Dictionary of Bible Themes 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. Genesis 18:4Physical cleansing from impurity by washing or refining Job 9:30Psalms 12:6 Leviticus 10:10-11 Ritual impurity must be avoided or cleansed See also Isaiah 35:8; 52:1,11Mark 7:2,4 Leviticus 12:2 Sexual sources of ritual impurity See also Childbirth Leviticus 12:5Luke 2:22 Exodus 19:15 Leviticus 15:18 Sexual intercourse 1 Samuel 21:4Leviticus 15:16-17 Deuteronomy 23:10-11 Seminal emission 1 Samuel 20:26Leviticus 15:19-20 2 Samuel 11:2-4 Menstruation Ezekiel 18:6Leviticus 15:1-2,25-27 Matthew 9:20 Abnormal discharge pp Mk 5:25 pp Lk 8:43 Numbers 19:11-16Other sources of ritual impurity Dead bodies Genesis 7:2See also Unclean creatures Leviticus 11:24,46-47Deuteronomy 14:3 Hosea 9:3 Leviticus 13:45 See also Skin diseases Matthew 8:2-4pp Mk 1:40-44 Leviticus 14:36pp Lk 5:12-14 Mildew Leviticus 16:26Contact with a sin offering Leviticus 14:8Cleansing from ritual impurity See also Leviticus 16:26Numbers 19:17-21,9,17-21; 31:22-23 Fire is also a purifying agent. Exodus 19:10Contact with God demanded purity See also Exodus 19:14-15; 30:18-21Hebrews 10:22 Matthew 15:11 Ritual purity is not required under the new covenant See also pp Mk 7:15 Acts 10:12-15; 21:26What concerns God is moral impurity, associated with actions, not ritual impurity, associated with food, etc. Romans 14:14Galatians 2:11-12 Paul took part in Jewish purification rites in accordance with his Jewish heritage Galatians 2:14-151 Timothy 4:4 Peter temporarily relapsed into the habit of treating Gentiles as unclean See also 1065 God, holiness of4354 rock 4860 wind 6608 adoption 7342 cleanliness 7344 curtain 7418 Purim 7426 ritual washing 7428 Sabbath 7480 wave offering 8202 boldness 8205 childlikeness |
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