Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of owing, particularly in the context of financial and moral obligations, is addressed in various passages throughout the Bible. The term "owe" encompasses both the literal sense of financial debt and the broader sense of moral and spiritual obligations.
Financial ObligationsThe Bible provides clear guidance on the handling of financial debts. In
Romans 13:8 , the Apostle Paul instructs, "Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law." This verse emphasizes the importance of fulfilling financial obligations promptly and highlights love as the perpetual debt that believers owe to one another. The underlying principle is that Christians should strive to live free of financial debt, thereby avoiding the bondage and complications that can arise from owing money.
Proverbs 22:7 states, "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender." This proverb underscores the power dynamics inherent in financial debt, warning believers of the potential loss of freedom and autonomy when one becomes indebted. The biblical perspective encourages prudent financial management and living within one's means to avoid the pitfalls of debt.
Moral and Spiritual ObligationsBeyond financial debts, the Bible speaks to the moral and spiritual obligations that individuals owe to God and to one another. In
Matthew 6:12 , part of the Lord's Prayer reads, "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." Here, the term "debts" is used metaphorically to refer to sins or moral failings. The prayer highlights the reciprocal nature of forgiveness, suggesting that believers owe it to others to forgive, just as they seek forgiveness from God.
The concept of owing is also evident in the parable of the unforgiving servant found in
Matthew 18:21-35. This parable illustrates the importance of mercy and forgiveness, as a servant who is forgiven a great debt by his master fails to show the same compassion to a fellow servant who owes him a much smaller amount. The parable serves as a reminder of the moral obligation to extend grace and forgiveness to others, reflecting the grace that believers have received from God.
Love as a Perpetual DebtThe notion of love as a perpetual debt is a recurring theme in the New Testament.
Romans 13:8 not only advises against financial indebtedness but also elevates love as the ultimate obligation that believers owe to one another. This aligns with Jesus' teaching in
John 13:34 , where He commands, "A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another." The call to love is presented as an ongoing duty that transcends all other obligations.
In summary, the biblical concept of owing encompasses both financial and moral dimensions. Believers are encouraged to manage their financial obligations responsibly while recognizing the enduring moral and spiritual debts they owe to God and to one another, particularly the debt of love.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v.) To possess; to have, as the rightful owner; to own.
2. (v.) To have or possess, as something derived or bestowed; to be obliged to ascribe (something to some source); to be indebted or obliged for; as, he owed his wealth to his father; he owed his victory to his lieutenants.
3. (v.) Hence: To have or be under an obligation to restore, pay, or render (something) in return or compensation for something received; to be indebted in the sum of; as, the subject owes allegiance; the fortunate owe assistance to the unfortunate.
4. (v.) To have an obligation to (some one) on account of something done or received; to be indebted to; as, to owe the grocer for supplies, or a laborer for services.
Greek
3784. opheilo -- to owe ... opheilo. 3785 . to
owe. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: opheilo Phonetic
Spelling: (of-i'-lo) Short Definition: I
owe, ought Definition: I
owe, ought.
... 4359. prosopheilo -- to owe besides
... to owe besides. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: prosopheilo Phonetic Spelling:
(pros-of-i'-lo) Short Definition: I owe in addition Definition: I owe ...
Strong's Hebrew
2325. chub -- to be guilty... Also chayab {khaw-yab'}; a primitive root; properly, perhaps to tie, ie (figuratively
and reflexively) to
owe, or (by implication) to forfeit -- make endanger.
... Library
Ep. cxxii. You Owe Me, Even as a Sick Man, Tending...
... Ep. CXXII. You owe me, even as a sick man, tending? You owe me, even as a sick man,
tending, for one of the commandments is the visitation of the sick. ...
All to Christ I Owe.
... 197 All to Christ I Owe. 6s. Jesus Paid It All. ... Cho."Jesus paid it all, All to him
I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow. ...
All to Christ I Owe.
... 198 All to Christ I Owe. 6s. Rev.22:17. (479) Come to the blood-stained tree; The
Victim bleeding lies; God sets the sinner free, Since Christ, a ransom, dies. ...
Conclusion, the Romans Owe not their Imperial Power to their Gods ...
... Chapter XVII. "Conclusion, the Romans Owe Not Their Imperial Power to Their Gods
The Great God Alone Dispenses Kingdoms, He is the God of the Christians. ...
Whether a Prince Forfeits his Dominion Over his Subjects, on ...
... TWO ARTICLES) Whether a prince forfeits his dominion over his subjects, on account
of apostasy from the faith, so that they no longer owe him allegiance? ...
What is the Honor that Inferiors Owe to their Superiors. ?
... Question 127: What is the honor that inferiors owe to their superiors.?
Answer: The honor which inferiors owe to their superiors ...
What Thanks and Praise to Thee we Owe
... Luke 292. What thanks and praise to thee we owe. LM [1097]Ely: ... William D. Maclagan,
1873. What thanks and praise to thee we owe,. O Priest and Sacrifice divine,. ...
An Exhortation to the Amorous Submission which we Owe to the ...
... BOOK IV. OF THE DECAY AND RUIN OF CHARITY. CHAPTER VIII. AN EXHORTATION TO THE AMOROUS
SUBMISSION WHICH WE OWE TO THE DECREES OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE. ...
The Forgiveness of Sins.
... day. All we possess we owe as a debt to God. ... prayer. And all these blessings
are a debt which we owe to God, and He is ever saying to us. ...
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
... 8 Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor
hath fulfilled the law.9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt ...
Thesaurus
Owe (10 Occurrences)... something) in return or compensation for something received; to be indebted in the
sum of; as, the subject owes allegiance; the fortunate
owe assistance to the
...Owed (10 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Owe. Multi-Version Concordance
Owed (10 Occurrences). Matthew 18:24 When he had begun to ...
Debt (48 Occurrences)
... our Lord. Some think that the expression, "Owe no man anything" (Romans
13:8), is an absolute warning against indebtedness. Quite ...
Duty (90 Occurrences)
... to the wife. In the New Testament "duty" is expressed by opheilo, "to owe,"
"to be due." In Luke 17:10, we have "Say,. we have done ...
Debtors (8 Occurrences)
... Luke 16:5 Calling each one of his lord's debtors to him, he said to the first,'How
much do you owe to my lord?' (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
Debtor (7 Occurrences)
... our Lord. Some think that the expression, "Owe no man anything" (Romans
13:8), is an absolute warning against indebtedness. Quite ...
Rest (831 Occurrences)
... One could not go far astray in fixing the date of the original Greek of the Additions
to Esther at about 100 BC It is evident that we owe these interpolations ...
Owing (7 Occurrences)
... & vb. n.) of Owe. ... Philemon 1:19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay
it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self besides). ...
Pay (212 Occurrences)
... and found one of his fellow servants, who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed
him, and took him by the throat, saying,'Pay me what you owe!' (WEB KJV ...
Fellow (166 Occurrences)
... and found one of his fellow servants, who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed
him, and took him by the throat, saying,'Pay me what you owe!' (WEB KJV ...
Resources
Should a Christian mortgage a home? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about paying taxes? | GotQuestions.orgDo Christians have to obey the laws of the land? | GotQuestions.orgOwe: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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