Dictionary of Bible Themes God is the Maker and sustainer of all things and therefore all creatures owe everything to him. Scripture provides guidance concerning both debt and debtors. 1 Corinthians 4:7Everyone is in debt to God as Creator See also Deuteronomy 8:17-181 Chronicles 29:11-13 Psalms 24:1-2 Ecclesiastes 5:19 Acts 14:17; 17:25 1 Timothy 6:17 Romans 3:19 Everyone is in debt to God as law-giver James 2:10See also Deuteronomy 27:26Psalms 49:7-8 Malachi 3:8-10 Luke 7:41-42 Galatians 3:10; 5:3 Galatians 3:13 Believers are in debt to God as Redeemer See also He has paid their debt 2 Corinthians 8:91 Peter 1:18 Revelation 5:9 Psalms 116:12 See also A sense of debt inspires devotion to God Luke 7:41-47Romans 8:12 1 Corinthians 6:20 Matthew 10:8 See also Indebtedness to God affects attitude to others Matthew 6:12Matthew 18:21-35 1 John 3:16; 4:11 pp Lk 11:4 1 Samuel 22:2Examples of people in debt 2 Kings 4:1Nehemiah 5:4 Matthew 5:25-26; 18:23-35 Luke 16:1-8 Romans 4:4 James 5:4 Leviticus 19:13 Debts must be paid 2 Kings 4:7Psalms 37:21 Romans 13:7-8 Nehemiah 5:3-5 Social ills result from debt Job 24:3,9Psalms 109:11 Ezekiel 18:12-13; 22:12 Amos 2:6 Exodus 22:25 OT laws sought to minimise debt Leviticus 25:35-36By commanding generous lending to the poor Deuteronomy 15:7-11Psalms 15:5 Proverbs 19:17 Leviticus 25:37-43 Deuteronomy 24:6 By curbing exploitation of debtors Deuteronomy 15:1-3; 31:10Nehemiah 10:31 By cancelling debts every seventh year Matthew 5:25Preventatives against needless debt Romans 13:8Keeping short accounts Proverbs 22:7Matthew 5:26 Remembering the evil consequences Matthew 22:17-21Debts to the state Paying taxes See also pp Mk 12:14-17 Romans 13:6-7pp Lk 20:22-25 Romans 13:7Civic honour Romans 4:4Debts to employees See also Leviticus 19:13James 5:4 Philemon 1:18-19 Debts within the church See also Towards Christian workers 1 Corinthians 9:7-12Galatians 6:6 Romans 1:14 Towards the unsaved Romans 15:26-27The indebtedness of the Gentile church towards the Jerusalem church Matthew 6:12Debts to be cancelled See also 1 Corinthians 13:5pp Lk 11:4 Romans 12:17Debts one should never pay See also 1 Peter 3:9Romans 13:8-10 A debt one can never cease paying See also 5233 borrowing5274 credit 5353 interest 5389 lending 5404 masters 5446 poverty 5577 taxation 6652 forgiveness 6714 ransom 6720 redemption 8224 dependence 8292 love |
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