In the biblical context, the concept of infectiousness primarily relates to diseases and conditions that could spread among the people of Israel, both physically and spiritually. The Bible addresses infectious diseases in various passages, often in the context of maintaining the holiness and purity of the community.

Levitical Laws and Infectious Diseases

The Book of Leviticus provides detailed instructions on how to handle infectious diseases, particularly skin diseases and mildew, which were considered unclean. Leviticus 13 and 14 outline the procedures for diagnosing and managing these conditions. The priests were responsible for examining individuals and determining whether they were clean or unclean. If a person was found to be unclean, they were isolated from the community to prevent the spread of the disease. Leviticus 13:46 states, "As long as he has the infection, he remains unclean. He must live alone in a place outside the camp."

The laws served not only as public health measures but also as spiritual lessons about the nature of sin and impurity. Just as physical diseases could spread and defile, so could sin and moral corruption. The Israelites were called to be a holy people, set apart for God, and these laws reinforced the importance of purity and separation from anything that could defile.

Spiritual Implications of Infectiousness

In the New Testament, the concept of infectiousness takes on a spiritual dimension. Jesus Christ, during His earthly ministry, healed many who were afflicted with diseases, demonstrating His power over both physical and spiritual ailments. In Matthew 8:2-3 , a leper approaches Jesus, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." Jesus responds, "I am willing," and heals him, illustrating His authority to cleanse and restore.

The Apostle Paul warns against the spread of false teachings and sinful behavior within the church, using the metaphor of leaven, which can spread through a whole batch of dough. In 1 Corinthians 5:6 , Paul writes, "Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough?" This serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance against spiritual infectiousness that can corrupt the body of Christ.

Community and Restoration

The biblical approach to infectious diseases also emphasizes the importance of community and restoration. Once a person was healed or cleansed, they were to present themselves to the priest and offer the prescribed sacrifices, as outlined in Leviticus 14. This process allowed for their reintegration into the community, symbolizing both physical healing and spiritual restoration.

In the New Testament, the church is called to be a community of healing and restoration. James 5:14-15 encourages believers to pray for the sick, stating, "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick." This reflects the ongoing role of the church in addressing both physical and spiritual needs, fostering an environment where healing and holiness can flourish.1. (a.) Having qualities that may infect; communicable or caused by infection; pestilential; epidemic; as, an infectious fever; infectious clothing; infectious air; infectious vices.

2. (a.) Corrupting, or tending to corrupt or contaminate; vitiating; demoralizing.

3. (a.) Contaminating with illegality; exposing to seizure and forfeiture.

4. (a.) Capable of being easily diffused or spread; sympathetic; readily communicated; as, infectious mirth.

3014. lepra -- leprosy
... leprosy. Cognate: 3014 -- a deeply infectious, contagious skin disease
rendering a person "ceremonially unclean" in Jewish society. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3014.htm - 6k

The Death of Saint George.
... from whose erudite work this history is drawn, informs us, to "a doleful
report"how, upon Dunmore Heath, there raged up and down an infectious dragon, that ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter twenty one the death.htm

Whether it is Lawful to Kill Sinners?
... For this reason we observe that if the health of the whole body demands the excision
of a member, through its being decayed or infectious to the other members ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful to 7.htm

Whether the Aforesaid Powers are More Infected than the Others?
... I answer that, Those corruptions especially are said to be infectious, which are
of such a nature as to be transmitted from one subject to another: hence ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the aforesaid powers are.htm

On Friendship with the World
... endeavour it, or no. I know not how to account for it, but it is a real
fact, that their very spirit is infectious. While you are ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 80 on friendship with.htm

Significant Phrases
... extreme and morbid. exuberant and infectious. F. fabulous and fabricated. ... genius
and reputation. gentle and amiable. genuine and infectious. germ and root. ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section ii significant phrases.htm

Temptations.
... 1. Dreadful accusations from Satan.2. Grievous, defiling, and infectious
thoughts.3. A strange readiness in our nature to fall in with both. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xv temptations.htm

In what Sense we are to Leave the World
... You cannot long be ignorant of this; for they take little pains to hide it.
Now, is it not certain, all vice is of an infectious nature? ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 81 in what sense.htm

The Mystery of Personality
... His gay, infectious laughter which so often filled a room put people immediately
at ease, and yet he never belittled his calling nor lowered himself to meet men ...
/.../herrick/frank h nelson of cincinnati/the mystery of personality.htm

A Corps Commander
... He is there to answer letters from anxious parents, to hunt up straying sons and
daughters, to rebuke sin; in outbreaks of infectious disease and catastrophies ...
/.../carpenter/the angel adjutant of twice born men/v a corps commander.htm

Of Obscene Talk.
... easy to resolve to which peculiarly to assign it, I mean obscene, and immodest talk,
which is offensive to the purity of God, damageable and infectious to the ...
/.../allestree/the government of the tongue/section xii of obscene talk.htm

Infectious (19 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Having qualities that may infect; communicable or caused by infection;
pestilential; epidemic; as, an infectious fever; infectious clothing; infectious...
/i/infectious.htm - 12k

Infection (24 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) That which infects, or causes the communicated disease; any effluvium, miasm,
or pestilential matter by which an infectious disease is caused. ...
/i/infection.htm - 14k

Haemorrhoids
... Or Emerods, bleeding piles known to the ancient Romans as mariscae, but more
probably malignant boils of an infectious and fatal character. ...
/h/haemorrhoids.htm - 7k

Infer (1 Occurrence)

/i/infer.htm - 7k

Taking (445 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Apt to take; alluring; attracting. 3. (a.) Infectious; contagious. 4. (n.)
The act of gaining possession; a seizing; seizure; apprehension. ...
/t/taking.htm - 35k

Eyes (6285 Occurrences)
... The commonest of the diseases at present is the purulent conjunctivitis which is
a highly infectious malady affecting people of all ages, but especially ...
/e/eyes.htm - 11k

Diseases (38 Occurrences)
... The commonest of the diseases at present is the purulent conjunctivitis which is
a highly infectious malady affecting people of all ages, but especially ...
/d/diseases.htm - 25k

Murrain (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) An infectious and fatal disease among cattle.
2. (a.) Having, or afflicted with, murrain. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/m/murrain.htm - 9k

Pestilence (57 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A raging epidemic; specifically, the bubonic plague; hence, any contagious
or infectious epidemic disease that is virulent and devastating. ...
/p/pestilence.htm - 31k

Physician (6 Occurrences)
... had explicit instructions as to the isolation of those suffering from skin eruptions,
so that they might recognize certain obstinate and infectious forms which ...
/p/physician.htm - 14k

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Infectious: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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