Dictionary of Bible Themes Dictionary of Bible Themes » 8000 The life of the believer » 8200 The character of the believer » 8324 purity » 8325 purity, nature of The OT recognises a close link between outer cleanliness and inner purity. In the NT, special emphasis is placed on inner purity resulting from spiritual renewal. Physical cleansing from impurity by washing or refining Genesis 18:4; Job 9:30; Psalm 12:6 Ritual impurity must be avoided or cleansed Leviticus 10:10-11 See also Isaiah 35:8; Isaiah 52:1,11; Mark 7:2,4 Sexual sources of ritual impurity Childbirth Leviticus 12:2 See also Leviticus 12:5; Luke 2:22 Sexual intercourse Exodus 19:15; Leviticus 15:18; 1 Samuel 21:4 Seminal emission Leviticus 15:16-17; Deuteronomy 23:10-11; 1 Samuel 20:26 Menstruation Leviticus 15:19-20; 2 Samuel 11:2-4; Ezekiel 18:6 Abnormal discharge Leviticus 15:1-2,25-27; Matthew 9:20 pp Mark 5:25 pp Luke 8:43 Other sources of ritual impurity Dead bodies Unclean creatures Genesis 7:2 See also Leviticus 11:24,46-47; Deuteronomy 14:3; Hosea 9:3 Skin diseases Leviticus 13:45 See also Matthew 8:2-4 pp Mark 1:40-44 pp Luke 5:12-14 Mildew Contact with a sin offering Cleansing from ritual impurity Leviticus 14:8 See also Leviticus 16:26; Numbers 19:17-21,9,17-21; Numbers 31:22-23 Fire is also a purifying agent. Contact with God demanded purity Exodus 19:10 See also Exodus 19:14-15; Exodus 30:18-21; Hebrews 10:22 Ritual purity is not required under the new covenant Matthew 15:11 pp Mark 7:15 What concerns God is moral impurity, associated with actions, not ritual impurity, associated with food, etc. See also Acts 10:12-15; Acts 21:26 Paul took part in Jewish purification rites in accordance with his Jewish heritage; Romans 14:14; Galatians 2:11-12 Peter temporarily relapsed into the habit of treating Gentiles as unclean; Galatians 2:14-15; 1 Timothy 4:4 See also
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