Topical Encyclopedia In biblical terms, the concept of "fault" often refers to a moral or ethical failing, a transgression, or a weakness in character. It is a term that can encompass both minor errors and significant sins, depending on the context in which it is used. The Bible addresses the idea of fault in various ways, emphasizing the importance of recognizing one's own faults, seeking forgiveness, and striving for righteousness.Old Testament Context In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "fault" is "pesha," which can mean transgression or rebellion. The concept of fault is closely tied to the idea of sin and disobedience to God's commandments. For example, in Leviticus 5:5 , the law provides instructions for confessing sins: "If someone incurs guilt in one of these ways, he must confess the sin he has committed." The Old Testament also emphasizes the communal aspect of fault, where the sins of individuals can affect the entire community. This is evident in the account of Achan in Joshua 7, where Achan's sin leads to Israel's defeat at Ai, highlighting the serious consequences of individual faults on the collective. New Testament Context In the New Testament, the Greek word "paraptoma" is often used to denote a fault or trespass. The New Testament teachings focus on personal responsibility for one's faults and the need for repentance and forgiveness. In Matthew 18:15 , Jesus instructs, "If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over." This passage underscores the importance of addressing faults within the Christian community in a spirit of reconciliation. The Apostle Paul also addresses the concept of fault in his epistles. In Galatians 6:1 , he writes, "Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted." Here, Paul emphasizes the need for gentle correction and self-awareness when dealing with the faults of others. Self-Examination and Confession The Bible encourages believers to examine themselves for faults and to confess them. In 1 John 1:9 , it is written, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This verse highlights the promise of forgiveness and cleansing for those who acknowledge their faults before God. James 5:16 further instructs, "Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail." This passage emphasizes the healing power of confession and prayer within the community of believers. Avoiding Fault-Finding While the Bible encourages self-examination, it also warns against the dangers of fault-finding in others. In Matthew 7:3-5 , Jesus teaches, "Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." This teaching warns against hypocrisy and encourages believers to focus on their own faults before criticizing others. Conclusion The biblical concept of fault encompasses both personal and communal aspects of sin and moral failing. The Scriptures call for self-examination, confession, and a spirit of gentleness in addressing the faults of others, while also warning against hypocrisy and undue criticism. Through repentance and forgiveness, believers are encouraged to seek righteousness and restoration in their relationship with God and others. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (n.) Defect; want; lack; default.2. (n.) Anything that fails, that is wanting, or that impairs excellence; a failing; a defect; a blemish. 3. (n.) A moral failing; a defect or dereliction from duty; a deviation from propriety; an offense less serious than a crime. 4. (n.) A dislocation of the strata of the vein. 5. (n.) In coal seams, coal rendered worthless by impurities in the seam; as, slate fault, dirt fault, etc. 6. (n.) A lost scent; act of losing the scent. 7. (n.) Failure to serve the ball into the proper court. 8. (v. t.) To charge with a fault; to accuse; to find fault with; to blame. 9. (v. t.) To interrupt the continuity of (rock strata) by displacement along a plane of fracture; -- chiefly used in the p. p.; as, the coal beds are badly faulted. 10. (v. i.) To err; to blunder, to commit a fault; to do wrong. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia FAULTfolt (chaTa'; aitia, memphomai): Implies defect, of less moral weight than crime or sin. It is the translation of chaTa', "error," "failure," "sin" (Exodus 5:16); of cheT', same meaning (Genesis 41:9, "I do remember my faults this day"); of `awon, "perversity," "iniquity" (2 Samuel 3:8 Psalm 59:4); of rish`ah, "wrongness," "wickedness" (Deuteronomy 25:2, the Revised Version (British and American) "wickedness"); of shechath (Aramaic) "corruption" (Daniel 6:4 twice); me'umah, "anything" (1 Samuel 29:3, "no fault in him," literally, "not anything"); of aitia, "cause," "case," "guilt," (John 18:38; John 19:4, 6; Pilate of Jesus, "I find no fault in him," the Revised Version (British and American) "no crime"; the same word is rendered "accusation," i.e. `legal cause for prosecution,' Matthew 27:37 Mark 15:26; compare Acts 25:18, 27); of aition, same meaning (Luke 23:4, 14; Luke 23:22, aition thanatou "cause of death"); of hettema, "a worse condition," "defect" (1 Corinthians 6:7, the Revised Version (British and American) "a defect," margin "a loss to you"); of paraptoma, "a falling aside" (Galatians 6:1, "If a man be overtaken in fault," the Revised Version (British and American) "in any trespass," margin "by"; James 5:16, "Confess your faults one to another," the Revised Version (British and American) "Confess therefore your sins one to another"); hamartano, "to miss," "err," "sin," is translated "your faults" (1 Peter 2:20 the Revised Version (British and American), "when ye sin"); memphomai, "to blame," is translated "to find fault" (Mark 7:2 omitted the Revised Version (British and American); Romans 9:19 Hebrews 8:8); elegcho, "to convict," "to tell one's fault" (Matthew 18:15, the Revised Version (British and American) "show him his fault"); amomos, "without blemish," "spotless," is translated "without fault" (Revelation 14:5, the Revised Version (British and American) "without blemish," "faultless"; Jude 1:24, "able to present you faultless," the Revised Version (British and American) "without blemish"); amemptos, "blameless," "without reproach" (Hebrews 8:7, "for if that first covenant had been faultless"). "Faulty" is the translation of 'ashem, "guilty" (2 Samuel 14:13, "as one which is faulty," the Revised Version (British and American) "guilty"); of 'asham, "to be or become guilty" (Hosea 10:2, Revised Version "guilty"). Greek 3201. memphomai -- to blame, find fault ... to blame, find fault. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: memphomai Phonetic Spelling: (mem'-fom-ahee) Short Definition: I blame, censure Definition: I blame ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3201.htm - 6k 3469. momaomai -- to find fault with 158. aition -- cause, fault. 3437. momphe -- blame 4696. spilos -- a spot, stain 265. hamartema -- a sin 2275. hettema -- loss 156. aitia -- cause, reason 1651. elegcho -- to expose, convict, reprove 3202. mempsimoiros -- complaining of one's fate Strong's Hebrew 1848. dophi -- a blemish, fault... 1847, 1848. dophi. 1849 . a blemish, fault. Transliteration: dophi Phonetic Spelling: (dof'-ee) Short Definition: slander. Word ... /hebrew/1848.htm - 5k 3972. meumah -- anything 2398. chata -- to miss, go wrong, sin 7844. shechath -- to corrupt 7564. rishah -- wickedness 5771. avon -- iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity 2399. chet -- a sin 817. asham -- offense, guilt 7960. shalu -- neglect, remissness 819. ashmah -- wrongdoing, guiltiness Library It is not the Fault of the Gospel, nor of Christ Offered Therein.. ... Whether the Devil was Wicked by the Fault of his Own Will in the ... Whether the Evil of Fault Can be in the Angels? "That is Your Fault. " No one Shall Find Fault with us for Observing the Fourth Day of ... Deceived by his Own Fault, He Falls into the Errors of the ... That it is no Fault of the Divine Goodness if we have not a Most ... That it Arises from Our Fault and Our Desert that we Suffer, and ... Whether Pain Has the Nature of Evil More than Fault Has? Whether Evil is Adequately Divided into Pain* and Fault? Thesaurus Fault (42 Occurrences)... 4. (n.) A dislocation of the strata of the vein. 5. (n.) In coal seams, coal rendered worthless by impurities in the seam; as, slate fault, dirt fault, etc. ... /f/fault.htm - 23k Fault-finding (1 Occurrence) Excuse (13 Occurrences) Lapse (9 Occurrences) Blame (14 Occurrences) Faultless (10 Occurrences) Geology Vice (2 Occurrences) Negligence (2 Occurrences) Negligent (7 Occurrences) Resources Does God make mistakes? | GotQuestions.orgIs it wrong to blame God? Is blaming God a sin? | GotQuestions.org How can I learn to stop blaming others for my problems? | GotQuestions.org Fault: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Fault (42 Occurrences)Matthew 18:15 Mark 7:2 Luke 18:15 Luke 23:4 Luke 23:14 John 6:41 John 6:43 John 18:38 John 19:4 John 19:6 Acts 11:2 Romans 9:19 Romans 14:3 Romans 14:4 Romans 14:10 1 Corinthians 6:7 1 Corinthians 10:30 2 Corinthians 6:3 Galatians 6:1 Philippians 2:15 1 Timothy 3:6 Hebrews 8:8 James 1:5 James 3:2 Jude 1:16 Jude 1:24 Revelation 14:5 Genesis 16:5 Genesis 31:36 Exodus 5:16 Exodus 17:2 Deuteronomy 25:2 1 Samuel 29:3 1 Samuel 29:6 2 Samuel 3:8 Job 33:10 Psalms 59:4 Psalms 73:10 Jeremiah 2:5 Daniel 6:4 Hosea 4:4 Jonah 1:12 Subtopics Related Terms |
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