In the biblical context, the concept of being "chained" often symbolizes captivity, bondage, or restraint, both in a physical and spiritual sense. The imagery of chains is used throughout Scripture to depict various forms of imprisonment and the power of God to deliver from such bondage.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, chains are frequently associated with physical captivity. For instance, Samson, a judge of Israel, was bound with chains by the Philistines after being betrayed by Delilah. Judges 16:21 states, "Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, where they bound him with bronze shackles, and he was forced to grind grain in the prison."

Chains also symbolize the oppression of the Israelites during their periods of exile and subjugation by foreign powers. The imagery of chains is used to express the longing for freedom and divine intervention. In Psalm 107:10-14 , the psalmist describes those who "sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and chains," and how God "brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke away their chains."

New Testament References

In the New Testament, chains often represent the persecution faced by early Christians. The Apostle Paul frequently refers to his own imprisonment and the chains he bore for the sake of the Gospel. In Ephesians 6:20 , Paul writes, "For which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should."

The book of Acts provides several accounts of miraculous deliverance from chains, underscoring God's power over physical and spiritual bondage. In Acts 12:6-7 , Peter is imprisoned and bound with chains, but an angel of the Lord appears, and "the chains fell off his wrists," leading to his escape.

Spiritual Symbolism

Beyond the literal sense, chains in the Bible often symbolize spiritual bondage to sin and the power of evil. The deliverance from such chains is a recurring theme, emphasizing the redemptive work of Christ. In Romans 6:6 , Paul speaks of being set free from the chains of sin: "We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin."

The imagery of chains is also used in eschatological contexts, particularly in the book of Revelation, where Satan is bound with a great chain for a thousand years (Revelation 20:1-2), symbolizing the ultimate victory of God over evil.

Theological Implications

The use of chains in Scripture serves as a powerful metaphor for the human condition and the transformative power of God's grace. It highlights the reality of spiritual captivity and the hope of liberation through faith in Jesus Christ. The breaking of chains is a testament to God's sovereignty and His ability to free individuals from both physical and spiritual oppression.(imp. p. p.) of Chain.

The Traitor Prince.
... And he is not chained yet. I remember a conversation with a young clergyman one
Monday morning in the reading-room of a Young Men's Christian Association. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on prayer/the traitor prince.htm

Christ the Breaker
... are chained by guilt; you are chained by sin, you are chained by the habit of evil
with a strength of which you never know till you try to shake it off. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/christ the breaker.htm

In Rome
... As they make their way through the crowds that throng the great thoroughfare, the
gray-haired old man, chained with a group of hardened-looking criminals ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 43 in rome.htm

A Detached Account of the Descent into Hell.
... us? What art thou come to do here? Wilt thou crucify us likewise?' The angels
hunted them away, having first chained them. The poor ...
/.../chapter lix a detached account.htm

The Prison-House.
... But still S. Paul was a prisoner. After the Roman fashion, he was chained to a
soldier, and at night probably two soldiers were linked to him. ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon lii the prison-house.htm

"We Will Never Surrender. "
... And tell your King another thing; that I will have him chained with my dog inside
of half an hour." And when the King heard that he did not dare to meet them ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/we will never surrender.htm

Hymn for all Hours
... And the madman, chained and tortured by dark powers, from whom all fly, As the tombs,
that were his dwelling, echo to his savage cry, Rushes forth and falls ...
/.../prudentius/the hymns of prudentius/ix hymn for all hours.htm

Of a Scruple Concerning a Soul's Vocation to a Religious Life. ...
... to such a course, depriving them of their dearest friends, riches, &c., crossing
also their designs, which if they had succeeded would have chained them to the ...
/.../chapter xii of a scruple.htm

Gathering the Fragments.
... day, nor alter one past page in our life's story, would bring a remorse cruel as
the fabled vulture which ever fed upon the vitals of the chained Prometheus. ...
/.../sermon lx gathering the fragments.htm

Enthusiasm.
... Tell him that I will have him chained with my dogs within forty-eight hours." When
the king heard that he had such men arrayed against him, it struck terror to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/to the work to the work/chapter v enthusiasm.htm

Chained (9 Occurrences)
... (imp. pp) of Chain. Multi-Version Concordance Chained (9 Occurrences). ... (See NIV).
John 18:24 Then Annas sent him chained to Caiaphas, the high priest. (BBE). ...
/c/chained.htm - 9k

Quaternion
... Two of each quaternion were in turn stationed at the door (12:6), and to two the
apostle was chained according to Roman custom. Noah Webster's Dictionary. ...
/q/quaternion.htm - 8k

Chains (100 Occurrences)
... Among the Romans the prisoner was chained to one or two guards (Acts 12:6, 7; Acts
21:33 Ephesians 6:20 2 Timothy 1:16). ... But God's word isn't chained. ...
/c/chains.htm - 39k

Chain (21 Occurrences)
... 34). Among the Romans the prisoner was chained to one or two guards (Acts
12:6, 7; Acts 21:33 Ephesians 6:20 2 Timothy 1:16). These ...
/c/chain.htm - 18k

Onesiphorus (2 Occurrences)
... which Onesiphorus paid to Paul in his Roman prison were intensely "refreshing."
And it was not once or twice that he thus visited the chained prisoner, but he ...
/o/onesiphorus.htm - 11k

Wearing (43 Occurrences)
... NAS). 2 Timothy 2:9 in which I suffer hardship to the point of chains as
a criminal. But God's word isn't chained. (See RSV). Hebrews ...
/w/wearing.htm - 18k

Fettered (3 Occurrences)
... Fettered (3 Occurrences). 2 Timothy 2:9 in which I suffer hardship to the point
of chains as a criminal. But God's word isn't chained. (See RSV). ...
/f/fettered.htm - 7k

Fetters (21 Occurrences)
... Grace be with you. Amen. (See RSV). 2 Timothy 2:9 in which I suffer hardship to
the point of chains as a criminal. But God's word isn't chained. (See RSV). ...
/f/fetters.htm - 12k

Framework (6 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 20:2 And Pashhur gave blows to Jeremiah and had his feet chained in a
framework of wood in the higher doorway of Benjamin, which was in the house of ...
/f/framework.htm - 8k

Downfall (46 Occurrences)
... (BBE). 2 Samuel 3:34 Your hands were free, your feet were not chained: like
the downfall of a man before evil men, so was your fall. ...
/d/downfall.htm - 20k

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