Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of biblical study, "purporting" refers to the act of claiming or professing something, often with an implication of presenting oneself or one's message in a certain way. This concept can be seen throughout Scripture, where individuals or groups claim authority, truth, or divine insight, sometimes genuinely and other times deceitfully.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, purporting is often associated with false prophets and those who claim to speak on behalf of God without His endorsement.
Deuteronomy 18:20 warns against such individuals: "But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must be put to death." This highlights the seriousness with which God views the act of falsely purporting to speak His words.
The account of the prophets of Baal in
1 Kings 18 is another example. These prophets purported to represent a deity, but their claims were proven false when Elijah, a true prophet of the Lord, demonstrated God's power. This narrative underscores the importance of discerning true from false claims of divine authority.
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, purporting is often linked to the spread of false teachings and the need for discernment within the early church. Jesus Himself warned against false prophets in
Matthew 7:15, saying, "Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." This metaphor illustrates the deceptive nature of those who purport to be something they are not.
The Apostle Paul frequently addressed issues of purporting in his epistles. In
2 Corinthians 11:13-15, he writes, "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness." Here, Paul warns the Corinthian church about individuals who falsely claim apostolic authority, emphasizing the need for vigilance and discernment.
Theological ImplicationsFrom a theological perspective, purporting raises questions about authority, truth, and the nature of divine revelation. The Bible consistently teaches that true authority comes from God and is confirmed by His Word and Spirit. Those who falsely purport to have divine authority are often motivated by personal gain, power, or deception, and they lead others away from the truth.
The Berean approach, as seen in
Acts 17:11, serves as a model for believers: "Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true." This passage encourages Christians to test all claims against the truth of Scripture, ensuring that what is purported aligns with God's revealed Word.
Practical ApplicationIn contemporary Christian life, the concept of purporting remains relevant as believers encounter various teachings, leaders, and movements. Christians are called to exercise discernment, guided by the Holy Spirit and grounded in Scripture, to distinguish between true and false claims. This vigilance helps protect the integrity of the faith and ensures that the church remains faithful to the teachings of Christ and the apostles.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Purport.
Library
My Brother Eusebius Writes to Me That, when He was at a Meeting of...
... to me that, when he was at a meeting of African bishops which had been called for
certain ecclesiastical affairs, he found there a letterpurporting to be...
The Great Controversy
... "The Donation of Constantine' is the name traditionally applied, since the later
Middle Ages, to a documentpurporting to have been addressed by Constantine...
Introductory Notice to Apocrypha of the New Testament.
... a few of the Apocryphal Gospels are of comparatively early origin (see Translator's
Introduction), there is no evidence that any Gospelspurporting to be what...
Mosaic Cosmogony.
... in regard to matters of fact merely, the Sacred Writings should use the common language
and assume the common belief of mankind, withoutpurporting to correct...
Making Haste to be Rich.
... Then it was discovered that he had been making fictitious notes,purporting to be
the bills payable of country merchants, which his own credit had carried...
The Canon in the Confession of Different Churches.
... The historical document containing the articles of "The Union of the Valleys,"
AD1571, separates indeed the canonical and apocryphal books,purporting to be...
Appendix iii in the Hampton Court Conference.
... Accordingly a Petitionpurporting to be signed by "a thousand of His Majesty's subjects
and ministers," hence called "the Millenary Petition," in which they...
Appendix B: Forgery Procured by Mary of Guise
... {280e} There exists a document, in the cipher of Throckmorton, English Ambassador
in France,purporting to be a copy of a letter from the Regent to the Duc and...
Chapter vi.
... transaction, referring expressly to extreme labours, dangers, and sufferings, sustained
by themselves and their companions; lastly, a historypurporting to be...
The Ignatian Epistles and their Claims. The External Evidence.
... As very few records remain to illustrate the ecclesiastical history of that period,
it is not strange that epistles,purporting to have emanated from one of...
Thesaurus
Purporting (1 Occurrence)... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Purport. Multi-Version
Concordance
Purporting (1 Occurrence). 2 Thessalonians 2:2
...Purport (1 Occurrence)
Purpose (448 Occurrences)
Agrapha
... 7. Result: Although the number of agraphapurporting to be sayings of Jesus which
have been collected by scholars seems at first sight imposing, those which...
Maccabees
... Speaker's Apocrypha, II, 329) says these documents "have a general air of authenticity."
Most modern scholars reject the letterspurporting to emanate from the...
Genealogy (29 Occurrences)
... It is impossible that among a people given to genealogies two listspurporting to
give the ancestry of a man in the same line could diverge so widely....
Jesus (10891 Occurrences)
... It is impossible that among a people given to genealogies two listspurporting to
give the ancestry of a man in the same line could diverge so widely....
Christ (573 Occurrences)
... It is impossible that among a people given to genealogies two listspurporting to
give the ancestry of a man in the same line could diverge so widely....
Books (16 Occurrences)
... Speaker's Apocrypha, II, 329) says these documents "have a general air of authenticity."
Most modern scholars reject the letterspurporting to emanate from the...
Resources
How should a Christian view the #metoo movement? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is Unitarian Universalism? | GotQuestions.orgPurporting: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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