Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of liberation in the Bible is deeply intertwined with themes of freedom, deliverance, and redemption. It is a multifaceted term that encompasses spiritual, physical, and social dimensions, reflecting God's desire to free His people from various forms of bondage.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, liberation is prominently illustrated in the narrative of the Exodus. The Israelites' deliverance from Egyptian slavery is a foundational event that underscores God's power and faithfulness.
Exodus 6:6 states, "Therefore tell the Israelites: I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment." This liberation is not only physical but also spiritual, as it establishes a covenant relationship between God and His people.
The Year of Jubilee, described in
Leviticus 25, further exemplifies the theme of liberation. Every fiftieth year, debts were forgiven, slaves were freed, and land was returned to its original owners. This practice was a divine mandate to ensure social justice and economic freedom, reflecting God's concern for holistic liberation.
Prophetic LiteratureThe prophets frequently spoke of liberation in terms of spiritual renewal and social justice.
Isaiah 61:1 proclaims, "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners." This passage, later quoted by Jesus in
Luke 4:18, highlights the messianic mission of liberation, emphasizing both physical and spiritual dimensions.
New Testament FulfillmentIn the New Testament, liberation is fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus' ministry is characterized by acts of healing, exorcism, and teaching that liberate individuals from sin, sickness, and demonic oppression.
John 8:36 declares, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." This freedom is primarily spiritual, signifying liberation from the bondage of sin and the law.
The Apostle Paul further expounds on this theme, particularly in his letters to the Romans and Galatians.
Romans 8:2 states, "For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death." Paul emphasizes that believers are liberated from the power of sin and are called to live in the freedom of the Spirit.
Spiritual LiberationSpiritual liberation is a central tenet of Christian theology. It involves the transformation of the individual through faith in Christ, resulting in freedom from sin's dominion.
Galatians 5:1 exhorts, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery." This verse encourages believers to embrace their freedom in Christ and resist returning to legalistic or sinful practices.
Social and Ethical ImplicationsThe biblical concept of liberation also carries social and ethical implications. Christians are called to be agents of liberation in the world, advocating for justice, mercy, and compassion.
James 1:27 defines pure religion as caring for orphans and widows in their distress, highlighting the social dimension of Christian liberation.
Eschatological LiberationFinally, the Bible speaks of an ultimate liberation that will occur at the end of time.
Revelation 21:4 promises, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away." This eschatological vision assures believers of a future where all forms of bondage and suffering are eradicated, and God's people experience complete and eternal freedom.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
imp. & p. p.) of Liberate.
Library
The JewsLiberated from their Bondage in one Way, the Gentiles in...
... Book III. Chapter 8."The JewsLiberated from Their Bondage in One Way,
the Gentiles in Another. 12. Accordingly the liberty that...
It is one Thing to Depart from the Body, Another Thing to be...
... Paulus. Chapter VIII."(17.) It is One Thing to Depart from the Body, Another
Thing to BeLiberated from the Body of This Death....
How Brother John of Alvernia, when Saying Mass on the Day of all...
... FLOWERS OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHAPTER L. HOW BROTHER JOHN OF ALVERNIA, WHEN
SAYING MASS ON THE DAY OF ALL SOULS, SAW MANY SOULSLIBERATED FROM PURGATORY....
Vain Attempts of Marcion and his Followers, who Exclude Abraham...
... Heresies: Book IV Chapter VIII."Vain attempts of Marcion and his followers, who
exclude Abraham from the salvation bestowed by Christ, wholiberated not only...
Incredible Turpitudes in God Imagined by Manich??us.
... inviolably, incorruptibly, without any connection with them, which we say of God;
but fettered, oppressed, polluted, to be loosed andliberated, as they say...
The Heresy of Prepon; Follows Empedocles; Marcion Rejects the...
... the synagogues. For if He [877] is a Mediator, He has been, he says,liberated
from the entire nature of the Evil Deity. Now, as...
Augustin Prays that the Manich??ans May be Restored to their...
... us that through our ministry, by which Thou hast been pleased to refute this execrable
and too horrible error, as many have already beenliberated, many also...
Moreover, if any one Would Wish to Become Acquainted with the...
... they think the following should be addressed: "O governor of the fifth realm, powerful
Sabaoth, defender of the law of thy creatures, who areliberated by thy...
victor's Erroneous Opinion, that the Soul Deserved to Become...
... the parent. We see it, then,liberated from sin through grace, but we do
not see how it deserved to be involved in sin. What, then...
Whether Grace is Necessarily Given to Whoever Prepares Himself for...
... xiv) that "by God's good gifts whoever isliberated, is most certainlyliberated."
Hence if God intends, while moving, that the one whose heart He moves should...
Thesaurus
Liberated (2 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Liberate. Multi-Version Concordance
Liberated (2 Occurrences). Romans 8:21 that also the
...Free (454 Occurrences)
... 3. (superl.)Liberated, by arriving at a certain age, from the control
of parents, guardian, or master. 4. (superl.) Not confined...
Libertines (1 Occurrence)
... to this view. 2. Interpretation of "Libertines": (1) They are "freedmen,"
liberated slaves or their descendants. Against this it...
Libertine
... of Jews who had been carried captives to Rome as prisoners of war by Pompey and
other Roman generals in the Syrian wars, and had afterwards beenliberated....
Jehoiachin (20 Occurrences)
... After an imprisonment of thirty-seven years (Jeremiah 52:31, 33), he wasliberated
by Evil-merodach, and permitted to occupy a place in the king's household...
Jubilee (25 Occurrences)
... fiftieth year, being the year following the completion of each seventh Sabbath of
years, at which time all the slaves of Hebrew blood wereliberated, and all...
Josephus
... his train. Having beenliberated by his captor, he adopted the family name
of the Flavians, according to Roman custom. Returning...
Liberate (3 Occurrences)
Flavius
... his train. Having beenliberated by his captor, he adopted the family name
of the Flavians, according to Roman custom. Returning...
Trophimus (3 Occurrences)
... the date indicated in the previous passages-traveling with Paul on one of the
missionary journeys which the apostle undertook after beingliberated from his...
Resources
What is liberation theology? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of the city of Jerusalem? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is black liberation theology? | GotQuestions.orgLiberated: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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