Bible Dictionaries
Supply

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

primarily, among the Greeks signified "to lead a stage chorus or dance" (choros, and hegeomai, "to lead"), then, "to defray the expenses of a chorus;" hence, later, metaphorically, "to supply," 2 Corinthians 9:10 (2nd part; see also No. 2), RV, "supply" (AV "minister"); 1 Peter 4:11 , RV, "supplieth" (AV, "givetg"). See GIVE , Note (4), MINISTER , B, Note (1).

"to supply fully, abundantly" (a strengthen form of No. 1), is rendered "to supply" in the RV of 2 Corinthians 9:10 (1st part) and Galatians 3:5 (for AV, "to minister"), where the present continuous tense speaks of the work of the Holy Spirit in all His ministrations to believers individually and collectively; in Colossians 2:19 , RV, "being supplied" (AV, "having nourishment ministered"), of the work of Christ as the Head of the church His body; in 2 Peter 1:5 , "supply" (AV, "add"); in 2 Peter 1:11 , "shall be ... supplied" (AV, "shall be ministered"), of the reward hereafter which those are to receive, in regard to positions in the kingdom of God, for their fulfillment here of the condition mentioned.

Note: In 2 Corinthians 9:10 (see Nos. 1 and 2 above) the stronger verb No. 2 is used where the will and capacity to receive are in view.

"to fill up, fulfil," is rendered "to supply" in 1 Corinthians 16:17; Philippians 2:30 . See FILL , FULFILL , OCCUPY.

"to fill up by adding to, to supply fully" (pros, "to," and No. 3), is translated "supplieth" in 2 Corinthians 9:12 , AV (RV, "filleth up the measure of"); in 2 Corinthians 11:9 , RV and AV, "supplied."

Note: In Philippians 4:19 , AV, pleroo, to fulfill (RV), is rendered "shall supply."

"a full supply," occurs in Ephesians 4:16 , "supplieth," lit., "by the supply of every joint," metaphorically of the members of the church, the body of which Christ is the Head, and Philippians 1:19 , "the supply (of the Spirit of Jesus Christ)," i.e., "the bountiful supply;" here "of the Spirit" may be taken either in the subjective sense, the Giver, or the objective, the Gift.