Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, "obligation" refers to duties or responsibilities that individuals are expected to fulfill, often as a response to divine commandments or moral imperatives. The concept of obligation is deeply rooted in the covenantal relationship between God and His people, where adherence to God's laws and commands is seen as a fundamental duty.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, obligations are primarily framed within the context of the Mosaic Law. The Israelites were given a comprehensive set of laws and commandments that outlined their obligations to God and to one another. These laws covered various aspects of life, including worship, social justice, and personal conduct. For example,
Deuteronomy 6:5 states, "And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." This commandment underscores the obligation to love and serve God wholeheartedly.
The Ten Commandments (
Exodus 20:1-17) serve as a foundational summary of the Israelites' obligations, emphasizing duties such as honoring one's parents, refraining from murder, and observing the Sabbath. These commandments highlight the moral and ethical obligations that were expected of God's people.
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the concept of obligation is expanded and deepened through the teachings of Jesus Christ and the apostles. Jesus emphasized the importance of love as the fulfillment of the law, stating in
Matthew 22:37-40 , "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
The apostle Paul further elaborates on the idea of obligation in his epistles. In
Romans 13:8 , he writes, "Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love, for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law." Here, Paul underscores the obligation of love as central to Christian ethics, suggesting that love is the ultimate fulfillment of all other obligations.
Obligations to God and OthersThe Bible consistently presents obligations as twofold: obligations to God and obligations to others. The obligation to God involves worship, obedience, and faithfulness. In
Micah 6:8 , the prophet summarizes what God requires: "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Obligations to others are often expressed in terms of justice, mercy, and love. The parable of the Good Samaritan (
Luke 10:25-37) illustrates the obligation to show compassion and kindness to others, regardless of social or ethnic boundaries.
Moral and Ethical ImplicationsThe Bible's teachings on obligation carry significant moral and ethical implications. Believers are called to live lives that reflect God's character and commandments. This includes upholding justice, practicing mercy, and demonstrating love in all interactions. The obligation to live righteously is not merely a legalistic adherence to rules but a heartfelt response to God's grace and love.
ConclusionWhile the Bible does not use the term "obligation" explicitly in every instance, the concept is woven throughout its teachings. The obligations outlined in Scripture serve as guiding principles for believers, shaping their relationship with God and with others. Through obedience to these divine obligations, believers are called to reflect the character of God and to live in a manner that honors Him.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The act of obligating.
2. (n.) That which obligates or constrains; the binding power of a promise, contract, oath, or vow, or of law; that which constitutes legal or moral duty.
3. (n.) Any act by which a person becomes bound to do something to or for another, or to forbear something; external duties imposed by law, promise, or contract, by the relations of society, or by courtesy, kindness, etc.
4. (n.) The state of being obligated or bound; the state of being indebted for an act of favor or kindness; as, to place others under obligations to one.
5. (n.) A bond with a condition annexed, and a penalty for nonfulfillment. In a larger sense, it is an acknowledgment of a duty to pay a certain sum or do a certain things.
Greek
1658. eleutheros -- free, ie not a slave or not under restraint... Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: eleutheros Phonetic Spelling:
(el-yoo'-ther-os) Short Definition: free, delivered from
obligation Definition:
...3782. opheile -- a debt
... Cognate: 3782 (a feminine noun) -- a (applied) kind of indebtedness, implying an
"appliedobligation" due to the debt (what is owed). See 3781 ()....
1432. dorean -- as a gift, to no purpose
... adverbial form of 1431/) -- something done (as ), ie ""; unearned (undeserved);
freely given (without cost) hence not done out of mereobligation or compulsion...
595. apothesis -- a putting away
... 595 (from 659 , "put away, let go") -- properly, a putting off (letting go) to
(set something aside); a from a previousobligation; (figuratively) removal, by...
859. aphesis -- dismissal, release, fig. pardon
... Cognate: 859 (from 863 , "send away, forgive" ) -- properly, "something "; ie remission
("forgiveness"), releasing someone fromobligation or debt. See 863 ()....
3783. opheilema -- that which is owed, a debt
... sin. Cognate: 3783 (a neuter noun) -- the of having a debt, focusing on
the after-effect of theobligation (note the suffix). Word...
2218. zugos -- a yoke
... From the root of zeugnumi (to join, especially by a "yoke"); a coupling, ie
(figuratively) servitude (a law orobligation); also (literally) the beam of the...
3784. opheilo -- to owe
... opheileo (of-i-leh'-o) probably from the base of ophelos (through the idea of accruing);
to owe (pecuniarily); figuratively, to be underobligation (ought, must...
3781. opheiletes -- a debtor
... Word Origin from opheilo Definition a debtor NASB Word Usage culprits (1),
debtors (1), indebted (1), owed (1), underobligation (3)....
433. aneko -- to be fit, be proper
... (Col 3:18) (433 ) -- Note the imperfect tense ("was fitting"). [JB Lightfoot, "The
tense involved perhaps implies an essential ()obligation" of what was "."]....
Strong's Hebrew
632. issar -- a bond, bindingobligation... 631, 632. issar. 633 . a bond, binding
obligation. Transliteration: issar
Phonetic Spelling: (es-sawr') Short Definition:
obligation.
...4687. mitsvah -- commandment
... from tsavah Definition commandment NASB Word Usage command (15), commanded (7),
commandment (34), commandments (118), commands (2),obligation (1), prescribed...
3867. lavah -- to join, be joined
... A primitive root; properly, to twine, ie (by implication) to unite, to remain; also
to borrow (as a form ofobligation) or (caus.) To lend -- abide with, borrow...
5355a. naqi -- clean, free from, exempt
... Word Origin from naqah Definition clean, free from, exempt NASB Word Usage clean
(1), exempt (1), free (5), free ofobligation (1), go unpunished (1...
4931. mishmereth -- a guard, watch, charge, function
... Usage allegiance (1), charge (27), duties (15), duty (2), guard post (2), guard*
(1), guards (2), keep (1), keep* (1), kept (5),obligation (4), obligations (4...
Library
Privilege andObligation
... ROMANS PRIVILEGE ANDOBLIGATION.... The one is a statement of a universal prerogative,
the other an enforcement of a universalobligation....
MoralObligation.
... LECTURE III. MORALOBLIGATION. Man is a subject of moralobligation.... Man, by a
law of necessity, affirms himself to be under moralobligation....
Of theObligation of the English Benedictines to the Mission...
... CHAPTER X. Of theobligation of the English Benedictines to the Mission? Sec. Sec.
1, 2. Of theobligation of the English Benedictines to the Mission....
Foundation of MoralObligation.
... LECTURE V. FOUNDATION OF MORALOBLIGATION. The theory of Right as the foundation
ofobligation.... Rightarians say that right is the ground of suchobligation....
Foundation of MoralObligation.
... FOUNDATION OF MORALOBLIGATION. In the discussion of this question, I will first
state what is intended by the foundation, or ground, ofobligation....
Covenanting ConfersObligation.
... CHAPTER V. COVENANTING CONFERSOBLIGATION. As it has been shown that all
duty, and that alone, ought to be vowed to God in covenant...
Foundation of MoralObligation.
... LECTURE VI. FOUNDATION OF MORALOBLIGATION. I now enter upon the discussion
of the theory, that the goodness, or moral excellence...
Foundation of MoralObligation.
... LECTURE VIII. FOUNDATION OF MORALOBLIGATION.... 1. I will begin with the theory that
regards the sovereign will of God as the foundation of moralobligation....
Foundation of MoralObligation.
... LECTURE VII. FOUNDATION OF MORALOBLIGATION. I now come to consider the philosophy
which teaches that moral order is the foundation of moralobligation....
Letter xii. Improvement of Time. PresentObligation.
... LETTERS, &c. LETTER XII. Improvement of Time. PresentObligation.... 3. This duty is
enforced by ourobligation to employ all our time for the glory of God....
Thesaurus
Obligation (17 Occurrences)...Obligation (17 Occurrences).
... Romans 8:12 Therefore, brethren, it is not to our lower
natures that we are under
obligation that we should live by their rule.
...Discharge (30 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To of something weighing upon or impeding over one, as a debt, claim,
obligation, responsibility, accusation, etc.; to absolve; to acquit; to clear....
Quit (12 Occurrences)
... See Guitguit. 2. (v.) Released fromobligation, charge, penalty, etc.;
free; clear; absolved; acquitted. 3. (imp. & pp) of Quit....
Ought (130 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v.) To be underobligation to do something. 2. (imp.,
pp, or auxiliary) Was or were underobligation to pay; owed....
Indebted (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (imp. & pp) of Indebt. 2. (a.) Brought into debt;
being underobligation; held to payment or requital; beholden....
Release (61 Occurrences)
... let go. 3. (n.) To relieve from something that confines, burdens, or oppresses,
as from pain, trouble,obligation, penalty. 4. (n...
Redeem (56 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To regain by performing theobligation or condition stated; to discharge
theobligation mentioned in, as a promissory note, bond, or other evidence of...
Pay (212 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To satisfy, or content; specifically, to satisfy (another person) for service
rendered, property delivered, etc.; to discharge one'sobligation to; to...
Bond (32 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Anobligation of any kind (Numbers 30:2, 4, 12). The
word... fellowship. 4. (n.) Moral or political duty orobligation. 5...
Bilhan (3 Occurrences)
... (2) A question much discussed is, Was "the bond" (the Revised Version (British and
American)) merely an acknowledgment of debt, or was it anobligation to pay...
Resources
What are the Holy Days of Obligation? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are meritorious works in Catholicism? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Catholic sacrament of Holy Eucharist? | GotQuestions.orgObligation: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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