Definition and Concept
Liberty, in the biblical context, refers to the state of being free from oppressive restrictions or bondage, whether physical, spiritual, or moral. It is a theme that runs throughout Scripture, emphasizing freedom from sin, the law, and worldly constraints through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.

Old Testament Context
In the Old Testament, liberty is often associated with the release from physical bondage and oppression. The Year of Jubilee, described in Leviticus 25:10, is a prime example: "Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you is to return to his property and each of you to his clan." This year was marked by the freeing of slaves and the return of property, symbolizing God's desire for His people to live in freedom and justice.

The Exodus narrative is another significant illustration of liberty, where God delivers the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. This event is foundational in understanding God's power to liberate His people and His desire for them to live in freedom under His covenant.

New Testament Context
In the New Testament, liberty takes on a more profound spiritual dimension. Jesus Christ is central to this understanding, as He fulfills the Old Testament prophecies and brings true freedom. In Luke 4:18, Jesus declares, "The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed." Here, liberty is not only physical but also spiritual, as Jesus offers freedom from sin and its consequences.

The Apostle Paul further elaborates on this concept in his epistles. In Galatians 5:1, he writes, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery." Paul emphasizes that believers are liberated from the law's demands and the bondage of sin through faith in Christ. This freedom, however, is not a license for sinful behavior but an opportunity to serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13).

Spiritual Liberty
Spiritual liberty is a key aspect of Christian life, as believers are freed from the power of sin and death. Romans 8:2 states, "For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death." This freedom is made possible through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who empowers believers to live according to God's will.

Moral and Ethical Implications
Liberty in Christ also carries moral and ethical responsibilities. While Christians are free from the law's condemnation, they are called to live in a manner that reflects their new identity in Christ. In 1 Peter 2:16, believers are instructed, "Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God." This verse highlights the balance between enjoying the freedom Christ provides and living a life of obedience and service to God.

Liberty and the Church
The early church grappled with issues of liberty, particularly concerning the observance of Jewish laws and customs. The Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 addressed these concerns, affirming that Gentile believers were not bound by the Mosaic Law, thus reinforcing the principle of liberty in Christ.

Conclusion
While liberty is a gift from God, it is also a call to responsibility. Christians are to use their freedom to glorify God, serve others, and live holy lives. The biblical concept of liberty is ultimately about being free to fulfill God's purposes and to experience the abundant life offered through Jesus Christ.John 8:36
If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.
Topicalbible.org

Galatians 5:13
For, brothers, you have been called to liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Topicalbible.org

1 Peter 2:16
As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
Topicalbible.org

2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Topicalbible.org

1. (n.) The state of a free person; exemption from subjection to the will of another claiming ownership of the person or services; freedom; -- opposed to slavery, serfdom, bondage, or subjection.

2. (n.) Freedom from imprisonment, bonds, or other restraint upon locomotion.

3. (n.) A privilege conferred by a superior power; permission granted; leave; as, liberty given to a child to play, or to a witness to leave a court, and the like.

4. (n.) Privilege; exemption; franchise; immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant; as, the liberties of the commercial cities of Europe.

5. (n.) The place within which certain immunities are enjoyed, or jurisdiction is exercised.

6. (n.) A certain amount of freedom; permission to go freely within certain limits; also, the place or limits within which such freedom is exercised; as, the liberties of a prison.

7. (n.) A privilege or license in violation of the laws of etiquette or propriety; as, to permit, or take, a liberty.

8. (n.) The power of choice; freedom from necessity; freedom from compulsion or constraint in willing.

9. (n.) A curve or arch in a bit to afford room for the tongue of the horse.

10. (n.) Leave of absence; permission to go on shore.

LIBERTY

lib'-er-ti (deror, rachabh; eleutheria): The opposite of servitude or bondage, hence, applicable to captives or slaves set free from oppression (thus deror, Leviticus 25:10 Isaiah 61:1, etc.). Morally, the power which enslaves is sin (John 8:34), and liberty consists, not simply in external freedom, or in possession of the formal power of choice, but in deliverance from the darkening of the mind, the tyranny of sinful lusts and the enthrallment of the will, induced by a morally corrupt state. In a positive respect, it consists in the possession of holiness, with the will and ability to do what is right and good. Such liberty is possible only in a renewed condition of soul, and cannot exist apart from godliness. Even under the Old Testament godly men could boast of a measure of such liberty (Psalm 119:45, rachabh, "room," "breadth"), but it is the gospel of Christ which bestows it in its fullness, in giving a full and clear knowledge of God, discovering the way of forgiveness, supplying the highest motives to holiness and giving the Holy Spirit to destroy the power of sin and to quicken to righteousness. In implanting a new life in the soul, the gospel lifts the believer out of the sphere of external law, and gives him a sense of freedom in his new filial relation to God. Hence, the New Testament expressions about "the glorious liberty" of God's children (Romans 8:21 the King James Version; compare Galatians 2:4; Galatians 5:13, etc.), about liberty as resulting from the possession of the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17), about "the perfect law of liberty" (James 1:25). The instrument through which this liberty is imparted is "the truth" (John 8:32). Christians are earnestly warned not to presume upon, or abuse their liberty in Christ (Galatians 5:13 1 Peter 2:16).

James Orr

1657. eleutheria -- liberty, freedom
... liberty, freedom. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: eleutheria Phonetic
Spelling: (el-yoo-ther-ee'-ah) Short Definition: freedom, liberty ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1657.htm - 7k

1849. exousia -- power to act, authority
... to act, authority NASB Word Usage authorities (7), authority (65), charge (1), control
(1), domain (2), dominion (1), jurisdiction (1), liberty (1), power (11 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1849.htm - 8k

649. apostello -- to send, send away
... away (1), set (1). send forth, set at liberty. From apo and stello; set apart,
ie (by implication) to send out (properly, on a mission ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/649.htm - 10k

1658. eleutheros -- free, ie not a slave or not under restraint
... 3), free woman (4), freeman (1). free man, free woman, at liberty. Probably
from the alternate of erchomai; unrestrained (to go ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1658.htm - 7k

859. aphesis -- dismissal, release, fig. pardon
... deliverance, forgiveness, liberty, remission. From aphiemi; freedom; (figuratively)
pardon -- deliverance, forgiveness, liberty, remission. see GREEK aphiemi. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/859.htm - 7k

425. anesis -- a loosening, relaxation
... easing, liberty, rest. From aniemi; relaxation or (figuratively) relief -- eased,
liberty, rest. see GREEK aniemi. (anesin) -- 4 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/425.htm - 6k

3083. lutron -- a ransom
... 3083 () is used in the NT of the ultimate "liberty-price" -- the which (ransoms)
believers, freeing them from all slavery (bondage) to sin. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3083.htm - 7k

630. apoluo -- to set free, release
... or (figuratively) let die, pardon or (specially) divorce -- (let) depart, dismiss,
divorce, forgive, let go, loose, put (send) away, release, set at liberty. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/630.htm - 10k

2010. epitrepo -- to turn to, entrust, hence to permit
... give leave, let, permit. From epi and the base of trope; to turn over (transfer),
ie Allow -- give leave (liberty, license), let, permit, suffer. see GREEK epi. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2010.htm - 7k

1865. deror -- a flowing, free run, liberty
... 1864, 1865. deror. 1866 . a flowing, free run, liberty. Transliteration: deror
Phonetic Spelling: (der-ore') Short Definition: release. ... liberty, pure. ...
/hebrew/1865.htm - 6k

7342. rachab -- wide, broad
... Word Origin from rachab Definition wide, broad NASB Word Usage arrogant (2), broad
(7), broader (1), extensive (1), large* (2), liberty (1), proud (1 ...
/hebrew/7342.htm - 6k

2670. chophshi -- free
... free, liberty. From chaphash; exempt (from bondage, tax or care) -- free, liberty.
see HEBREW chaphash. 2669, 2670. chophshi. 2671 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/2670.htm - 6k

2668. chuphshah -- freedom
... Word Origin from chaphash Definition freedom NASB Word Usage freedom (1). freedom.
From chaphash; liberty (from slavery) -- freedom. see HEBREW chaphash. ...
/hebrew/2668.htm - 6k

3468. yesha -- deliverance, rescue, salvation, safety, welfare
... safety, salvation, saving. Or yeshai {yay'-shah}; from yasha'; liberty, deliverance,
prosperity -- safety, salvation, saving. see HEBREW yasha'. 3467, 3468. ...
/hebrew/3468.htm - 6k

4800. merchab -- a broad or roomy place
... From rachab; enlargement, either literally (an open space, usually in a good sense),
or figuratively (liberty) -- breadth, large place (room). ...
/hebrew/4800.htm - 6k

The Development of Religious Liberty in Connecticut
The Development of Religious Liberty in Connecticut. <. The Development
of Religious Liberty in Connecticut M. Louise Greene, Ph. D. ...
/.../greene/the development of religious liberty in connecticut/

The Limits of Liberty
... V) THE LIMITS OF LIBERTY. ... Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other:
for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? 30. ...
/.../romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/the limits of liberty 2.htm

The Limits of Liberty
... ROMANS THE LIMITS OF LIBERTY. ... It is a hard saying for some of us. Is my liberty to
be restricted by the narrow scruples of 'strait-laced' Christians? Yes. ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/the limits of liberty.htm

Spiritual Liberty
... Spiritual Liberty. A Sermon (No.9). ... "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
liberty.""2 Corinthians 3:17. LIBERTY is the birthright of every man. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/spiritual liberty.htm

The Liberty of Obedience
... THE LIBERTY OF OBEDIENCE. I know it would seem strange if I told you that every
boy and girl has to be tied to something in order that he may be free. ...
/.../chidley/fifty-two story talks to boys and girls/the liberty of obedience.htm

Set at Liberty.
... XIV. Set at Liberty. (Mark 6:27.) ... The Christian soldier is never off duty, never
out of the enemy's reach, never at liberty to relax his watch. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/meyer/john the baptist/xiv set at liberty.htm

Concerning Christian Liberty
... CONCERNING CHRISTIAN LIBERTY CONCERNING CHRISTIAN LIBERTY. CHRISTIAN faith
has appeared to many an easy thing; nay, not a few even ...
/.../luther/first principles of the reformation/concerning christian liberty.htm

Twentieth Day. Holiness and Liberty.
... Twentieth Day. Holiness and Liberty. 'Being made free ... 19, 22. 'Our liberty
which we have in Christ Jesus.'"Galatians 2:4. 'With ...
/.../murray/holy in christ/twentieth day holiness and liberty.htm

The Charter of Gentile Liberty
... THE ACTS CHAP. XIII TO END THE CHARTER OF GENTILE LIBERTY. 'Then all the
multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture the acts/the charter of gentile liberty.htm

At Liberty
... Lesson 46 At Liberty. While Paul's labors in Rome were being blessed to the
conversion of many souls and the strengthening and encouragement ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 46 at liberty.htm

Liberty (32 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) A privilege conferred by a superior power; permission granted; leave; as,
liberty given to a child to play, or to a witness to leave a court, and the ...
/l/liberty.htm - 20k

Year (4027 Occurrences)
... According to Leviticus 25:9 a loud trumpet should proclaim liberty throughout the
country on the 10th day of the 7th month (the Day of Atonement), after the ...
/y/year.htm - 26k

Jubilee (25 Occurrences)
... According to Leviticus 25:9 a loud trumpet should proclaim liberty throughout the
country on the 10th day of the 7th month (the Day of Atonement), after the ...
/j/jubilee.htm - 27k

Bondage (55 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The state of being bound; condition of being under restraint; restraint
of personal liberty by compulsion; involuntary servitude; slavery; captivity. ...
/b/bondage.htm - 28k

Release (61 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) To let loose again; to set free from restraint, confinement, or servitude;
to give liberty to, or to set at liberty; to let go. ...
/r/release.htm - 26k

Glorious (91 Occurrences)
... the Revised Version (British and American) has the noun "glory." So among others
in Romans 8:21, the King James Version has "glorious liberty," the Revised ...
/g/glorious.htm - 34k

Adoption (5 Occurrences)
... Greek 3. Roman II. PAUL'S DOCTRINE 1. In Galatians as Liberty 2. In Romans
as Deliverance from Debt III. THE CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE ...
/a/adoption.htm - 23k

Broad (113 Occurrences)
... Relief from distress: "Yea, he would have allured thee out of (Hebrew "the mouth
of") distress into a broad place" (Job 36:16); the liberty of obedience or ...
/b/broad.htm - 40k

Freedom (45 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) The state of being free; exemption from
the power and control of another; liberty; independence. ...
/f/freedom.htm - 21k

Free (454 Occurrences)
... control, or compulsion; able to follow one's own impulses, desires, or inclinations;
determining one's own course of action; not dependent; at liberty. ...
/f/free.htm - 38k

What does the Bible say about eating food/meat that has been sacrificed to idols? | GotQuestions.org

Does God oppose religious freedom in the Old Testament? | GotQuestions.org

What is libertinism? What is a libertine? | GotQuestions.org

Liberty: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus