Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the concept of "appeal" can be understood as a request or plea made to a higher authority for judgment, intervention, or assistance. This concept is evident in various narratives and teachings throughout the Scriptures, where individuals or groups seek divine or human intervention in matters of justice, mercy, or guidance.
Old Testament Examples1.
Moses' Appeal to God: One of the earliest examples of an appeal is found in the account of Moses interceding for the Israelites. After the people sinned by worshiping the golden calf, God expressed His intention to destroy them. Moses appealed to God on their behalf, reminding Him of His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. "So the LORD relented from the calamity He had threatened to bring on His people" (
Exodus 32:14).
2.
Abraham's Appeal for Sodom: Abraham's intercession for Sodom is another significant example. He appealed to God's justice and mercy, negotiating for the city's salvation if righteous individuals could be found within it. "Far be it from You to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?" (
Genesis 18:25).
New Testament Examples1.
Paul's Appeal to Caesar: In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul made a legal appeal to Caesar when he was accused by the Jewish leaders. This appeal was a strategic move to ensure a fair trial and to further his mission to preach the Gospel in Rome. "But Paul said, 'I am standing before Caesar’s tribunal, where I ought to be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is nothing to their accusations against me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!'" (
Acts 25:10-11).
2.
The Appeal for Reconciliation: In his letters, Paul often appeals to believers for unity, love, and reconciliation. In his letter to Philemon, Paul appeals on behalf of Onesimus, a runaway slave, urging Philemon to receive him as a brother in Christ. "Therefore, although in Christ I am bold enough to order you to do what is proper, I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. I, Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus, appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains" (
Philemon 1:8-10).
Theological ImplicationsTheologically, appeals in the Bible often reflect a deep trust in God's character as just, merciful, and sovereign. They demonstrate the belief that God is actively involved in the affairs of humanity and that He listens to the cries of His people. Appeals are acts of faith, acknowledging God's ultimate authority and His ability to bring about justice and deliverance.
Practical ApplicationsFor believers today, the biblical examples of appeal encourage a life of prayer and intercession. Christians are invited to bring their requests before God, trusting in His wisdom and timing. The practice of appealing to God in prayer is a recognition of His lordship and a reliance on His grace and mercy. As the writer of Hebrews exhorts, "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (
Hebrews 4:16).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
AppealThe principle, of appeal was recognized by the Mosaic law in the establishment of a central court under the presidency of the judge or ruler for the time being, before which all cased too difficult for the local court were to be tried. (17:8,9) According to the above regulation, the appeal lay in the time of the Judges to the judge, (Judges 4:5) and under the monarchy to the king. Jehoshaphat delegated his judicial authority to a court permanently established for the purpose. (2 Chronicles 19:8) These courts were re-established by Ezra. (Ezra 7:25) After the institution of the Sanhedrin the final appeal lay to them. St. Paul, as a Roman citizen, exercized a right of appeal from the jurisdiction of the local court at Jerusalem to the emperor. (Acts 25:11)
Easton's Bible Dictionary
A reference of any case from an inferior to a superior court. Moses established in the wilderness a series of judicatories such that appeals could be made from a lower to a higher (
Exodus 18:13-26.)
Under the Roman law the most remarkable case of appeal is that of Paul from the tribunal of Festus at Caesarea to that of the emperor at Rome (Acts 25:11, 12, 21, 25). Paul availed himself of the privilege of a Roman citizen in this matter.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To make application for the removal of (a cause) from an inferior to a superior judge or court for a rehearing or review on account of alleged injustice or illegality in the trial below. We say, the cause was appealed from an inferior court.
2. (v. t.) To charge with a crime; to accuse; to institute a private criminal prosecution against for some heinous crime; as, to appeal a person of felony.
3. (v. t.) To summon; to challenge.
4. (v. t.) To invoke.
5. (v. t.) To apply for the removal of a cause from an inferior to a superior judge or court for the purpose of reexamination of for decision.
6. (v. t.) To call upon another to decide a question controverted, to corroborate a statement, to vindicate one's rights, etc.; as, I appeal to all mankind for the truth of what is alleged. Hence: To call on one for aid; to make earnest request.
7. (n.) An application for the removal of a cause or suit from an inferior to a superior judge or court for reexamination or review.
8. (n.) The mode of proceeding by which such removal is effected.
9. (n.) The right of appeal.
10. (n.) An accusation; a process which formerly might be instituted by one private person against another for some heinous crime demanding punishment for the particular injury suffered, rather than for the offense against the public.
11. (n.) An accusation of a felon at common law by one of his accomplices, which accomplice was then called an approver. See Approvement.
12. (n.) A summons to answer to a charge.
13. (n.) A call upon a person or an authority for proof or decision, in one's favor; reference to another as witness; a call for help or a favor; entreaty.
14. (v. t.) Resort to physical means; recourse.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
APPEALIn the institution of judges by Moses (Exodus 18:26), the reference: "The hard cases they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves," indicates simply a distribution of cases between two courts, but gives no trace of any provision for the rehearing of any case, by a higher court, that has already been decided by a lower. InDeuteronomy 17:8-13, directions are given that a lower court, under certain conditions, shall ask a higher for instructions as to procedure, and shall strictly follow the order prescribed: nevertheless, the decision itself belongs to the lower court. When its sentence was once given, there was no appeal.
In the New Testament, the provision of the Roman law, for an appeal from a lower to a higher court, is clearly recognized, although the case of Paul inActs 25 does not strictly fall within its scope. The Roman law originally gave a citizen the right of appeal to the tribune of the people, but, with the establishment of the Empire, the emperor himself assumed this function of the tribune, and became the court of last resort. The case of Paul, however, had not been tried before Festus, nor any verdict rendered, when (Acts 25:10, 11) he utters the proper legal formula: "I appeal unto Caesar" (Kaisara epikaloumai). That Roman citizens could insist upon such procedure, as right, is not perfectly certain (HJP, II, 2 279). Paul evidently acted upon the suggestion of the governor himself (Acts 25:9), who seems to have been desirous of avoiding the responsibility of a case involving questions most remote from his ordinary attention. At first sight, Paul's decision to appeal seems premature. He throws away his chance of acquittal by Festus, and acts upon the assumption that he has been already condemned.Acts 26:32 shows that the possibility of his acquittal had amounted almost to a certainty. His course is explicable only by regarding his appeal the master stroke of a great leader, who was ready to take risks. In the proposition of Festus, he grasps at what had been an object of hope long deferred.
For many years, he had been desiring and praying to get to Rome (Acts 19:21Romans 1:11, 15;Romans 15:23, 24). The Lord had just assured him (Acts 23:11), that as he had testified at Jerusalem, "so must thou bear witness also at Rome." With this promise and direction in view, he hastens toward the world's capital and the center of the world's influence, in the seemingly precipitate words, "I appeal," which a lower order of prudence would have deferred until he had first been condemned.
H. E. Jacobs
Greek
1941. epikaleo -- to call upon... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: epikaleo Phonetic Spelling: (ep-ee-kal-eh'-
om-ahee) Short Definition: I call by an additional name,
appeal to Definition
...1906. eperotema -- an inquiry, a demand
... Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: eperotema Phonetic Spelling:
(ep-er-o'-tay-mah) Short Definition: inquiry, request,appeal Definition: inquiry...
3870. parakaleo -- to call to or for, to exhort, to encourage
... Word Origin from para and kaleo Definition to call to or for, to exhort, to encourage
NASB Word Usageappeal (4), appealed (1), appealing (2), beg (1), begging...
809. aschemon -- shapeless, ie fig. unseemly
... 809 (an adverb, derived from 1 "without" and 4976 , "external shape") -- properly,
lacking properappeal (), ie (unattractive); lacking respect because (not...
3874. paraklesis -- a calling to one's aid, ie encouragement...
... Word Origin from parakaleo Definition a calling to one's aid, ie encouragement,
comfort NASB Word Usageappeal (1), comfort (13), consolation (1...
Strong's Hebrew
6817. tsaaq -- to cry, cry out, call... root Definition to cry, cry out, call NASB Word Usage
appeal (1), appealed (1),
called the together (1), cried (27), cries (1), cry (14), cry aloud (1), crying
...Library
AnAppeal to Sinners
... AnAppeal To Sinners. A Sermon (No.219). Delivered on Sabbath Evening, September
14th, 1856, by the. REV. CH SPURGEON. at Exeter Hall, Strand. DEARLY BELOVED,....
Appeal.
... THE SOUL. XV.APPEAL. Fy enaid llwythog, euog i 8,6,8,6,8,8,6,6. Unhappy soul, what
sayest thou. To one with power and love. All thy transgressions to forgive,....
AnAppeal and a Response
... XX AnAppeal and a Response. 'I heard... First. AnAppeal sounds out: 'Whom
shall I send, and who will go for Us?'. Second. A Response...
OnAppeal.
... CHAPTER III. OnAppeal. It is set before us in this last chapter of our lecture
to say something in reference toappeal as an essential quality of the sermon....
It is the Final Court ofAppeal.
... Chapter Fourteen Application of the Argument II. It Is the Final Court of
Appeal. It is not a question of what I think, or of what...
AnAppeal to the Church and to his Hearers to Pardon and Correct...
... The Oration of the emperor constantine, which he addressed "to the assembly of the
saints." Chapter II."AnAppeal to the Church and to his Hearers to pardon...
AnAppeal to the History of Creation True Meaning of the Term...
... Chapter XIX."AnAppeal to the History of Creation True Meaning of the Term Beginning,
Which the Heretic Curiously Wrests to an Absurd Sense....
Appeal to the Bishops of the Whole Church to Unite against Gregory...
... Section 7.Appeal to the bishops of the whole Church to unite against
Gregory. You are acquainted with the history of the Arian...
Appeal to the Greeks.
... Chapter XXXV."Appeal to the Greeks. The time, then, ye men of Greece, is
now come, that ye, having been persuaded by the secular...
AnAppeal to Children of Godly Parents
... AnAppeal to Children of Godly Parents. A sermon (No.2406) intended for
reading on Lord's Day, March 31st, 1895, delivered by CH...
Thesaurus
Appeal (30 Occurrences)... Under the Roman law the most remarkable case of
appeal is that of Paul from the
tribunal of Festus at Caesarea to that of the emperor at Rome (Acts 25:11, 12
...Oath (286 Occurrences)
... A solemnappeal to God, permitted on fitting occasions (Deuteronomy 6:13; Jeremiah
4:2), in various forms (Genesis 16:5; 2 Samuel 12:5; Ruth 1:17; Hosea 4:15...
Adjuration (2 Occurrences)
... A solemnappeal whereby one person imposes on another the obligation of speaking
or acting as if under an oath (1 Samuel 14:24; Joshua 6:26; 1 Kings 22:16)....
Swear (99 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To affirm or utter a solemn declaration, with anappeal to God for the truth
of what is affirmed; to make a promise, threat, or resolve on oath; also...
Citizenship (4 Occurrences)
... All Roman citizens had the right ofappeal to Caesar (25:11). Noah Webster's Dictionary.
(n.) The state of being a citizen; the status of a citizen. Int....
Call
... 9. (vt) To invoke; toappeal to. 10.... 17. (n.) A requirement orappeal arising from
the circumstances of the case; a moral requirement orappeal. 18....
Authority (326 Occurrences)
... OUTLINE HISTORY OF ECCLESIASTICAL DOCTRINE OF AUTHORITY 1.Appeal to Reason as Logos
2. Orthodox Dogma 3. Scholasticism 4. Ecclesiastical Absolutism 5...
Caesar (25 Occurrences)
... distinctive proper names (John 19:15; Acts 17:7). The Jews paid tribute to Caesar
(Matthew 22:17), and all Roman citizens had the right ofappeal to him (Acts...
Praetorian (2 Occurrences)
... WM Ramsay, who hold that in this passage "praetorium" means a council, not of war,
however, but the council of judgment, the emperor's court ofappeal in which...
Jehoshaphat (79 Occurrences)
... In addition to these local courts, two courts ofappeal, an ecclesiastical and a
civil court, were established at Jerusalem to be presided over by priests...
Resources
Who was Herod Agrippa II? | GotQuestions.orgDoes 1 Peter 3:21 teach that baptism is necessary for salvation? | GotQuestions.orgShould Catholic tradition have equal or greater authority than the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgAppeal: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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