Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5008 conscience  »  5009 conscience, nature of

The faculty, given to every individual, that is capable of producing guilt, or reassurance in the case of innocence. Though never wholly reliable, the conscience is cleansed when the individual turns to God for forgiveness. It is possible for the conscience to become deadened through lack of use.

The natural conscience

Romans 2:14-15 Human beings have a built-in ability to know what is right and wrong.

Guilty consciences

Genesis 42:21 See also Exodus 9:27; 1 Samuel 24:5; 2 Samuel 24:10; Ezra 9:6; Psalm 40:12; John 8:7-11

Clear consciences

Before God

Acts 24:16 See also Job 27:6; Acts 23:1; Romans 9:1; 2 Timothy 1:3

Before others

2 Corinthians 1:12 See also Genesis 20:5-6; 2 Corinthians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 2:10; 1 Timothy 1:5; Timothy 3:9; Hebrews 13:18; 1 Peter 3:16; 1 Corinthians 4:4 Conscience is not an infallible guide and a clear conscience does not necessarily imply innocence before God.

Consciences cleansed by the death of Jesus Christ

Hebrews 9:14 See also Psalm 51:10; Hebrews 9:9; Hebrews 10:2,22; 1 Peter 3:21

Bad or corrupted consciences

Titus 1:15-16 See also Genesis 6:5; Exodus 7:14; Exodus 8:15; Jeremiah 6:15; Jeremiah 17:9; Acts 5:2; Romans 2:5; Ephesians 4:19; 1 Timothy 1:19; Timothy 4:2

See also

2530  Christ, death of
5031  knowledge of sin
5191  thought
5769  behaviour
6020  sin
6130  corruption
6178  hardness of heart
6652  forgiveness
8226  discernment
8275  honesty