**This is a study for one of my Apostolic/Prophetic training classes that I submitted.
As you stated Apostle Patterson, Integrity is indeed a most misunderstood word. Most people have a 'thereabouts' idea of what the word means and I must confess that I am one of those that didn't really know; much less, understand the full meaning of what this word means; not to man; but to Yahweh Himself. The strong's concordance: http://lexiconcordance.com/ defines 'Integrity' in hebrew from seven words and variations:
1.H5228 nakoach nawkoakh from the same as H5226 adj subst
... as H5226 straightforward that is figuratively equitable correct or abstractly integrity plain right uprightness
2.H5229 nekochah nekokhaw from H5228 adj f
...ude subst Feminine of H5228 properly straight forwardness that is figuratively integrity or concretely a truth equity right thing uprightness
3.H8535 tam tawm from H8552 adj
...nd wholesome an ordinary quiet sort of person complete morally innocent having integrity one who is morally and ethically pure From H8552 complete usually morally pious specifically gentle dear coupled together perfect plain undefiled uprig...
4.H8537 tom tome from H8552 n m
integrity completeness completeness fulness innocence simplicity integrity From H8552 completeness figuratively prosperity usually morally innocence full integrity perfection simplicity uprightly uprightness at a venture See H8550
5.H8538 tummah toommaw from H8537 n f
integrity Feminine of H8537 innocence integrity
6.H8549 tamiym tawmeem from H8552 adj
...d healthful complete entire of time sound wholesome unimpaired innocent having integrity what is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact neuter adj subst From H8552 entire literally figuratively or morally also as noun integrity ...
7.H8552 tamam tawmam a primitive root v
...ete sum up make whole to destroy uncleanness to make sound Hithpael to deal in integrity act uprightly A primitive root to complete in a good or a bad sense literally or figuratively transitively or intransitively accomplish cease be clean ...
Intergrity is also tied in to the word Holy which among the meanigs of set-apartness, purity etc. the word Holy means to be INTERGRATED, of which the word Integrity is related; meaning to be whole, to be complete, no fragments, Yahweh is complete, He is whole, He is fully intergrated within Himself. He does not need any portion of Himself restored (Ps. 23:3-Restore my soul i.e. bring me back to the place where I was once as you are; whole, complete, fully intergrated since I've been created in your Image and Likeness...), Yahweh is what He says and says what He does. To be Holy means there is no dichotomy between what you do and who you are. Yahweh is one with Himself or Intergrated (i.e. Integral/Integrity) and with His word.
Here is a definition of the history of the words: Integrity and Intergrated from a Police Dynamics Training Page:
The word integrity has an interesting history. It comes from a Latin word – Integritas – which means wholeness or completeness.
We get the word “integrated” from that same root. If something is integrated, all the pieces fit together so that it has strength under pressure.
And, we use the word “integrity” to describe things other than people. We might use it to describe a building. We say a building has "structural integrity" if all the pieces fit together in such a way as to give strength under pressure.
We say a bridge has structural integrity if all the pieces fit together so that it can withstand the weight of the cars and trucks going across. But, let’s suppose the structure has a flaw, a weakness. And it can’t stand the weight of the cars and trucks and collapses under the weight. We could say that the bridge has dis-integrated, and there’s the same use of that word.
The History of Integritas
During the days of the Roman Empire, the soldiers would line up for inspection much like we do in our military today. Each soldier would be in full battle gear with his breastplate in place, his helmet secured, his sword and his shield on his side.
As the army commander, known as the centurion, would walk down the line, the tradition was for each soldier to snap to attention and bang his breastplate with his fist. As he did, he would shout the word “Integritas!”
This meant that he was whole, complete, and ready for battle. And not only was he physically prepared, he was mentally and spiritually prepared as well. He was of one mind and one purpose – to accomplish the mission that had been set before him.
This is the essence of integrity.
We get the word “integrated” from that same root. If something is integrated, all the pieces fit together so that it has strength under pressure.
And, we use the word “integrity” to describe things other than people. We might use it to describe a building. We say a building has "structural integrity" if all the pieces fit together in such a way as to give strength under pressure.
We say a bridge has structural integrity if all the pieces fit together so that it can withstand the weight of the cars and trucks going across. But, let’s suppose the structure has a flaw, a weakness. And it can’t stand the weight of the cars and trucks and collapses under the weight. We could say that the bridge has dis-integrated, and there’s the same use of that word.
The History of Integritas
During the days of the Roman Empire, the soldiers would line up for inspection much like we do in our military today. Each soldier would be in full battle gear with his breastplate in place, his helmet secured, his sword and his shield on his side.
As the army commander, known as the centurion, would walk down the line, the tradition was for each soldier to snap to attention and bang his breastplate with his fist. As he did, he would shout the word “Integritas!”
This meant that he was whole, complete, and ready for battle. And not only was he physically prepared, he was mentally and spiritually prepared as well. He was of one mind and one purpose – to accomplish the mission that had been set before him.
This is the essence of integrity.
Merrian Webster says:
in·teg·ri·ty
noun \in-ˈte-grə-tē\
Definition of INTEGRITY
1. firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : incorruptibility
2. an unimpaired condition : soundness
3. the quality or state of being complete or undivided : completeness
Middle English integrite, from Middle French & Latin;
Middle French integrité,
from Latin integritat-, integritas, from integr-, integer entire
noun \in-ˈte-grə-tē\
Definition of INTEGRITY
1. firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : incorruptibility
2. an unimpaired condition : soundness
3. the quality or state of being complete or undivided : completeness
Middle English integrite, from Middle French & Latin;
Middle French integrité,
from Latin integritat-, integritas, from integr-, integer entire
*First Known Use: 14th century
Synonyms: character, decency, goodness, honesty, morality, probity, rectitude, righteousness, rightness, uprightness, virtue, virtuousness
Antonyms: badness, evil, evildoing, immorality, iniquity, sin, villainy, wickedness
Entry from World dictionary (one of the Oxford Old English Dictionaries)
noun
[mass noun]
1 the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles:a gentleman of complete integrity
2 the state of being whole and undivided:upholding territorial integrity and national sovereignty
the condition of being unified or sound in construction:the structural integrity of the novel
internal consistency or lack of corruption in electronic data:[as modifier] :integrity checking
noun
[mass noun]
1 the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles:a gentleman of complete integrity
2 the state of being whole and undivided:upholding territorial integrity and national sovereignty
the condition of being unified or sound in construction:the structural integrity of the novel
internal consistency or lack of corruption in electronic data:[as modifier] :integrity checking
Origin:
late Middle English (in integrity (sense 2) ): from French intégrité or Latin integritas, from integer 'intact' (see integer). Compare with entirety, integral, and integrate
You asked the question what is the relation between integrity and fool and there is none. There is never any common or familiar thread between the two. The Integral is as seperated from the Self-Confident Fool as the great gulf that seperated Lazarus the Beggar in Avraham's Bosom from the Rich Fool in Hell. An integral man is upright, he is sincere in his worship (obedience) to Abba, He exercises care over his words and actions making certain to bring no unnecessary offense toward his bretheren. He may be poor in things of the natural, material world; but he is considered rich in the things of Yahweh because He's become submitted enough that Yah has been able to bring him to a place of completion, a place of wholeness, to be intergrated and not lacking in his soul before Yah and he, the poor man, is content in that as opposed to the fool which historical biblical translations say the word 'fool' means one who despises Elohim or to casually dismiss Him and dismiss His hand in your affairs...a place of pride where your intellect, skill set, abilities and such are the reason you're successful and rich; therefore all of your ways and thoughts, and mind, and words are perverse (meanings for perverse are: crooked, distorted, turned upside down, bent, be bowed down, evil, iniquity, warped, falsify, wearisome, wickedness)...meaning the words of his mouth are hollow and distorted...no substance, they (his words) are not the storehouse of Yah's truth...everything is fleshly, common and downright earthy and steeped in self. Individuals that lack intergration and don't dwell in Integrity are ALWAYS in trouble! Always falling, always making a mess of things, always saying the wrong things, always inviting and attracting unncessary persecution and misfortune upon themselves. Their distortions cause them to always walk in the way of delusion and deception and harm and hurt and eventually death.
The Scriptures say that Integrity causes one walking to walk securely, Integrity guides the upright, Integrity promotes good conscience according to 1 Peter 3:16 and maintaing a lifestyle of this will cause those that slander your behavior to be put to shame for speaking against your OBVIOUS good. Integrity also speaks to faithfullness which speaks to Faith or your favorite word, Apostle, Emunah, secure, firm, holding up of something, something nailed in place securely. Scriptures say that those who walk IN integrity their children will be blessed. Integrity is more pleasing to Yah than sacrifices, Integrity is alligned with righteousness (uprightness) and it causes a persons path to be level. Salvation and deliverance comes for those who are Integral. Nothing life-wise or good has ever come to a downright fool of a man! A fool may be accepted, but briefly; very briefly before he is recognized for what he truly is and cast away. The Integral person who dwells in Integrity never lacks anything of substance and secure firmenss. They are never easy to break or bend because of the INTERNAL integration...the inside wholeness and completeness and strength of solidity. This is important to Yahweh because Integrity is hand-in-hand with CONSISTENCY and this is why Yahweh declares, unchallenged, 'I Am Yahweh and I change not!'
I am having integration/integrity built in me...although first I am going through the process of de-construction of things that are useless to Yahweh; and its alot (smile), and this is where brokeness comes in, where He has to bend you into the necessary shape He needs you to be for Him and that can be a rough process but the end result is what i'm looking forward to. I want my days on this earth to be characterized and stained by Integrity and everything that walks with it.
humbly submitted,
Seer O. PreJean
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