v. Desire, Intention, Will
Eph 3:11 according to the eternal p which he made in Christ
1Ti 1:5 the p of this commandment is love
2Ti 3:10 doctrine, conduct, p, faith, long-suffering
Rev 17:13 these have one p, and will deliver
Desire or decision to do or obtain something, for which the person moves through different paths to reach it. In ascetics this concept is frequently used to indicate the improvement of life (purpose of amendment), to express personal or collective projects (good purposes), to determine the preferences and ecclesial attitudes in which one participates (apostolic purposes) .
But the purpose, which is the disposition of the will or of wanting, is not enough to be formulated for it to be good. It has to be done afterwards. That is why there is talk of firmness, efficiency and sincerity so that it is good.
Pedro Chico González, Dictionary of Catechesis and Religious Pedagogy, Editorial Bruño, Lima, Peru 2006
Source: Dictionary of Catechesis and Religious Pedagogy
The English word “purpose” is the translation of a wide variety of Hebrew and Greek words used in the Scriptures. Often, only the context serves to point to the element of purpose (for example, the word to love in 1 R. 5:5 and 2 Chr. 28:10, “to have determined” in RV60). The word could refer primarily to a goal set by choice, or conceived as desirable (Jdg. 5:16; 2 Kings 12:17; Rom. 1:13; 2 Tim. 3:10); or it could refer to the mental act by which this goal is chosen or decreed (Dan. 1:8; Acts 11:23; Lam. 2:8 “determined”).
God’s purposes are eternal (Eph. 3:11), unchangeable (Ps. 138:8), and will surely be fulfilled (Isa. 14:24). Salvation is the primary concern of his purpose (Rom. 8:28–30), characterized by grace and Christ-centered (2 Tim. 1:9).
Kenneth S. Kantzer
RV60 Reina-Valera, Revision 1960
Harrison, EF, Bromiley, GW, & Henry, CFH (2006). Dictionary of Theology (496). Grand Rapids, MI: Challenge Books.
Source: Dictionary of Theology