Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, the concept of infectiousness primarily relates to diseases and conditions that could spread among the people of Israel, both physically and spiritually. The Bible addresses infectious diseases in various passages, often in the context of maintaining the holiness and purity of the community.
Levitical Laws and Infectious DiseasesThe Book of Leviticus provides detailed instructions on how to handle infectious diseases, particularly skin diseases and mildew, which were considered unclean.
Leviticus 13 and 14 outline the procedures for diagnosing and managing these conditions. The priests were responsible for examining individuals and determining whether they were clean or unclean. If a person was found to be unclean, they were isolated from the community to prevent the spread of the disease.
Leviticus 13:46 states, "As long as he has the infection, he remains unclean. He must live alone in a place outside the camp."
The laws served not only as public health measures but also as spiritual lessons about the nature of sin and impurity. Just as physical diseases could spread and defile, so could sin and moral corruption. The Israelites were called to be a holy people, set apart for God, and these laws reinforced the importance of purity and separation from anything that could defile.
Spiritual Implications of InfectiousnessIn the New Testament, the concept of infectiousness takes on a spiritual dimension. Jesus Christ, during His earthly ministry, healed many who were afflicted with diseases, demonstrating His power over both physical and spiritual ailments. In
Matthew 8:2-3 , a leper approaches Jesus, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." Jesus responds, "I am willing," and heals him, illustrating His authority to cleanse and restore.
The Apostle Paul warns against the spread of false teachings and sinful behavior within the church, using the metaphor of leaven, which can spread through a whole batch of dough. In
1 Corinthians 5:6 , Paul writes, "Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough?" This serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance against spiritual infectiousness that can corrupt the body of Christ.
Community and RestorationThe biblical approach to infectious diseases also emphasizes the importance of community and restoration. Once a person was healed or cleansed, they were to present themselves to the priest and offer the prescribed sacrifices, as outlined in
Leviticus 14. This process allowed for their reintegration into the community, symbolizing both physical healing and spiritual restoration.
In the New Testament, the church is called to be a community of healing and restoration.
James 5:14-15 encourages believers to pray for the sick, stating, "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick." This reflects the ongoing role of the church in addressing both physical and spiritual needs, fostering an environment where healing and holiness can flourish.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Having qualities that may infect; communicable or caused by infection; pestilential; epidemic; as, an infectious fever; infectious clothing; infectious air; infectious vices.
2. (a.) Corrupting, or tending to corrupt or contaminate; vitiating; demoralizing.
3. (a.) Contaminating with illegality; exposing to seizure and forfeiture.
4. (a.) Capable of being easily diffused or spread; sympathetic; readily communicated; as, infectious mirth.
Greek
3014. lepra -- leprosy... leprosy. Cognate: 3014 -- a deeply
infectious, contagious skin disease
rendering a person "ceremonially unclean" in Jewish society.
...Library
The Death of Saint George.
... from whose erudite work this history is drawn, informs us, to "a doleful
report"how, upon Dunmore Heath, there raged up and down aninfectious dragon, that...
Whether it is Lawful to Kill Sinners?
... For this reason we observe that if the health of the whole body demands the excision
of a member, through its being decayed orinfectious to the other members...
Whether the Aforesaid Powers are More Infected than the Others?
... I answer that, Those corruptions especially are said to beinfectious, which are
of such a nature as to be transmitted from one subject to another: hence...
On Friendship with the World
... endeavour it, or no. I know not how to account for it, but it is a real
fact, that their very spirit isinfectious. While you are...
Significant Phrases
... extreme and morbid. exuberant andinfectious. F. fabulous and fabricated.... genius
and reputation. gentle and amiable. genuine andinfectious. germ and root....
Temptations.
... 1. Dreadful accusations from Satan.2. Grievous, defiling, andinfectious
thoughts.3. A strange readiness in our nature to fall in with both....
In what Sense we are to Leave the World
... You cannot long be ignorant of this; for they take little pains to hide it.
Now, is it not certain, all vice is of aninfectious nature?...
The Mystery of Personality
... His gay,infectious laughter which so often filled a room put people immediately
at ease, and yet he never belittled his calling nor lowered himself to meet men...
A Corps Commander
... He is there to answer letters from anxious parents, to hunt up straying sons and
daughters, to rebuke sin; in outbreaks ofinfectious disease and catastrophies...
Of Obscene Talk.
... easy to resolve to which peculiarly to assign it, I mean obscene, and immodest talk,
which is offensive to the purity of God, damageable andinfectious to the...
Thesaurus
Infectious (19 Occurrences)... 1. (a.) Having qualities that may infect; communicable or caused by infection;
pestilential; epidemic; as, an
infectious fever;
infectious clothing;
infectious...Infection (24 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) That which infects, or causes the communicated disease; any effluvium, miasm,
or pestilential matter by which aninfectious disease is caused....
Haemorrhoids
... Or Emerods, bleeding piles known to the ancient Romans as mariscae, but more
probably malignant boils of aninfectious and fatal character....
Infer (1 Occurrence)
Taking (445 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Apt to take; alluring; attracting. 3. (a.)Infectious; contagious. 4. (n.)
The act of gaining possession; a seizing; seizure; apprehension....
Eyes (6285 Occurrences)
... The commonest of the diseases at present is the purulent conjunctivitis which is
a highlyinfectious malady affecting people of all ages, but especially...
Diseases (38 Occurrences)
... The commonest of the diseases at present is the purulent conjunctivitis which is
a highlyinfectious malady affecting people of all ages, but especially...
Murrain (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) Aninfectious and fatal disease among cattle.
2. (a.) Having, or afflicted with, murrain. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia....
Pestilence (57 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A raging epidemic; specifically, the bubonic plague; hence, any contagious
orinfectious epidemic disease that is virulent and devastating....
Physician (6 Occurrences)
... had explicit instructions as to the isolation of those suffering from skin eruptions,
so that they might recognize certain obstinate andinfectious forms which...
Resources
What is the story of the ten lepers in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about social distancing? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about health? | GotQuestions.orgInfectious: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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