Blameworthy
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The concept of being blameworthy in the Bible is closely associated with sin, guilt, and moral responsibility. In Scripture, to be blameworthy is to be deserving of blame or censure due to actions or attitudes that are contrary to God's commands and character.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often associated with blameworthiness is "asham," which can mean guilt or offense. The Law given to Israel through Moses outlines various actions and attitudes that render a person blameworthy before God. For instance, in Leviticus 5:17 , it states, "If someone sins and violates any of the LORD’s commandments even though he was unaware, he is still guilty and shall bear his punishment." This passage highlights that ignorance does not absolve one from being blameworthy; rather, it underscores the importance of adhering to God's laws.

The account of King David provides a poignant example of blameworthiness. After his sin with Bathsheba and the subsequent murder of Uriah, the prophet Nathan confronts David, leading him to acknowledge his guilt. In 2 Samuel 12:13 , David admits, "I have sinned against the LORD." His acknowledgment of blameworthiness is met with God's mercy, yet the consequences of his actions remain.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the Greek word "enochos" is often used to describe someone who is guilty or liable. Jesus addresses the issue of blameworthiness in the Sermon on the Mount, where He expands the understanding of sin beyond mere actions to include thoughts and intentions. In Matthew 5:22 , Jesus says, "But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment." Here, blameworthiness is not limited to external actions but includes internal attitudes.

The Apostle Paul also discusses blameworthiness in his epistles. In Romans 3:23 , he writes, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." This universal condition of sinfulness renders all humanity blameworthy before God, emphasizing the need for redemption through Jesus Christ.

Moral Responsibility and Repentance

The Bible consistently teaches that being blameworthy carries moral responsibility. However, it also offers a path to forgiveness and restoration. Repentance is a key theme, as seen in 1 John 1:9 : "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This promise of forgiveness underscores God's grace and the possibility of being absolved from blame through genuine repentance and faith in Christ.

Practical Implications

For believers, understanding blameworthiness involves recognizing personal sin and the need for ongoing repentance. It calls for a life of integrity, aligning one's actions and attitudes with the teachings of Scripture. The Bible encourages believers to examine themselves regularly, as Paul advises in 2 Corinthians 13:5 : "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves."

In summary, the concept of being blameworthy in the Bible is deeply tied to the human condition of sin and the moral responsibility that comes with it. While all are blameworthy before God due to sin, the Bible offers hope through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, who provides forgiveness and reconciliation with God.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(a.) Deserving blame; culpable; reprehensible.
Greek
3201. memphomai -- to blame, find fault
... 3201 (from , "rejected because condemned") -- find fault, see as fully blameworthy
(disgraceful, condemnable); hence, rejected because deep wrongs by omission ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3201.htm - 6k
Library

They are Blameworthy who Invented Such Stories.
... Homily VI. Chapter XVII."They are Blameworthy Who Invented Such Stories.
"Now, [1076] since these things can be clearly, profitably ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter xvii they are blameworthy who.htm

The Points which victor Thought Blameworthy in Augustin.
... Book IV. Chapter 2 [II.]"The Points Which Victor Thought Blameworthy in
Augustin. And they are these: The first, that I did not ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 2 ii the points which.htm

"The Blame of Our Sin Continually Hangeth Upon Us. " "In the Sight ...
... saying thus within me: Good Lord, I see Thee that art very Truth; and I know in
truth [163] that we sin grievously every day and be much blameworthy; and I may ...
/.../julian/revelations of divine love/chapter l the blame of.htm

Whether one Ought to Induce Others to Enter Religion?
... religion. Therefore this would seem blameworthy. Objection 3: Further, no
one should induce another to do what is to his prejudice. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether one ought to induce.htm

Several Other Things Turned against the Same Mathematicians.
... If the evil are evil in accordance with destiny, by the decrees of Providence, they
are not blameworthy and deserving of the punishment which is inflicted by ...
/.../chapter xvi several other things turned.htm

Attributes of Selfishness.
... He wishes to do so, but it is impossible. Now he is really guilty of all those forms
of vice, and just as blameworthy as if he indulged in them. ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xviii attributes of selfishness.htm

Daniel: a Pattern for Pleaders
... We are constantly told we ought to prepare our sermons, and I surely think that
if a man does not prepare his sermons he is very blameworthy. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 61 1915/daniel a pattern for pleaders.htm

That we Should Seek the Verdict of Our Conscience in Every ...
... contrary, when we are praised or honoured by others while we recognise by the knowledge
of the truth about ourselves within that we are blameworthy and guilty. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/albert/on cleaving to god/chapter 14 that we should.htm

Knowing that a Man is not Justified by the Work of the Law, but by ...
... individual who is charged admits the fact, but brings forward an excuse, on which
he claims that he had a right to do as he did, or that he is not blameworthy. ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/knowing that a man is.htm

Self-Inspection.
... themselves, and clamouring against those who speak against them, look into their
own hearts and lives, and see if there be not something blameworthy there. ...
/.../the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/xlviii self-inspection.htm

Thesaurus
Blameworthy (1 Occurrence)
...Blameworthy (1 Occurrence). Galatians 2:11 And when Peter came to Antioch, to the
face I stood up against him, because he was blameworthy, (YLT). ...
/b/blameworthy.htm - 6k

Ignorance (27 Occurrences)
... translation "hold back the truth." A willful ignorance is also referred to in Ephesians
4:17; 2 Peter 3:5. But there is also a less blameworthy ignorance. ...
/i/ignorance.htm - 21k

Forget (77 Occurrences)
... for-get', for-get'-ful (shakhach; epilanthanomai): "Forget" is to fail to hold in
mind, and the forgetfulness may be either innocent or blameworthy. ...
/f/forget.htm - 31k

Forgetful (4 Occurrences)
... for-get', for-get'-ful (shakhach; epilanthanomai): "Forget" is to fail to hold in
mind, and the forgetfulness may be either innocent or blameworthy. ...
/f/forgetful.htm - 10k

Guilty (131 Occurrences)
... GUILT (which see), several New Testament passages demand special notice because
the word "guilty" is not used in the principal sense of blameworthy, but with ...
/g/guilty.htm - 39k

Reprove (35 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To convince. 2. (vt) To disprove; to refute. 3.
(vt) To chide to the face as blameworthy; to accuse as guilty; to censure. ...
/r/reprove.htm - 18k

Blandishment (1 Occurrence)

/b/blandishment.htm - 6k

Blamelessness (2 Occurrences)

/b/blamelessness.htm - 7k

Cure (28 Occurrences)
... heal; -- said of a malady. 8. (vt) To set free from (something injurious
or blameworthy), as from a bad habit. 9. (vt) To prepare for ...
/c/cure.htm - 17k

Jezebel (20 Occurrences)
... It is not perhaps blameworthy in her that she upheld the religion of her native
land, although the natural thing would have been to follow that of her adopted ...
/j/jezebel.htm - 26k

Resources
Blameworthy: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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