{
  "id": "dict_006069",
  "term": "Work and vocation",
  "slug": "work-and-vocation",
  "letter": "W",
  "entry_type": "theological_term",
  "entry_family": "theological_term",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "Work is part of God’s good design for human life, and vocation refers to a person’s calling to serve God faithfully in everyday responsibilities. Scripture presents ordinary labor as meaningful when done in obedience to the Lord and for the good of others.",
  "simple_one_line": "",
  "tooltip_text": "",
  "aliases": [],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [],
  "see_also": [],
  "lede_intro": "",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [],
  "description_academic_short": "In Scripture, human work begins before the fall and is therefore not merely a result of sin, though sin has made labor painful and frustrated. Vocation refers broadly to the call to belong to Christ and, within that, to serve him faithfully in one’s various roles, tasks, and occupations. The Bible honors honest labor, warns against idleness and injustice, and teaches believers to do their work as unto the Lord.",
  "description_academic_full": "Work and vocation are theological terms that describe God’s purpose for human labor and calling. Scripture shows that work belongs to God’s good creation order: humanity was made in God’s image and given responsibility to cultivate, steward, and govern under him. After the fall, work remains good but is now marked by toil, frustration, and misuse. In Christian teaching, vocation is not limited to church office or explicitly religious activity; it includes the believer’s call to follow Christ faithfully in ordinary stations of life, using gifts, opportunities, and responsibilities to honor God and serve neighbor. The New Testament emphasizes diligence, honesty, justice, provision for one’s household, generosity, and wholehearted service to the Lord in all legitimate labor. Because some traditions use “calling” in narrower or broader ways, the safest conclusion is that Scripture clearly affirms both the dignity of ordinary work and the believer’s responsibility to carry it out in submission to God.",
  "background_biblical_context": "",
  "background_historical_context": "",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "",
  "key_texts_primary": [],
  "key_texts_secondary": [],
  "original_language_note": "",
  "theological_significance": "",
  "philosophical_explanation": "",
  "interpretive_cautions": "",
  "major_views_note": "",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "",
  "practical_significance": "",
  "meta_description": "Work is part of God’s good design for human life, and vocation refers to a person’s calling to serve God faithfully in everyday responsibilities. Scripture presents ordinary labor as meaningful when done in obedience to the Lord and for the good of others.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/work-and-vocation/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/work-and-vocation.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}