Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the term "liberal" is often associated with generosity, open-handedness, and a willingness to give freely. This concept is rooted in the character of God and His expectations for His people. The term is not used in the modern political sense but rather in a moral and ethical context, emphasizing the virtues of generosity and benevolence.
Old Testament UsageThe Hebrew word often translated as "liberal" is "נָדִיב" (nadiv), which conveys the idea of being noble, generous, or willing. In the Old Testament, this term is frequently associated with the character of a person who is generous and willing to give. For example, in
Isaiah 32:8 , it is written, "But a noble man makes noble plans; he stands up for worthy causes." Here, the noble or liberal man is depicted as one who devises generous things and stands firm in his generosity.
Proverbs 11:25 also highlights the virtue of liberality: "A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." This verse underscores the principle that those who are liberal in their giving will themselves be blessed and refreshed by God.
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the Greek word "ἁπλότης" (haplotēs) is often used to describe liberality, particularly in the context of giving.
Romans 12:8 instructs, "if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." The emphasis here is on giving with simplicity and sincerity, reflecting a heart that is open and generous.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 further elaborates on the principle of liberal giving: "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." This passage highlights the spiritual law of sowing and reaping, encouraging believers to give liberally and with joy.
Theological ImplicationsFrom a theological perspective, liberality is seen as a reflection of God's own nature. God is depicted as the ultimate giver, providing for His creation abundantly and without reservation.
James 1:5 states, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." This verse illustrates God's liberal nature in giving wisdom to those who ask.
Believers are called to emulate this divine attribute by being generous in their dealings with others. The call to liberality is not merely about financial giving but encompasses all aspects of life, including time, resources, and love. The liberal soul is one that mirrors the heart of God, characterized by a willingness to give freely and abundantly.
Practical ApplicationIn practical terms, the Bible encourages believers to practice liberality in their daily lives. This includes supporting the work of the church, helping those in need, and being open-handed in all interactions. The principle of liberality is not limited to material wealth but extends to acts of kindness, hospitality, and service.
The biblical call to be liberal is a reminder of the transformative power of generosity. It challenges believers to rise above selfishness and to live in a manner that reflects the grace and generosity of God. Through liberality, Christians are able to demonstrate the love of Christ to a watching world, fulfilling the command to love one's neighbor as oneself.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Free by birth; hence, befitting a freeman or gentleman; refined; noble; independent; free; not servile or mean; as, a liberal ancestry; a liberal spirit; liberal arts or studies.
2. (a.) Bestowing in a large and noble way, as a freeman; generous; bounteous; open-handed; as, a liberal giver.
3. (a.) Bestowed in a large way; hence, more than sufficient; abundant; bountiful; ample; profuse; as, a liberal gift; a liberal discharge of matter or of water.
4. (a.) Not strict or rigorous; not confined or restricted to the literal sense; free; as, a liberal translation of a classic, or a liberal construction of law or of language.
5. (a.) Not narrow or contracted in mind; not selfish; enlarged in spirit; catholic.
6. (a.) Free to excess; regardless of law or moral restraint; licentious.
7. (a.) Not bound by orthodox tenets or established forms in political or religious philosophy; independent in opinion; not conservative; friendly to great freedom in the constitution or administration of government; having tendency toward democratic or republican, as distinguished from monarchical or aristocratic, forms; as, liberal thinkers; liberal Christians; the Liberal party.
8. (n.) One who favors greater freedom in political or religious matters; an opponent of the established systems; a reformer; in English politics, a member of the Liberal party, so called. Cf. Whig.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
LIBERAL; LIBERALITY; LIBERALLYlib'-er-al, lib-er-al'-i-ti, lib'-er-al-i: The different forms of the word all refer to one who is generous, bountiful, willing and ready to give and to help. Both the Hebrew words of the Old Testament and the Greek words of the New Testament translated into the English word "liberal" have a deeper and nobler meaning than is generally conveyed by the English word. InProverbs 11:25, the liberal soul (nephesh berakhah) means a soul that carries a blessing. InIsaiah 32:5, the American Standard Revised Version has "bountiful" where the King James Version has "liberal," and inIsaiah 32:8 "noble" takes the place of "liberal" (nadhibh). The principal Greek words are haplotes literally, "simplicity," "sincerity," and charis, "grace," "favor." In1 Corinthians 16:3, "bounty" substitutes "liberality." It is well to bear in mind that a Biblical liberality can spring only out of a noble soul, and is Godlike in its genesis and spirit.
G. H. Gerberding
Greek
2130. eumetadotos -- ready to impart... 2130 (from 2095 , "well, good" and 3330 , "give over, impart") -- properly,
give from a
liberal () attitude that is (reach out).
...4650. skorpizo -- to scatter
... Apparently from the same as skorpios (through the idea of penetrating); to dissipate,
ie (figuratively) put to flight, waste, beliberal -- disperse abroad...
2843. koinonikos -- ready to impart
... willing to communicate, generous. From koinonos; communicative, ie (pecuniarily)
liberal -- willing to communicate. see GREEK koinonos....
572. haplotes -- singleness, hence simplicity
... ie (subjectively) sincerity (without dissimulation or self-seeking), or (objectively)
generosity (copious bestowal) -- bountifulness,liberal(-ity), simplicity...
Strong's Hebrew
1293. berakah -- a blessing... blessing,
liberal, pool, present. From barak; benediction; by implication prosperity --
blessing,
liberal, pool, present. see HEBREW barak. 1292, 1293.
...5081. nadib -- inclined, generous, noble
... man (1). free,liberal things, noble, prince, willing hearted. From nadab;
properly, voluntary, ie Generous; hence, magnanimous; as...
7771. showa' -- independent, noble (in station)
... From shava' in the original sense of freedom; a noble, ieLiberal, opulent; also
(as noun in the derived sense) a halloo -- bountiful, crying, rich....
5069. nedab -- to volunteer, offer freely
... be minded of. (Aramaic) corresponding to nadab; be (or give)liberal(-ly) -- (be
minded of...own) freewill (offering), offer freely (willingly)....
4367. Maknadbay -- an Israelite
... Machnadebai. From mah and nadab with a particle interposed; what (is) like (a)liberal
(man)?; Maknadbai, an Israelite -- Machnadebai. see HEBREW mah....
4982. Mattenay -- an Israelite priest, also two Israelites
... NASB Word Usage Mattenai (3). Mattenai. From mattan;liberal; Mattenai, the name
of three Israelites -- Mattenai. see HEBREW mattan. 4981, 4982....
54. Ebyathar -- "the great one is father," an Israelite priest
... Abiathar. Contracted from 'ab and yathar; father of abundance (ieLiberal); Ebjathar,
an Israelite -- Abiathar. see HEBREW 'ab. see HEBREW yathar. 53, 54....
5070. Nadab -- an Israelite name
... name NASB Word Usage Nadab (20). Nadab. From nadab;liberal; Nadab, the name of
four Israelites -- Nadab. see HEBREW nadab. 5069, 5070. Nadab. 5071 ....
41. Abinadab -- "my father is noble," three Israelites
... Abinadab. From 'ab and nadab; father of generosity (ieLiberal); Abinadab, the name
of four Israelites -- Abinadab. see HEBREW 'ab. see HEBREW nadab. 40, 41....
5993. ammi nadib -- Amminadib
... Word Origin from am, qv and nadib, qv. Amminadib From am and nadiyb; my people
(is)liberal; Ammi-Nadib, probably an Israelite -- Amminadib. see HEBREW am....
Library
Whether it Belongs to aLiberal Man Chiefly to Give?
... OF LIBERALITY (SIX ARTICLES) Whether it belongs to aliberal man chiefly
to give? Objection 1: It seems that it does not belong...
ALiberal Church
... Lesson 32 ALiberal Church. In his first letter to the church at Corinth,
Paul gave the believers instruction regarding the general...
The Conservative Reaction, and theLiberal victory --
... Section 35. The Conservative Reaction, and theLiberal Victory". Peter and Paul
at Antioch.... [473] They no doubt returned to their moreliberal practice....
Psalm 112 the Blessings of theLiberal Man.
... THE PSALMS OF DAVID PSALM 112 The blessings of theliberal man. 8,8,8,8,8,8 The
blessings of theliberal man. PAUSE. That man is blest who stands in awe....
He Very Easily Understood theLiberal Arts and the Categories of...
... Book IV. Chapter XVI."He Very Easily Understood theLiberal Arts and
the Categories of Aristotle, But Without True Fruit. 28....
ALiberal Education: and Where to Find It.
... III. ALIBERAL EDUCATION: AND WHERE TO FIND IT. The business which the South
London Working Men's College has undertaken is a great...
Of the Method to be Pursued in Catechising those who have had a...
... Chapter 8."Of the Method to Be Pursued in Catechising Those Who Have Had
aLiberal Education. 12. But there is another case which...
Now all this Circle of Science and Arts, WhetherLiberal or...
... [Way-2-16] Now all this circle of science and arts, whetherliberal or
mechanic? Now all this circle of science and arts, whether...
Psalm 112:1. As the 113Th Psalm. The Blessings of theLiberal Man.
... THE Psalms of David, In Metre. Psalm 112:1. As the 113th Psalm. The blessings
of theliberal man. 1 That man is blest who stands...
Faustus was Indeed an Elegant Speaker, but Knew Nothing of the...
... Book V. Chapter VI."Faustus Was Indeed an Elegant Speaker, But Knew Nothing
of theLiberal Sciences. 10. And for nearly the whole...
Thesaurus
Liberal (11 Occurrences)... 1. (a.) Free by birth; hence, befitting a freeman or gentleman; refined; noble;
independent; free; not servile or mean; as, a
liberal ancestry; a
liberal spirit
...Liberality (7 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The quality or state of beingliberal;liberal disposition or practice;
freedom from narrowness or prejudice; generosity; candor; charity....
Liberally (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) In aliberal manner. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia.LIBERAL; LIBERALITY; LIBERALLY. lib'-er-al...
Libertines (1 Occurrence)
... the English word. In Proverbs 11:25, theliberal soul (nephesh berakhah)
means a soul that carries a blessing. In Isaiah 32:5, the...
Expensive (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Occasioning expense; calling forliberal outlay;
costly; dear;liberal; as, expensive dress; an expensive house or family....
Deviseth (12 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS). Isaiah 32:8 But theliberal devisethliberal things;
and byliberal things shall he stand. (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)....
Noble (61 Occurrences)
... 2:16; Nehemiah 6:17, etc.); of 'addir, "begirded," "mighty," "illustrious" or "noble"
(Judges 5:13 2 Chronicles 23:20, etc.); of nadhibh, "liberal," "a noble...
Nobleman (5 Occurrences)
... 2:16; Nehemiah 6:17, etc.); of 'addir, "begirded," "mighty," "illustrious" or "noble"
(Judges 5:13 2 Chronicles 23:20, etc.); of nadhibh, "liberal," "a noble...
Nobles (71 Occurrences)
... 2:16; Nehemiah 6:17, etc.); of 'addir, "begirded," "mighty," "illustrious" or "noble"
(Judges 5:13 2 Chronicles 23:20, etc.); of nadhibh, "liberal," "a noble...
Open-handed (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Generous;liberal; munificent.... 1 Timothy 6:18 They
must be beneficent, rich in noble deeds, open-handed andliberal; (WEY)....
Resources
What is liberal Christian theology? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Liberal Catholic Church? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is wrong with liberal Christianity? | GotQuestions.orgLiberal: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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