The term "imposed" in a biblical context often refers to laws, regulations, or burdens that are placed upon individuals or groups, either by divine command or human authority. The concept of imposition can be seen throughout the Scriptures, where God, leaders, or circumstances place certain requirements or burdens on people.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the idea of imposition is frequently associated with the Law given to the Israelites. The Mosaic Law, with its numerous commandments and ordinances, was imposed upon the people of Israel as a covenantal requirement. This is evident in passages such as Exodus 24:3, where Moses relays the words of the Lord to the people, and they agree to obey all that the Lord has spoken.

The imposition of laws and regulations was not only a means of maintaining order but also a way to set the Israelites apart as God's chosen people. Leviticus 18:4-5 states, "You are to practice My judgments and keep My statutes by walking in them. I am the LORD your God. Keep My statutes and My judgments, for the man who does these things will live by them. I am the LORD."

Additionally, the concept of imposed burdens can be seen in the oppressive labor that the Israelites endured under Egyptian bondage. Exodus 1:11 notes, "So they appointed taskmasters over them to oppress them with forced labor." This imposition was a form of subjugation and control by the Egyptians.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of imposition is often discussed in the context of the Pharisees and their additional burdens placed upon the people. Jesus criticized the religious leaders for imposing heavy burdens that they themselves were unwilling to bear. In Matthew 23:4 , Jesus says, "They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them."

The Apostle Paul also addresses the issue of imposed legalism in his letters. In Galatians 5:1 , he writes, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery." Here, Paul warns against the imposition of the Mosaic Law as a means of justification, emphasizing the freedom found in Christ.

Theological Implications

Theologically, the concept of imposition highlights the tension between law and grace. While the Law was imposed to guide and instruct, it also revealed humanity's inability to achieve righteousness through works alone. This sets the stage for the New Testament revelation of grace through Jesus Christ, who fulfills the Law and offers freedom from its burdensome impositions.

The imposition of laws and burdens serves as a reminder of the need for divine intervention and the ultimate liberation found in Christ. As believers, the call is to live not under the imposed yoke of legalism but in the freedom and grace provided by faith in Jesus.(imp. & p. p.) of Impose.1945. epikeimai -- to lie on
... Spelling: (ep-ik'-i-mahee) Short Definition: I lie upon, am insistent Definition:
(a) dat: I am placed upon, am laid upon, lie upon, am imposed; I press upon ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1945.htm - 7k

1479. ethelothreskia -- self-willed (arbitrary and unwarranted) ...
... ethelothreskia Phonetic Spelling: (eth-el-oth-race-ki'-ah) Short Definition: arbitrary
worship Definition: arbitrary worship, self-imposed worship. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1479.htm - 7k

3466. musterion -- a mystery or secret doctrine
... From a derivative of muo (to shut the mouth); a secret or "mystery" (through the
idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites) -- mystery. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3466.htm - 7k

5923. ol -- a yoke
... yoke. Or mowl {ole}; from alal; a yoke (as imposed on the neck), literally or
figuratively -- yoke. see HEBREW alal. 5922, 5923. ol or ol. 5924 . ...
/hebrew/5923.htm - 6k

5647. abad -- to work, serve
... 2), burdened (2), cultivate (7), cultivated (2), cultivates (1), do (6), do the
work (1), enslaved (3), given (1), holding in bondage (1), imposed (1), keep (2 ...
/hebrew/5647.htm - 6k

5414. nathan -- to give, put, set
... granted (11), growl* (1), had (3), hand over (2), hang (3), has had (1), have (2),
have* (1), heap (1), held (1), hung (1), impose (1), imposed (3), indeed ...
/hebrew/5414.htm - 9k

6064. anash -- to fine, mulct
... Word Origin denominative verb from onesh Definition to fine, mulct NASB Word Usage
fine (3), fined (1), imposed (1), pay the penalty (1), punished (2), surely ...
/hebrew/6064.htm - 6k

Whether the Temporal Punishment is Imposed According to the Degree ...
... Whether the temporal punishment is imposed according to the degree of the fault?
Objection 1: It would seem that the temporal punishment ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the temporal punishment is.htm

Whether Solemn Penance Should be Imposed on Women and Clerics, and ...
... OF THE SOLEMN RITE OF PENANCE (THREE ARTICLES) Whether solemn penance should be
imposed on women and clerics, and whether any priest can impose it? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether solemn penance should be.htm

Doctor Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences
... 5. The pope does not intend to remit, and cannot remit any penalties other than
those which he has imposed either by his own authority or by that of the Canons ...
/.../luther/martin luthers 95 theses/disputation of doctor martin luther.htm

Dr. Martin Luther Concerning Penitence and Indulgences.
... 5. The Pope has neither the will nor the power to remit any penalties, except those
which he has imposed by his own authority, or by that of the canons. ...
/.../luther/first principles of the reformation/disputation of dr martin luther.htm

On the Ecclesiastical Ministrations of the New Testament and on ...
... VIII. These offices are not always imposed in the same mode, nor administered
by the same methods. For, at the commencement of the ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation lix on the ecclesiastical.htm

The Manner in which Man Conducted Himself for Fulfilling the First ...
... But we say the violation of this covenant was a transgression of the symbolical
law imposed concerning his not eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation xxx the manner in.htm

Third Tractate. On the Kinds of Being (3).
... evolve a unity, then another and another, until we arrived at some definite number;
each such unit we should call a species if imposed upon individuals, a ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/plotinus/the six enneads/third tractate on the kinds.htm

Introduction
... It would be truer to say that they gravitated toward each other in the course of
the first century of the Church's life, and imposed their unity on the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/denney/the death of christ/introduction.htm

Elucidations.
... to them the name of "Gnostics," but wrests it from them, just as we reclaim the
name of "Catholics" from the Tridentine innovators, who have imposed a modern ...
//christianbookshelf.org/clement/the stromata or miscellanies/elucidations.htm

Sixteenth Proposition of Arminius
... Thirdly, because the reelection of a creature, in his natural state, of a creature,
on whom is imposed a law only to be performed by grace, is a cause of sin ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 3/sixteenth proposition of arminius.htm

Imposed (16 Occurrences)
...Imposed (16 Occurrences). ... (WEY). Hebrews 9:10 being only (with meats and drinks and
various washings) fleshly ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation. ...
/i/imposed.htm - 11k

Self-imposed (1 Occurrence)
Self-imposed. Self-important, Self-imposed. Self-indulgence . Noah Webster's
Dictionary (a.) Voluntarily taken on one's self; as, self-imposed tasks. ...
/s/self-imposed.htm - 6k

Tribute (67 Occurrences)
... A tax imposed by a king on his subjects (2 Samuel 20:24; 1 Kings 4:6; Romans
13:6). In Matthew 17:24-27 the word denotes the temple rate (the "didrachma, " the ...
/t/tribute.htm - 32k

Tax (43 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A charge, especially a pecuniary burden
which is imposed by authority. 2. (n.) A charge or burden ...
/t/tax.htm - 47k

Dogma
... the opinion, or ipse dixit, of the master of a philosophical school came to be quoted
as authoritative truth; also, the opinion of a sovereign imposed as law ...
/d/dogma.htm - 10k

Satisfaction (15 Occurrences)
... Exodus 21:30 If there be imposed on him a satisfaction, then he shall give the
ransom of his life, according to what is imposed on him. (DBY). ...
/s/satisfaction.htm - 11k

Custom (51 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary A tax imposed by the Romans. ... 9. (n.) Duties or tolls
imposed by law on commodities, imported or exported. 10. ...
/c/custom.htm - 28k

Abstinence (2 Occurrences)
... There is no evidence that He imposed upon Himself any unnecessary austerities.
The "forty days' " fast (not mentioned in Mk, the ...
/a/abstinence.htm - 25k

Hellenism
... With the enforced internal peace imposed by Macedonia came the resumption of colonial
and military expansion in a measure before undreamed of. ...
/h/hellenism.htm - 26k

Hellenist
... With the enforced internal peace imposed by Macedonia came the resumption of colonial
and military expansion in a measure before undreamed of. ...
/h/hellenist.htm - 26k

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