis has its origins in the Greek word antithenai , meaning "to oppose." The plural of antithesis is antitheses.

How to Pronounce Antithesis

Here's how to pronounce antithesis: an- tith -uh-sis

Antithesis and Parallelism

Often, but not always, antithesis works in tandem with parallelism . In parallelism, two components of a sentence (or pair of sentences) mirror one another by repeating grammatical elements. The following is a good example of both antithesis and parallelism:

To err is human , to forgive divine .

The two clauses of the sentence are parallel because each starts off with an infinitive verb and ends with an adjective ("human" and "divine"). The mirroring of these elements then works to emphasize the contrast in their content, particularly in the very strong opposite contrast between "human" and "divine."

Antithesis Without Parallelism

In most cases, antitheses involve parallel elements of the sentence—whether a pair of nouns, verbs, adjectives, or other grammar elements. However, it is also possible to have antithesis without such clear cut parallelism. In the Temptations Song "My Girl," the singer uses antithesis when he says:

"When it's cold outside , I've got the month of May ."

Here the sentence is clearly cut into two clauses on either side of the comma, and the contrasting elements are clear enough. However, strictly speaking there isn't true parallelism here because "cold outside" and "month of May" are different types of grammatical structures (an adjective phrase and a noun phrase, respectively).

Antithesis vs. Related Terms

Three literary terms that are often mistakenly used in the place of antithesis are juxtaposition , oxymoron , and foil . Each of these three terms does have to do with establishing a relationship of difference between two ideas or characters in a text, but beyond that there are significant differences between them.

Antithesis vs. Juxtaposition

In juxtaposition , two things or ideas are placed next to one another to draw attention to their differences or similarities. In juxtaposition, the pairing of two ideas is therefore not necessarily done to create a relationship of opposition or contradiction between them, as is the case with antithesis. So, while antithesis could be a type of juxtaposition, juxtaposition is not always antithesis.

Antithesis vs. Oxymoron

In an oxymoron , two seemingly contradictory words are placed together because their unlikely combination reveals a deeper truth. Some examples of oxymorons include:

• Sweet sorrow
• Cruel kindness
• Living dead

The focus of antithesis is opposites rather than contradictions . While the words involved in oxymorons seem like they don't belong together (until you give them deeper thought), the words or ideas of antithesis do feel like they belong together even as they contrast as opposites. Further, antitheses seldom function by placing the two words or ideas right next to one another, so antitheses are usually made up of more than two words (as in, "I'd rather be among the living than among the dead").

Antithesis vs. Foil

Some Internet sources use "antithesis" to describe an author's decision to create two characters in a story that are direct opposites of one another—for instance, the protagonist and antagonist . But the correct term for this kind of opposition is a foil : a person or thing in a work of literature that contrasts with another thing in order to call attention to its qualities. While the sentence "the hare was fast, and the tortoise was slow" is an example of antithesis, if we step back and look at the story as a whole, the better term to describe the relationship between the characters of the tortoise and the hare is "foil," as in, "The character of the hare is a foil of the tortoise."

Antithesis Examples

Antithesis in literature.

Below are examples of antithesis from some of English literature's most acclaimed writers — and a comic book!

Antithesis in Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities

In the famous opening lines of A Tale of Two Cities , Dickens sets out a flowing list of antitheses punctuated by the repetition of the word "it was" at the beginning of each clause (which is itself an example of the figure of speech anaphora ). By building up this list of contrasts, Dickens sets the scene of the French Revolution that will serve as the setting of his tale by emphasizing the division and confusion of the era. The overwhelming accumulation of antitheses is also purposefully overdone; Dickens is using hyperbole to make fun of the "noisiest authorities" of the day and their exaggerated claims. The passage contains many examples of antithesis, each consisting of one pair of contrasting ideas that we've highlighted to make the structure clearer.

It was the best of times , it was the worst of times , it was the age of wisdom , it was the age of foolishness , it was the epoch of belief , it was the epoch of incredulity , it was the season of Light , it was the season of Darkness , it was the spring of hope , it was the winter of despair , we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven , we were all going direct the other way —in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

Antithesis in John Milton's Paradise Lost

In this verse from Paradise Lost , Milton's anti-hero , Satan, claims he's happier as the king of Hell than he could ever have been as a servant in Heaven. He justifies his rebellion against God with this pithy phrase, and the antithesis drives home the double contrast between Hell and Heaven, and between ruling and serving.

Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.

Antithesis in William Shakespeare's Othello

As the plot of Othello nears its climax , the antagonist of the play, Iago, pauses for a moment to acknowledge the significance of what is about to happen. Iago uses antithesis to contrast the two opposite potential outcomes of his villainous plot: either events will transpire in Iago's favor and he will come out on top, or his treachery will be discovered, ruining him.

This is the night That either makes me or fordoes me quite .

In this passage, the simple word "either" functions as a cue for the reader to expect some form of parallelism, because the "either" signals that a contrast between two things is coming.

Antithesis in William Shakespeare's Hamlet

Shakespeare's plays are full of antithesis, and so is Hamlet's most well-known "To be or not to be" soliloquy . This excerpt of the soliloquy is a good example of an antithesis that is not limited to a single word or short phrase. The first instance of antithesis here, where Hamlet announces the guiding question (" to be or not to be ") is followed by an elaboration of each idea ("to be" and "not to be") into metaphors that then form their own antithesis. Both instances of antithesis hinge on an " or " that divides the two contrasting options.

To be or not to be , that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them ...

Antithesis in T.S. Eliot's "Four Quartets"

In this excerpt from his poem "Four Quartets," T.S. Eliot uses antithesis to describe the cycle of life, which is continuously passing from beginning to end, from rise to fall, and from old to new.

In my beginning is my end . In succession Houses rise and fall , crumble, are extended, Are removed, destroyed, restored, or in their place Is an open field, or a factory, or a by-pass. Old stone to new building , old timber to new fires ...

Antithesis in Green Lantern's Oath

Comic book writers know the power of antithesis too! In this catchy oath, Green Lantern uses antithesis to emphasize that his mission to defeat evil will endure no matter the conditions.

In brightest day , in blackest night , No evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil's might Beware my power—Green lantern's light!

While most instances of antithesis are built around an "or" that signals the contrast between the two parts of the sentence, the Green Lantern oath works a bit differently. It's built around an implied "and" (to be technical, that first line of the oath is an asyndeton that replaces the "and" with a comma), because members of the Green Lantern corps are expressing their willingness to fight evil in all places, even very opposite environments.

Antithesis in Speeches

Many well-known speeches contain examples of antithesis. Speakers use antithesis to drive home the stakes of what they are saying, sometimes by contrasting two distinct visions of the future.

Antithesis in Patrick Henry's Speech to the Second Virginia Convention, 1775

This speech by famous American patriot Patrick Henry includes one of the most memorable and oft-quoted phrases from the era of the American Revolution. Here, Henry uses antithesis to emphasize just how highly he prizes liberty, and how deadly serious he is about his fight to achieve it.

Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take: but as for me, give me liberty or give me death .

Antithesis in Martin Luther King Jr.'s Oberlin Commencement Address

In this speech by one of America's most well-known orators, antithesis allows Martin Luther King Jr. to highlight the contrast between two visions of the future; in the first vision, humans rise above their differences to cooperate with one another, while in the other humanity is doomed by infighting and division.

We must all learn to live together as brothers —or we will all perish together as fools .

Antithesis in Songs

In songs, contrasting two opposite ideas using antithesis can heighten the dramatic tension of a difficult decision, or express the singer's intense emotion—but whatever the context, antithesis is a useful tool for songwriters mainly because opposites are always easy to remember, so lyrics that use antithesis tend to stick in the head.

Antithesis in "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash (1981)

In this song by The Clash, the speaker is caught at a crossroads between two choices, and antithesis serves as the perfect tool to express just how confused and conflicted he is. The rhetorical question —whether to stay or to go—presents two opposing options, and the contrast between his lover's mood from one day (when everything is "fine") to the next (when it's all "black") explains the difficulty of his choice.

One day it's fine and next it's black So if you want me off your back Well, come on and let me know Should I stay or should I go ? Should I stay or should I go now? Should I stay or should I go now? If I go, there will be trouble If I stay it will be double ...

Antithesis in "My Girl" by the Temptations (1965)

In this song, the singer uses a pair of metaphors to describe the feeling of joy that his lover brings him. This joy is expressed through antithesis, since the singer uses the miserable weather of a cloudy, cold day as the setting for the sunshine-filled month of May that "his girl" makes him feel inside, emphasizing the power of his emotions by contrasting them with the bleak weather.

I've got sunshine on a cloudy day When it's cold outside I've got the month of May Well I guess you'd say, What can make me feel this way? My girl, my girl, my girl Talkin' bout my girl.

Why Do Writers Use Antithesis?

Fundamentally, writers of all types use antithesis for its ability to create a clear contrast. This contrast can serve a number of purposes, as shown in the examples above. It can:

• Present a stark choice between two alternatives.
• Convey magnitude or range (i.e. "in brightest day, in darkest night" or "from the highest mountain, to the deepest valley").
• Express strong emotions.
• Create a relationship of opposition between two separate ideas.
• Accentuate the qualities and characteristics of one thing by placing it in opposition to another.

Whatever the case, antithesis almost always has the added benefit of making language more memorable to listeners and readers. The use of parallelism and other simple grammatical constructions like "either/or" help to establish opposition between concepts—and opposites have a way of sticking in the memory.

Other Helpful Antithesis Resources

• The Wikipedia page on Antithesis : A useful summary with associated examples, along with an extensive account of antithesis in the Gospel of Matthew.
• Sound bites from history : A list of examples of antithesis in famous political speeches from United States history — with audio clips!
• A blog post on antithesis : This quick rundown of antithesis focuses on a quote you may know from Muhammad Ali's philosophy of boxing: "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee."

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• Uma ponte de Diálogo: Exposição do 75.º Aniversário d’O Clarim

THE REFRESHING POWER OF ZEAL – Enthusiasm, passion, fire

– FAUSTO GOMEZ OP

During the 1960 USA electoral campaign to choose the Democrats’ candidate for President (which John F. Kennedy eventually won), there was Adlai Stevenson, the intellectual of the group. I heard this story from him. There are two great orators of all times: Cicero, a Roman, and Demosthenes, Greek. When Cicero spoke people said, “How well he speaks.” When Demosthenes spoke, people said, “Let us march.” Demosthenes convinced the intellect and moved the will and emotions or passions. The latter had zeal.

Law professor Anita Bernstein says that there is today “ zeal shortage ” (cf. David Horner and David Turner). Is there “zeal shortage” in the Church, religious congregations and in some – or many – of us believers? Is there, perhaps, lack of zeal and instead some or much sloth? It appears that many Christians today profess a Christian faith “light.” There is lack of motivation to pursue good. Caught up in the web of modern life – a consumeristic society in a culture of waste – Christians know that they are asked, with many other women and men of good will too; they are asked by their humanity and faith to witness a zealous life style of respect for all and compassion for the poor – the lifestyle of Jesus as proclaimed by the Sacred Scriptures. 

GOD’S WORD ON ZEAL

Horner and Turner, who have studied well the nature of zeal and sloth, state: “Irrational, unbalanced, and violent forms of zeal are simply and radically incompatible with biblical zeal.” I suggest that integral good zeal entails pursuing the good with passion, with enthusiasm, with fire (cf. Rom 12:11; 2 Pet 1:3-11).

God’s Zeal . He has zeal for his people (Is 26:11; cf. Is 9:7), a zeal with fire (Zeph 3:8). The Lord asks Elijah: What are you doing here Elijah? The prophet answers: I have been very zealous for the Lord. (cf. I Kgs 19:10).   The word of the zealous prophet was like a burning torch: “Then the prophet Elijah arose like a fire, his word burned like a torch” (Sir 48:1). The Psalmist is consumed by zeal: “My zeal consumes me because my foes forget your words” (Ps 119:139); “It is zeal for your house that has consumed me” (Ps 69:9). Seeing a Jew offer sacrifices to gods, Mattathias “burned with zeal and his heart was stirred” “with righteous anger” (I Macc, 2:24).    

Jesus’ zeal . He moved people with the fire of his merciful love. He was meek. His words and deeds matched perfectly.   When announcing the coming of Jesus, John the Baptist tells his disciples: Jesus will “baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Mt 3:11) – with fire! Jesus presents John the Baptist to his disciples as a burning and shining lamp: “He was a burning and shining lamp” (Jn 5:35). After the co-traveler sat at table with them, blessed and broke the bread, he left them. Then the two disciples to Emmaus realized that the traveler who had joined them on the road was the Risen Lord. Both commented: “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the Scriptures to us?” (Lk 24:32). 

The apostles’ zeal . The Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples on Pentecost. A strong wind filled the cenacle and tongues of fire rested on their heads (Acts 2:1-4): wind to carry the Good News everywhere; tongues , to preach the truth zealously; fire , to burn human selfishness and to warm up the heart with love. Peter, the head of the apostles, is zealous for what is good (I Pet 3:13). Paul asks Christians “never be lacking in zeal”: “do not lack in zeal, be ardent in spirit, and serve the Lord” (Rom 12:11).   And John in Revelation says to those who are lukewarm: “Be zealous and repent” (Rev 3:19).

ZEAL AND SLOTH

There is good and bad zeal, and anti-zeal. In general, good zeal is passionate love for God, working for his Kingdom with enthusiasm, passion, and fire. 

Bad zeal may be zeal by excess or by defect or deficiency ( in medio virtus: virtue stands in the middle ). Excessive zeal: either because the means to achieve a good goal are bad, violent, or because the end is bad (fanaticism, including religious fanaticism). There is misdirected zeal (too much passion for nothing) (cf. David Horner and David Turner, on Zeal ). It is the bad zeal of terrorists, violent crusaders (including those who kill abortionists).

Anti-zeal, sloth , “acedia” is the opposite of zeal. Sloth is closely related to apathy, melancholy, indifference. It is, in spiritual language, spiritual laziness and sadness: the sadness that blocks a believer, a Christian “light” from pursuing spiritual things. Acedia is opposed to love of oneself, joy, compassion, – to zeal for God and souls. It is a capital sin, one of the seven deadly sins, which are heads (“ caput ” of many other sins. Sloth is the seventh and last capital or deadly sin. To conquer it, one needs the virtue of zeal – diligence, fervor, passion, fire.

Good zeal , or simply zeal, is the middle way between excessive zeal and defective zeal. It is loving zeal, a passionate commitment to goodness: to a good cause or end through good means. It may be defined with Horner and Turner as “a disposition to pursue what is good – rationally, fervently, and diligently, motivated by and expressed by love”; as “commitment to an ultimate concern.” I like to connect directly and closely zeal with enthusiasm, passion, and fire.

Zeal: enthusiasm, passion. Zeal is a characteristic of love. Greek etymology of enthusiasm means “to be full of love,” to do service for humanity, for the Kingdom of God with enthusiasm, fire – with passionate zeal. It means to do it “with head and heart, with mind and will.” We do it so, according to the expert in spiritual theology Anselm Grun, “when we put in it [in our work] our heart, when we let our love go through it.” The German writer quotes Blaise Pascal: “Nothing is more unbearable for a person than being without passion …”    

Zeal: fire. Quotes to ruminate: “Only one who has fire within may fire up others” (St. Augustine).   Truly, “a fire can only be lit by something that is itself on fire” (John Paul II, Ecclesia in Asia, 23). “The day you no longer burn with love, many others will die of the cold” (St. Bonaventure). “If you are what you ought to be, you will set the whole world on fire” (St. Catherine of Siena). I love the great preacher the Venerable Fulton Sheen, who will soon be beatified. He always preached or taught standing. Why ? “Because you cannot start a fire if seated.” If we are not close to God, to the fire of his love, we cannot put fire on the hearts of other people: a humble prayer life puts us and other people on fire.

Zeal: anger? Clearly, Jesus was meek, humble, and patient. In one instance, Jesus becomes angry with those who had converted God’s Temple in a marketplace. Angrily, he cleanses the Temple area of money changers and animal sellers. His cleansing of the Temple (Jn 2:13-22) is a rare act but not to defend himself but justice, and the needy who were exploited in God’s house. Right after the Resurrection of the Lord, the disciples understood the forceful clearing out of the tables of merchants and money changers: “the disciples remembered the words of the Scripture: I am eaten up with zeal for your [God’s] house” (Jn 2:17). This exceptional show of zeal by Jesus is holy zeal . Jesus pervading attitude, however, is clearly the attitude of an infinitely meek and merciful person. And so must the attitude of his followers be: “Blessed are the meek” (Mt 5:6).   Truly Jesus got angry then, but He is the only one who can ask: Who can accuse me of sin? Of course, nobody! Hence, we ought to be most careful. St. Paul advises us: “Be angry but do not sin. The sun must not go down on your anger” (Eph 4:26-27).

Let us then proclaim Jesus in our life and with our words, and try hard – with ardent hope – to do it zealously with fire,   and enthusiastic and passionate love for him and the people. I remember the words composer Joaquin Rodrigo of Concierto de Aranjuez fame used to repeat to his students: “Music must move ( conmover ) people. If it does not, something is failing.” Our Christian life, our proclamation of the word must move people to love Jesus – more and more!

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THE FIFTEEN PROMISES OF MARY

• English Grammar
• Figures Of Speech

Antithesis: Meaning, Definition and Examples

Figures of speech , otherwise known as rhetorical devices, are used in the English language to beautify and make your language look and sound a lot more effective rather than a literal presentation of information. Each figure of speech has its function and is meant to perform its roles giving the context a unique effect. In this article, you will learn about one such figure of speech called antithesis. Read through the article to learn more about what antithesis is, its definition and how it differs from an oxymoron. You can also check out the examples and analyse how it is written for an in-depth understanding of the same.

Table of Contents

What is antithesis – meaning and definition, what differentiates an antithesis from an oxymoron, some common examples of antithesis, frequently asked questions on antithesis.

An antithesis is a figure of speech that states strongly contrasting ideas placed in juxtaposition. They contain compound sentences with the two independent clauses separated by a comma or a semicolon , in most cases. However, there are also instances where the antithesis is a compound sentence with a conjunction . An antithesis is mainly used to portray the stark difference between the two opposing ideas.

Antithesis, according to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, is defined as “a contrast between two things”, and according to the Cambridge Dictionary, “a difference or opposition between two things”. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary gives a more explanatory definition. According to it, antithesis is “the rhetorical contrast of ideas by means of parallel arrangements of words, clauses, or sentences”.

Knowing the difference between an antithesis and an oxymoron will help you comprehend and use both the rhetorical devices effectively. Take a look at the table given below to learn more.

Here are some of the most common examples of antithesis for your reference.

• Hope for the best; prepare for the worst.
• Keep your mouth closed and your eyes open.
• “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.” – Charles Dickens
• “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” – Neil Armstrong
• “Better to reign in Hell, than to serve in Heaven.” – John Milton
• Speech is silver, but silence is gold.
• “Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice.” – William Shakespeare
• Keep your friends close; keep your enemies closer.
• “To err is human; to forgive divine.” – Alexander Pope
• Money is the root of all evil: poverty is the fruit of all goodness.

What is antithesis?

An antithesis is a figure of speech that states strongly contrasting ideas placed in juxtaposition. They contain compound sentences with the two independent clauses separated by a comma or a semicolon, in most cases. However, there are also instances where the antithesis is a compound sentence with a conjunction.

What is the definition of antithesis?

What is the difference between antithesis and oxymoron.

The main difference between an antithesis and an oxymoron is that antithesis refers to the use of two contrasting ideas or thoughts conveyed in two independent clauses placed in juxtaposition, separated by a comma, a semicolon or a conjunction; whereas, the term ‘oxymoron’ refers to the use of two opposite words within a phrase to create an effect.

Give some examples of antithesis.

Here are a few examples of antithesis for your reference.

• “Love is an ideal thing, marriage a real thing.” – Goethe
• “Folks who have no vices have very few virtues.” – Abraham Lincoln
• “Man proposes, God disposes.”
• Beggars can’t be choosers.
• Be slow in choosing, but slower in changing.

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• DONALD DEMARCO

Zeal begets zeal. We should not be fearful of the virtue of zeal. It springs from love and does not exclude moderation. It fires our passion to a flame and enables us to be more effective, productive, and alive.

Today, perhaps to give ourselves a wide margin of safety so that we do not lapse into zealotry and become zealots, we tend to avoid zeal altogether. Unfortunately, the absence of a virtue creates a moral vacuum that is quickly filled by a vice. In this instance, the vice that rushes in is sloth. This commonly misunderstood vice is really the indisposition or reluctance to have any interest in spiritual realities.

Sloth Incarnate

These two reasons for explaining our distrust of zeal may very well be conjoined. We overreact to our fear of being as zealous as zealots of the past and, as a consequence, provide room in our souls for sloth. As we become seduced by sloth, we become even more suspicious of zeal.

An instructive embodiment of sloth is the popular TV character that Jerry Seinfeld played in his popular sitcom. Compared with the sheer zaniness of the characters who surround him, Jerry seems quite normal. But this is because our own vice, sloth, is difficult to recognize by a mass audience that is infected with the same disease and has come to accept it as normal. The Jerry character is non-religious, has no room for prayer in his life, dislikes opera, museums, reading, babies, everyone outside his small coterie of three friends, and fears commitment to any member of the opposite sex to the point of moral paralysis. His indisposition or reluctance to pursue any spiritual pleasures makes him a nearly ideal incarnation of the vice of sloth. The program's real joke is on the mass audience that cannot recognize its own sloth in the character it heartily accepts.

Heart for Truth

Nonetheless, zeal is a genuine virtue. "Zeal," as St. Thomas Aquinas tells us, "arises from the intensity of love." He cites for his authority both the Old and New Testaments: "I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts" (1 Kings 19:10); "Zeal for thy house will consume me" (Jn. 2:17). In another text, Aquinas speaks of zeal that centers around virtuous goods as being praiseworthy, citing St. Paul, who exhorted the Corinthians to zealously desire the spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 14:1).

Aquinas himself well exemplifies the virtue of zeal. The Angelic Doctor, as we know, produced in his brief life span of 49 years a stupendous amount of writing. His prodigious literary output is all the more remarkable given the fact that he spent a great deal of time praying, teaching, and traveling. We could not begin to understand how he could be as prolific as he was without taking into consideration his zeal for truth.

Zeal for the truth is not a common virtue in our time. We tend to be tepid about the truth and enthusiastic about putting people down who dare show the slightest interest in the truth. We think of university teaching as interpreting "research" and analyzing "studies." For Aquinas, however, his role as a teacher was animated by his zeal for truth and his zeal for imparting truth on the hearts of his students.

At one time, a young novice submitted to Aquinas no less than 36 questions. The questions were poorly formulated and the neophyte had the audacity to request answers within four days. Aquinas could legitimately have excused himself, given more important matters that occupied his time. Yet he not only supplied the answers, but also reformulated the questions more precisely. In addition, he completed his assignment within the requested deadline.

No doubt the zeal that animated Aquinas affected many of his readers. There is an erroneous legend that Martin Luther burned a copy of Aquinas' Summa Theologica along with the papal bull in the marketplace at Wittenberg. The truth of the matter, as Josef Pieper explains in The Silence of Saint Thomas , makes a far more telling point. Although Luther intended to burn a copy of the Summa , he could not locate one since he could not find anyone who was willing to part with his copy.

Additional Info

• Author: Donald DeMarco

Donald DeMarco. "Zeal." Lay Witness (July/August 2002).

Reprinted with permission of Lay Witness.

Lay Witness is the flagship publication of Catholics United for the Faith. Featuring articles written by leaders in the Catholic Church, each issue of Lay Witness keeps you informed on current events in the Church, the Holy Father's intentions for the month, and provides formation through biblical and catechetical articles with real-life applications for everyday Catholics.

• Publisher: LayWitness
• Alternate: http://catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0686.html

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The Refreshing Power of Zeal: Enthusiasm, Passion, Fire

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During the 1960 USA electoral campaign to choose the democrats’ candidate for President (which John F. Kennedy eventually won), there was Adlai Stevenson, the intellectual of the group. I heard this story from him. Two great orators of all times: Cicero, Roman, and Demosthenes, Greek. When Cicero spoke people said, “How well he speaks.” When Demosthenes spoke, people said, “Let us march.” Demosthenes convinced the intellect and moved the will and emotions or passions. He had zeal!

Law professor Anita Bernstein says that there is today “ zeal shortage ” (cf. David Horner and David Turner). Is there “zeal shortage” in the Church, religious congregations and in some – or many – of us believers? Is there, perhaps, lack of zeal and instead some or much sloth? It appears that many Christians today profess a faith “light.” There is lack of motivation to pursue good. Caught up in the web of modern life – a consumeristic society in a culture of waste -, Christians know that they are asked, with many other women and men of good will too; they are asked by their humanity and faith to witness a zealous life style of respect for all and compassion for the poor, This is the life style of Jesus as proclaimed by the Sacred Scriptures.  

GOD’S WORD ON ZEAL

Horner and Turner, who have studied well the nature of zeal and sloth, state: “Irrational, unbalanced, and violent forms of zeal are simply and radically incompatible with biblical zeal.” I suggest that integral good zeal entails pursuing the good with passion, with enthusiasm, with fire (cf. Rom 12:11; 2 Pet 1:3-11).

God’s Zeal . He has zeal for his people (Is 26:11; cf. Is 9:7), a zeal with fire (Zeph 3:8). The Lord asks Elijah: What are you doing here Elijah? The prophet answers: I have been very zealous for the Lord. (cf. I Kgs 19:10).  The word of the zealous prophet was like a burning torch: “Then the prophet Elijah arose like a fire, his word burned like a torch” (Sir 48:1). The Psalmist is consumed by zeal: “My zeal consumes me because my foes forget your words” (Ps 119:139); “It is zeal for your house that has consumed me” (Ps 69:9). Seeing a Jew offer sacrifices to gods, Mattathias “burned with zeal and his heart was stirred” “with righteous anger” (I Macc, 2:24).   

Jesus’ zeal . He moved people with the fire of his merciful love. He was meek. His words and deeds matched perfectly.  When announcing the coming of Jesus, John the Baptist tells his disciples: Jesus will “baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Mt 3:11) – with fire! Jesus presents John the Baptist to his disciples as a burning and shining lamp: “He was a burning and shining lamp” (Jn 5:35). After the co-traveler sat at table with them, blessed and broke the bread, he left them. Then the two disciples to Emmaus realized that the traveler who had joined them on the road was the Risen Lord. Both commented: “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the Scriptures to us?” (Lk 24:32).  

The apostles’ zeal . The Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples on Pentecost. A strong wind filled the cenacle and tongues of fire rested on their heads (Acts 2:1-4): wind to carry the Good News everywhere; tongues , to preach the truth zealously; fire , to burn human selfishness and to warm up the heart with love. Peter, the head of the apostles, is zealous for what is good (I Pet 3:13). Paul asks Christians “never be lacking in zeal”: “do not lack in zeal, be ardent in spirit, and serve the Lord” (Rom 12:11).  And John in Revelation says to those who are lukewarm: “Be zealous and repent” (Rev 3:19).

ZEAL AND SLOTH

There is good and bad zeal, and anti-zeal. In general, good zeal is passionate love for God, working for his Kingdom with enthusiasm, passion, and fire.  

Bad zeal may be zeal by excess or by defect or deficiency ( in moedio virtus: virtue stands in the middle ). Excessive zeal: either because the means to achieve a good goal are bad, violent, or because the end is bad (fanaticism, including religious fanaticism). There is misdirected zeal (too much passion for nothing) (cf. David Horner and David Turner, on Zeal ). It is the misdirected zeal of Paul, when he was Saul, prosecuting and empoisoning Christians (cf. Acts, 22:3-16). It is the bad zeal of terrorists, violent crusaders (including those who kill abortionists).

Anti-zeal, sloth , “acedia” is the opposite of zeal. Sloth is closely related to apathy, melancholy, indifference. It is, in spiritual language, spiritual laziness and sadness: the sadness that blocks a believer, a Christian “light” from pursuing spiritual things. Acedia is opposed to love of oneself, joy, compassion, - to zeal for God and souls. It is a capital sin, one of the seven deadly sins, which are heads (“caput”) of many other sins. Sloth is the seventh and last capital or deadly sin. To conquer it, one needs the virtue of zeal - diligence, fervor, passion, fire.

Good zeal , or simply zeal, is the middle way between excessive zeal and defective zeal. It is loving zeal, a passionate commitment to goodness: to a good cause or end through good means. It may be defined with Horner and Turner as “a disposition to pursue what is good – rationally, fervently, and diligently, motivated by and expressed by love”; as “commitment to an ultimate concern.” I like to connect directly and closely zeal with enthusiasm, passion, and fire.

Zeal: enthusiasm, passion. Zeal is a characteristic of love. Greek etymology of enthusiasm means “to be full of love,” to do service for humanity, for the Kingdom of God with enthusiasm, with passionate zeal. It means to do it “with head and heart, with mind and will.” We do it so, according to the expert in spiritual theology Anselm Grun, “when we put in it [in our work] our heart, when we let our love go through it.” The German writer quotes Blaise Pascal: Nothing is more unbearable for a person than being without passion …     

Zeal: fire. In the recitation of the Prayer to the Holy Spirit, Christians pray: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the heart of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. The fire of love! If we are not close to God, to the fire of his love, we cannot put fire on the hearts of other people: a humble prayer life puts us and other people on fire. Quotes to ruminate: “Only one who has fire within may fire up others” (St. Augustine).  Truly, “a fire can only be lit by something that is itself on fire” (John Paul II, Ecclesia in Asia ). “The day you no longer burn with love, many others will die of the cold” (St. Bonaventure). Hard to be on fire? “If you are what you ought to be, you will set the whole world on fire” (St. Catherine of Siena). I love the great preacher the Venerable Fulton Sheen. He always preached or taught standing – never seated. Why? Fires cannot be started seated.

Zeal: anger? Clearly, Jesus was meek, humble, and patient. In one instance, Jesus becomes angry with those who had converted God’s Temple in a marketplace. Angrily, he cleanses the Temple area of money changers and animal sellers. His cleansing of the Temple (Jn 2:13-22) is a rare act but not to defend himself but justice and the needy who were exploited in God’s house. Right after the Resurrection of the Lord, the disciples understood the forceful clearing out of the tables of merchants and money changers: “the disciples remembered the words of the Scripture: I am eaten up with zeal for your [God’s] house” (Jn 2:17). This exceptional show of zeal by Jesus is holy zeal . Jesus pervading attitude, however, is clearly the attitude of an infinitely meek and merciful person. And so must the attitude of his followers be: “Blessed are the meek” (Mt 5:6).  Truly Jesus got angry then, but He is the only one who can ask: Who can accuse me of sin? Of course, nobody! Hence, we ought to be most careful. St. Paul advises us: “Be angry but do not sin. The sun must not go down on your anger” (Eph 4:26-27).

ZEALOUS CHRISTIANS

Zeal of the First Christian Communities. Their zeal was characterized by their missionary dynamic enthusiasm, an enthusiasm grounded on holiness. Followers of the Name today proclaim Jesus, and try hard to do it with passion, with passionate love for him and for people.

Zeal in evangelization. Following his predecessors, Pope Francis underlines continually the need of zeal, enthusiasm, and joy in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus. He cautions us: beware! It is striking that even some who clearly have solid doctrinal and spiritual convictions frequently fall into a life style which leads to an attachment to financial security, or to a desire for power, or human glory at all cost, rather than giving their lives to others in mission. Let us not allow ourselves to be robbed of missionary enthusiasm! (Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, EG, 80).

Missionary enthusiasm (all Christians are missionaries) is essential part of the evangelizing mission: preaching the Word with boldness, with enthusiasm, with passion, with fire – the fire of the Holy Spirit. It means living our Christian lives with zeal, “a zeal for souls.”    

Zeal for souls. It is “a zeal inspired by Christ’s own charity, which takes the form of concern, tenderness, compassion, openness, availability and interest in people’s problems” (John Paul II, Redemptoris Missio, RM, no. 89). The famous Dominican preacher Lacordaire tells us that the first Dominicans - like many others - “had received in their hearts that wound [love] which has made all the saints eloquent.  No orator can exist without this asset of a passionate soul.”

Let us then proclaim Jesus with our life and with our words, and try hard – with ardent hope - to do it zealously with fire,  and enthusiastic and passionate love for him and the people. I remember the words composer Joaquin Rodrigo of Concierto de Aranjuez fame used to repeat to his students: “Music must move ( conmover ) people. If it does not, something is failing.” Likewise preaching ought to move people to Jesus, the Good News of God. Otherwise, something is lacking! Perhaps a little more zeal and enthusiasm and passion – and fire! No wonder that Dominican brothers and sisters recite daily a moving Prayer for Vocations in which they ask God to send them holy and zealous preachers .

FAUSTO GOMEZ OP

The Meaning of Zeal: What It Is and How To Use It

Do you know the definition of zeal? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word zeal, including its definition, etymology, usage, example sentences, and more!

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How can the word zeal be used in a sentence?

The word zeal can be used in a variety of different contexts to refer to a passion or enthusiasm. It is commonly used in reference to someone who has passion for their religion, but can also be used in numerous other contexts. In this first example , it will be used to describe someone religious. Michael is discussing his missionary trip to South America. 

Friend: Was it difficult to navigate around the new country and language?

Michael: It was. I barely knew enough Spanish to get through the airport, and I got food poisoning my first night there. I got lost a million times, but my zeal for my religion – for my God – is what kept me going. 

Friend: That’s amazing! I want to see some pictures!

Here, Michael uses the word zeal to describe his passion for his religion that kept him going on his trip even when times were tough, considered missionary zeal or excessive fervor for his religious movement. Next, Michael has a young son who wants to redecorate his room. His youngest boy has a powerful interest and diligent enthusiasm for a certain superhero, and great plans for his future room. 

Michael: What color do you want your room to be?

Son: Spiderman. 

Michael: Okay, Spiderman walls. What are you going to decorate it with?

Son: Spiderman bed, Spiderman lamp, Spiderman everything!

Michael: Such zeal you’ve got for Spiderman! Great energy!

What is the origin of the word zeal?

According to Etymonline , the word zeal has been used since the late 14th century. The word zeal comes from the Old French zel , which is spelled zéle in Modern French. This could come directly from the Late Latin ​zēlus meaning zeal. This comes from the Greek zēlos meaning ardor or emulation. This comes from the Proto-Indo-European root ya meaning to seek or desire. The word zeal has been used since the mid-15th century to eman devotion. Related words include the adjective zealous, and the nouns zealot and zealousness. 

What are synonyms and antonyms for the word zeal?

There are a plethora of different words that someone can use in place of the word zeal. These words which have the same definition as the word zeal are called synonyms. Synonyms are a great way to expand your vocabulary and an easy way to avoid repeating yourself in speech or written work. This list of synonyms for the word zeal is provided by Thesaurus .

• exhilaration
• engagedness
• determination
• earnestness
• stick-to-itiveness
• impetuosity
• perseverance
• inclination
• zealousness
• what-it-takes

There are also many different words that mean the opposite of the word zeal. These are called antonyms. Learning antonyms for different words is also a great way to expand your English language vocabulary. This list of antonyms for the word zeal is also provided by Thesaurus .  

• lack of interest
• disinterest
• callousness
• cold shoulder
• insouciance
• insensibility
• disinterestedness
• noninterference
• objectivity
• impassiveness
• inattention
• passiveness
• insensitivity
• cold-bloodedness
• unmindfulness
• carelessness
• impartiality
• isolationism
• indifference
• impassivity
• heedlessness
• unresponsiveness
• emotionlessness
• listlessness
• nonchalance

Overall, the word zeal is a noun that refers to an eagerness or passion about something. This person has an enthusiastic diligence, passionate ardor, active interest, and a tireless devotion to their passion, which is not dependent on its popularity. Such fervour is often used to refer to someone who is religious, such as a missionary, but could be used in any other number of contexts to refer to a passion or enthusiasm for something. 

• https://www.wordsense.eu/zeal/
• https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/zeal
• https://www.etymonline.com/word/zeal#etymonline_v_5001
• https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/apathy
• https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zeal
• https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/zeal

Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.

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A necessary effect of love, being the vehement movement of one who loves to [secure] the object of his love

Zeal (from delos , a derivative of deo ) “to boil”, to “throb with heat”), is “a necessary effect of love”, being “the vehement move-ment of one who loves to [secure] the object of his love” ( vehemens motus amantis in rem amatam, St. Thomas, “Summa Theol.”, I-II, Q. xxviii, a. 4). Here the distinctive note is in the vehemence, or intensity, of the action to which love impels, an intensity which is proportioned to that of the love felt. As there are two kinds of love, the amor concupiscentioe, which is self-regarding, and the amor amicitiae, which is altruistic, two corresponding kinds of zeal might be distinguished, but by usage the term is restricted to the zeal prompted by the amor amicitioe; indeed, in its religious sense it is applied solely to the zeal inspired by the love of God , to the ardent endeavors and works undertaken to promote His glory. Here again we can subdivide according as this zeal for God manifests itself in works of devotedness directed towards the fulfilment of the first or the second of the two great Commandments. In the Bible (cf. Psalm lxiii, 10; Num., xxv, 11; Tit., ii, 14, etc.) it is mostly used in the first of these applications; in the phrase “zeal for souls” it is used in the second, and in this sense it is much the most common among religious writers.

Zeal, being love in action, just on that account tends to remove as far as lies in its power all that is injurious or hostile to the object of its love; it has thus its antipathies as well as its attractions. Moreover, since, though itself appertaining to the will, it presupposes an exercise of judgment as to the appropriate means for the attainment of its object, we must further distinguish true and false zeal, according as the judgment guiding it is sound or unsound. Thus St. Paul’s zeal was zeal through-out, but it was false zeal in the days when he persecuted the Church , true zeal when he became its Apostle. “Caritas Christi urget nos” are the words with which this Apostle described the promptings within his own breast of this zeal which contributed so powerfully to lay the foundations of the Catholic Church . And it is a zeal of like nature which, enkindled in the breasts of so many generations of ardent followers of Christ, has, in its cooperation with the lavish gifts of the Holy Spirit , built that Church up into the greatest marvel of human history. For it is the zeal of all those devout souls which, as distinguished from the lukewarmness of the ordinary Christian , has sent forth the Apostles and missionaries to their lives of self-sacrifice, has filled the sanctuaries with an unfailing supply of good priests and the cloisters with throngs of fervent religious, which has organized, sustained, and developed so splendid an array of works of charity to meet almost every conceivable need of suffering humanity.

Zeal in the Bible | Character Traits of Paul the Apostle – Gal 1:14

• Jason D'Ambrosio
• December 5, 2019

Zeal in the Bible|Character Traits of Paul the Apostle

Zeal in the bible has the same meaning as everywhere else.  It is passion.  This was one of the key character traits of Paul the Apostle that allowed him to have an incredible amount of influence in the first-century church.

The difference between advancing in life and staying in the same place can often be summed up in one word.  That word is passion.  Success is not easy.  Any worthwhile accomplishment will be met with challenges.  It is when we face obstacles that passion can drive us to do whatever it takes to win.

A great example of zeal in the Bible is found within the story of the Apostle that wrote most of the new testament.  Before his encounter with Jesus,

Paul was Saul.  Saul was a man of influence who excelled at his life goals.  He was respected in Judaism for his dedication to Jewish tradition and gained even more credibility as a persecutor of Christians.  He would arrest them, beat and kill them as punishment for what he and the religious leaders deemed as blasphemy.  You could say that Saul was dedicated to his work.  That dedication came with opportunity, promotion, and notoriety.

Zeal in the bible proves to be a differentiator for the Apostle Paul and you!

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul encourages the  church that the Gospel he preaches  is not from man, but from God.  It is now a Divine source that drives him on his life’s mission.  The Apostle also lets them in on a personal trait that he attributes to his success dating back even before becoming a Christian.  Paul writes:

11  I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin.   12  I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.    13  For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.   14  I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.    Gal 1:11-14

Read Galatians 1 in full context There is so much that we can learn from Galatians 1, but for the sake of this article we will focus zeal as one of the characteristics of Paul the Apostle.  It separated him apart from his peers.  It was his zeal (passion) for his work.

Remember, Your Passion is not a destination

So many of us have dreams, goals, and desires for our own lives yet go through life missing the mark on significant achievements.  This can often be attributed to a lack of passion. We treat passion as if it were a destination and somehow that once we get to a place, a title, a whatever, then we will have “achieved our passion”.  This is not so.

Passion is a trait within us.  It is a daily commitment of mind, body, and spirit that overflows into every area of life.  Zeal is a state of being and if present, shows up in our words and actions.  Win or lose, right or wrong, it is the will to do more than others.  This willingness sets us apart from those around us.

The character traits of Paul the Apostle |Passion and Zeal lead to promotion

We do not get promoted to a place of passion.  We get promoted from a place of passion.  A passionate person is almost always led to an opportunity for 2 reasons.

• Inspiration  – Influential people recognize it and are often inspired to welcome you into doors you would otherwise not be able to enter.
• Awareness –  Someone with passion is not just “going through the motions”.  If you are operating out of a place of passion, you will be more open to possibilities that we may have never considered.

Mike Rowe of the show  Dirty Jobs offered an interesting monologue on not pursuing a passion.  He encourages viewers to chase opportunities instead and take your passion with you.

What you are willing to sacrifice?

We refer to the death of Jesus as the “Passion of Christ”.  We couldn’t study zeal in the bible without a mention of this.  God that loved us enough to sacrifice His Son.  That is passion. Consider the words of the Apostle Paul.

I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.    Gal 1:11-14

As Saul, he rose in the ranks of Judaism. His zeal drove him to do things others were not willing to attempt.  The people around him probably looked at his commitment and were amazed.  As we all know, the direction of the Apostle’s life changed dramatically when Jesus touched his heart.  So did the extent of his passion.

When Paul was an opponent of Christ, he was willing to kill for what he believed.  Once he encountered the truth of the Gospel and a greater purpose, Paul was willing to die for his life’s purpose.  Paul’s zeal reached an entirely new level in which he was willing to take up his own cross (sacrificing Himself) to do  God’s work .  Personal sacrifice also became one of the character trait of Paul the Apostle.

What do you want to do?

Do you want more opportunities in life?  Consider implementing the character traits of Paul the Apostle and other examples of zeal in the bible.

Be willing to be more zealous than those around you.  What is it that motivates you to be more and do more, no matter what the cost?  Start at the end and work your way back. When you leave this earth, what is it that you want people to recall about you?  Remember, your passion should not be a but be yearning in your heart.  It is who you are.

For example, is your passion to be a police officer or is it that you want to protect people from harm? Do you want to be a physician or is your heart desiring to see people who are suffering comforted? A Police Officer is a job.  A Physician is a title.  These are vehicles in which the passion of your life can make a difference. Trust God with your desires and he may guide you to a different title. He may lead you on a path you never considered, but He is the One who placed a passion inside of you.

Be willing to take it with you on the journey and like Paul, what starts out as a personal goal can be an existence that changes the world. Don’t wait!  Take Action!

Consider the Dangers of Procrastination from Proverbs 24.

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2024 Texas Open live stream, watch online, TV schedule, channel, tee times, golf coverage, radio

The pga tour stays in texas this week for one last tune up before the masters.

Just four rounds stand between players and the first major championship of the season. The 2024 Texas Open will serve as the final tune up for some of the world's best as they search for form ahead of the Masters. While many of the top names in the field have already booked their trips to Augusta National, the Texas Open will grant one final spot in the field should a winner without an invitation emerge.

Not needing to worry about this is world No. 2 Rory McIlroy, who has experienced a somewhat tumultuous season up to this point. A bit more erratic with his long game than what we are used to, McIlroy is without a top-10 finish on the PGA Tour and has struggled to string four rounds together. McIlroy hopes to find whatever this missing link may be at TPC San Antonio, where he last played in 2022. McIlroy missed the cut that week, but it served as a good preparation; he finished runner-up at the Masters a week later. 

Also factoring in Masters past are champions such as Jordan Spieth and Hideki Matsuyama, who are heading in opposite directions in terms of form. Matsuyama, a winner at the Genesis Invitational, looks much like the man who donned the green jacket in 2021. Spieth, meanwhile, has struggled with consistency. Fresh off back-to-back missed cuts at the Players Championship and Valspar Championship, Spieth is in need of some strong play leading into the Masters. 

Collin Morikawa finds himself in a similar position with cold iron play, while players such as Max Homa, Matt FItzpatrick Ludvig Aberg, Tommy Fleetwood and Brian Harman appear keen on entering the winner's circle.

All times Eastern; streaming start times approximated   

Round 2 - Friday

Round starts:  8:15 a.m.

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Live TV coverage:  4-7 p.m. on Golf Channel,  fubo  (Try for free) Live streaming:  4-7 p.m. on Peacock

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Early TV coverage:  1 - 3:30 p.m. on Golf Channel,  fubo  (Try for free) Live streaming:  1 - 3:30 p.m. on Peacock

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