Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Context:The term "tolerate" generally refers to the capacity or willingness to endure or allow the existence of opinions or behaviors that one may not necessarily agree with. In a biblical context, tolerance can be understood as the act of bearing with others in love, patience, and humility, while maintaining a commitment to truth and righteousness.
Biblical References and Principles:The Bible provides guidance on how believers are to interact with others, including those with differing beliefs or behaviors. While the word "tolerate" itself may not frequently appear in Scripture, the concept is woven throughout biblical teachings.
1.
Love and Patience:Ephesians 4:2 encourages believers to "be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." This verse highlights the importance of patience and love in dealing with others, suggesting a form of tolerance that is rooted in humility and gentleness.
2.
Truth and Righteousness: While the Bible calls for love and patience, it also emphasizes the importance of upholding truth. In
2 Timothy 4:2-3 , Paul instructs Timothy to "preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction." This passage suggests that tolerance does not mean compromising on truth but rather addressing falsehoods with patience and careful teaching.
3.
Avoiding Compromise with Sin:Revelation 2:20 provides a warning against tolerating sin within the church: "But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols." This verse underscores the danger of tolerating sinful behavior that leads others astray, indicating that tolerance has its limits when it comes to maintaining the purity of the faith.
4.
Living Peaceably:Romans 12:18 advises, "If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone." This instruction encourages believers to strive for peace and harmony with others, which may involve a degree of tolerance in non-essential matters, while still holding firm to core doctrinal truths.
5.
Judgment and Discernment:Matthew 7:1-2 warns, "Do not judge, or you will be judged. For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." This passage calls for discernment and humility in judgment, suggesting that tolerance involves recognizing one's own fallibility and the need for grace.
Application in Christian Life:In practical terms, Christians are called to exercise tolerance by showing love, patience, and understanding towards others, especially those who may hold different views or engage in different practices. However, this tolerance is not without boundaries; it must be balanced with a commitment to biblical truth and righteousness. Believers are encouraged to engage with others respectfully and lovingly, while also standing firm in their faith and values.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
v. t.) To allow or permit negatively, by not preventing; to put up with; as, to tolerate doubtful practices.
Greek
941. bastazo -- to take up, carry... 2), carried...away (1), carried away (1), carries (1), carry (2), carrying (2),
endured (1), picked (1), pilfer (1), remove (1), supports (1),
tolerate (1).
...430. anecho -- to hold up, bear with
... Word Origin from ana and echo Definition to hold up, bear with NASB Word Usage bear
(3), bearing (2), endure (3), put (4), showing tolerance (1),tolerate (2)....
863. aphiemi -- to send away, leave alone, permit
... let (9), let...alone (6), let him have (1), neglected (1), neglecting (2), permit
(6), permitted (1), permitting (1), send...away (1),tolerate (1), uttered (1...
Library
It is a Little Remarkable That, While Some Classes of Christians...
... CHAPTER I. It is a little remarkable that, while some classes of christians
do nottolerate the? It is a little remarkable that...
Twenty-Ninth Day. Love of Unity.
... "How that word 'toleration' is used amongst us," said one who drank deeper than
most, of his Master's spirit""how wetolerate one another"Dissenters...
Commendation and Exhortation.
... [1063] ie, to make personal acquaintance with one esteemed so highly. [1064] Or,
"tolerate.". [1065] Comp. 1 Thess.... [1068] Or, "tolerate.". [1069] Comp. 1 Thess....
The Papacy
... ecclesiastical appointments; they insisted upon exercising the /Royal Placet/ upon
papal documents and episcopal pronouncements; they wouldtolerate no longer...
Professor of Sanskrit, Bengali, and Marathi
... first avenues through the bewildering forests of the sacred literature of the East."
He declares that "Eastern nations themselves would nottolerate, in any of...
Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity Works of the Flesh and Fruits of...
... And it does so in a way to show that it is not the design of this doctrine to forbid
good works or totolerate and refrain from censuring bad ones, or to...
Seventh Sunday after Trinity Exhortation to Resist Sin.
... Suppose now the thief continues in wrong-doing and boasts, "Now that I am under
grace I may do as I please, I have no law to fear"; who wouldtolerate him?...
Article xxiii (xi): of the Marriage of Priests.
... and false pretext of the divine name, but even to exhort the Emperor and princes,
to the disgrace and infamy of the Roman Empire, not totolerate the marriage...
Whether the Rites of Unbelievers Ought to be Tolerated?
... as a gloss observes on Rom.1:32: "Not only they that do them, but they also that
consent to them that do them." Therefore it is a sin totolerate their rites....
Letter Xlix. --Letter to Dracontius . Written AD 354 or 355.
... things. I beseech you, dismiss such ideas, nortolerate those who advise
you in such a sense, for this is not worthy of Dracontius....
Thesaurus
Tolerate (8 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary (vt) To allow or permit negatively, by not preventing;
to put up with; as, to
tolerate doubtful practices.
...Tolerate (8 Occurrences).
...Nero
... This caused a sharp conflict with Seneca and Burrus, who could nottolerate
Agrippina's arrogance and unbounded influence over her son....
Suffering (104 Occurrences)
... (3) "To put up with," "totolerate": the King James Version, "For ye suffer fools
gladly (the Revised Version (British and American) "ye bear with the foolish...
Wholesome (10 Occurrences)
... 2 Timothy 4:3 For a time is coming when they will nottolerate wholesome instruction,
but, wanting to have their ears tickled, they will find a multitude of...
Wanting (27 Occurrences)
... 2 Timothy 4:3 For a time is coming when they will nottolerate wholesome instruction,
but, wanting to have their ears tickled, they will find a multitude of...
Fancies (3 Occurrences)
... 2 Timothy 4:3 For a time is coming when they will nottolerate wholesome instruction,
but, wanting to have their ears tickled, they will find a multitude of...
Tickled (1 Occurrence)
... 2 Timothy 4:3 For a time is coming when they will nottolerate wholesome instruction,
but, wanting to have their ears tickled, they will find a multitude of...
Tolerated (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) ofTolerate. Multi-Version Concordance
Tolerated (1 Occurrence). Esther 3:4 Now it came to...
Toil (66 Occurrences)
... Revelation 2:2 "I know your works, and your toil and perseverance, and that you
can'ttolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves apostles...
Take (11064 Occurrences)
... 17. (vt) To bear without ill humor or resentment; to submit to; totolerate; to
endure; as, to take a joke; he will take an affront from no man. 18....
Resources
What should a Christian do when convictions violate a tolerant society? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is moral relativism? | GotQuestions.orgWhy do we need a Savior? | GotQuestions.orgTolerate: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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