Topical Encyclopedia
The term "expels" in the biblical context often refers to the act of driving out or removing individuals or groups from a particular place or position. This concept is seen throughout the Scriptures, where God, leaders, or individuals expel others due to sin, disobedience, or as part of divine judgment and fulfillment of God's promises.
Old Testament Instances1.
Adam and Eve: The first instance of expulsion in the Bible occurs in
Genesis 3:23-24, where God expels Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden due to their disobedience. "So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After He drove the man out, He placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life" .
2.
Canaanite Nations: The Israelites were commanded by God to expel the Canaanite nations from the Promised Land. This was part of God's judgment against the Canaanites for their iniquities and to prevent Israel from adopting their idolatrous practices. In
Deuteronomy 7:1-2, God instructs, "When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess, and He drives out before you many nations... you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy" .
3.
Saul and David: King Saul's jealousy led him to attempt to expel David from his presence and ultimately from Israel. In
1 Samuel 19:10, Saul tries to pin David to the wall with his spear, but David eludes him and flees, marking the beginning of David's life as a fugitive.
New Testament Instances1.
Jesus Expelling Demons: Jesus frequently expelled demons from individuals, demonstrating His authority over evil spirits. In
Mark 1:34, it is recorded, "And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was" .
2.
The Expulsion of the Money Changers: Jesus expelled the money changers from the temple, an act recorded in all four Gospels. In
John 2:15, it states, "So He made a whip out of cords and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables" . This act was a demonstration of zeal for God's house and a condemnation of the corruption present in the temple.
3.
Church Discipline: The New Testament also addresses the expulsion of unrepentant sinners from the church community. In
1 Corinthians 5:13, Paul instructs the church, "Expel the wicked man from among you" , emphasizing the need for purity within the body of Christ and the importance of maintaining holiness.
Theological SignificanceThe act of expelling in the Bible often serves as a means of preserving holiness, executing divine judgment, and fulfilling God's covenant promises. It underscores the seriousness of sin and disobedience, as well as the necessity of maintaining purity among God's people. Expulsion is not merely punitive but also serves as a corrective measure intended to lead to repentance and restoration.
Library
The Emperor Gratian Recalls the Orthodox Bishops, andExpels the...
... Book V. Chapter II."The Emperor Gratian recalls the Orthodox Bishops, and
expels the Heretics from the Churches. He takes Theodosius...
"Rather Rejoice. "
... It happens, also, that the demons flee before some wicked men by reason of the honoured
name, and both he whoexpels the demon and he who witnesses it are...
The End of the Wicked.
... For in this life, when this conflict has arisen, either pain conquers and death
expels the feeling of it, or nature conquers and healthexpels the pain....
The Tests of Love to God
... day time. Love casts out fear. As the sunexpels fogs and vapours, so divine
love in a great measureexpels carnal fear. Does he...
Blessed are the Poor in Spirit
... beyond all philosophy. The philosophers use to say that one contraryexpels
another; but here one contrary begets another. Poverty is...
Perfect Modesty Will Abstain from Whatever Tends to Sin, as Well...
... secondly, because we ought not to open a way to temptations, which, by their instancy,
sometimes achieve (a wickedness) which Godexpels from them who are His...
It is not to the Philosophers that we Resort for Information About...
... and shows no such inconsistency as to order a "cock to be sacrificed to ??sculapius:"
[1499] no new gods and demons does it introduce, butexpels the old ones...
Concerning "Holy of Holies," "King of Kings," "Lord of Lords...
... and been distributed throughout the world all the unmixed Perfection of all untainted
Purity; all that Law and Order of the world, whichexpels all disharmony...
Against Embellishing the Body.
... The woman who dyes her hair yellow, Menander the comic poetexpels from
the house:". "Now get out of this house, for no chaste....
Summary.
... matter." Ernest Renan, the famous French orientalist and critic, who views Jesus
from the stand-point of a Pantheistic naturalism, andexpels all miracles from...
Thesaurus
Expels (3 Occurrences)...Expels (3 Occurrences). Matthew 12:24 The Pharisees heard it and said, "This man
only
expels demons by the power of Baal-zebul, the Prince of demons." (WEY).
...Exorcist (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) One whoexpels evil spirits by conjuration
or exorcism. 2. (n.) A conjurer who can raise spirits. Int....
Baal-zebul (6 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Matthew 12:24 The Pharisees heard it and said, "This man onlyexpels demons
by the power of Baal-zebul, the Prince of demons." (WEY)....
Exorcism
... ek'-sor-siz'-m, ek'-sor-sist (Exorkistes, from exorkizo, "to adjure" (Matthew
26:63)): 1. Definition: One whoexpels demons by the use of magical formulas....
Outer (98 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) A shot which strikes the outer of a target. 4. (n.) One who puts
out, ousts, orexpels; also, an ouster; dispossession. Int....
Expelling (4 Occurrences)
Expence (1 Occurrence)
Bellows (1 Occurrence)
... utensil, or machine, which, by alternate expansion and contraction, or by rise and
fall of the top, draws in air through a valve andexpels it through a tube...
Power (862 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Matthew 12:24 The Pharisees heard it and said, "This man onlyexpels demons
by the power of Baal-zebul, the Prince of demons." (WEY)....
Judaeus
... For, seeing that Heexpels all the imperfections of the world, God is precisely
in that condition of Being for which the whole creation then yearned....
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