Dictionary of Bible Themes: 5289 debt

5289 debt

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5200 Human civilisation » 5289 debt

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.

Everyone is in debt to God as Creator

1 Corinthians 4:7 See also Deuteronomy 8:17-18; 1 Chronicles 29:11-13; Psalm 24:1-2; Ecclesiastes 5:19; Acts 14:17; Acts 17:25; 1 Timothy 6:17

Everyone is in debt to God as law-giver

Romans 3:19; James 2:10 See also Deuteronomy 27:26; Psalm 49:7-8; Malachi 3:8-10; Luke 7:41-42; Galatians 3:10; Galatians 5:3

Believers are in debt to God as Redeemer

He has paid their debt

Galatians 3:13 See also 2 Corinthians 8:9; 1 Peter 1:18; Revelation 5:9

A sense of debt inspires devotion to God

Psalm 116:12 See also Luke 7:41-47; Romans 8:12; 1 Corinthians 6:20

Indebtedness to God affects attitude to others

Matthew 10:8 See also Matthew 6:12 pp Luke 11:4; Matthew 18:21-35; 1 John 3:16; John 4:11

Examples of people in debt

1 Samuel 22:2; 2 Kings 4:1; Nehemiah 5:4; Matthew 5:25-26; Matthew 18:23-35; Luke 16:1-8; Romans 4:4; James 5:4

Debts must be paid

Leviticus 19:13; 2 Kings 4:7; Psalm 37:21; Romans 13:7-8

Social ills result from debt

Nehemiah 5:3-5; Job 24:3,9; Psalm 109:11; Ezekiel 18:12-13; Ezekiel 22:12; Amos 2:6

OT laws sought to minimise debt

By commanding generous lending to the poor

Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:35-36; Deuteronomy 15:7-11; Psalm 15:5; Proverbs 19:17

By curbing exploitation of debtors

Leviticus 25:37-43; Deuteronomy 24:6

By cancelling debts every seventh year

Deuteronomy 15:1-3; Deuteronomy 31:10; Nehemiah 10:31

Preventatives against needless debt

Keeping short accounts

Matthew 5:25; Romans 13:8

Remembering the evil consequences

Proverbs 22:7; Matthew 5:26

Debts to the state

Paying taxes

Matthew 22:17-21 pp Mark 12:14-17 pp Luke 20:22-25 See also Romans 13:6-7

Civic honour

Romans 13:7

Debts to employees

Debts within the church

Towards Christian workers

Phm 18-19 See also 1 Corinthians 9:7-12; Galatians 6:6

Towards the unsaved

Romans 1:14

The indebtedness of the Gentile church towards the Jerusalem church

Romans 15:26-27

Debts to be cancelled

Matthew 6:12 pp Luke 11:4 See also 1 Corinthians 13:5

Debts one should never pay

Romans 12:17 See also 1 Peter 3:9

A debt one can never cease paying

Romans 13:8-10