In the context of biblical study, "purporting" refers to the act of claiming or professing something, often with an implication of presenting oneself or one's message in a certain way. This concept can be seen throughout Scripture, where individuals or groups claim authority, truth, or divine insight, sometimes genuinely and other times deceitfully.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, purporting is often associated with false prophets and those who claim to speak on behalf of God without His endorsement. Deuteronomy 18:20 warns against such individuals: "But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must be put to death." This highlights the seriousness with which God views the act of falsely purporting to speak His words.

The account of the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18 is another example. These prophets purported to represent a deity, but their claims were proven false when Elijah, a true prophet of the Lord, demonstrated God's power. This narrative underscores the importance of discerning true from false claims of divine authority.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, purporting is often linked to the spread of false teachings and the need for discernment within the early church. Jesus Himself warned against false prophets in Matthew 7:15, saying, "Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." This metaphor illustrates the deceptive nature of those who purport to be something they are not.

The Apostle Paul frequently addressed issues of purporting in his epistles. In 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, he writes, "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness." Here, Paul warns the Corinthian church about individuals who falsely claim apostolic authority, emphasizing the need for vigilance and discernment.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, purporting raises questions about authority, truth, and the nature of divine revelation. The Bible consistently teaches that true authority comes from God and is confirmed by His Word and Spirit. Those who falsely purport to have divine authority are often motivated by personal gain, power, or deception, and they lead others away from the truth.

The Berean approach, as seen in Acts 17:11, serves as a model for believers: "Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true." This passage encourages Christians to test all claims against the truth of Scripture, ensuring that what is purported aligns with God's revealed Word.

Practical Application

In contemporary Christian life, the concept of purporting remains relevant as believers encounter various teachings, leaders, and movements. Christians are called to exercise discernment, guided by the Holy Spirit and grounded in Scripture, to distinguish between true and false claims. This vigilance helps protect the integrity of the faith and ensures that the church remains faithful to the teachings of Christ and the apostles.(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Purport.

My Brother Eusebius Writes to Me That, when He was at a Meeting of ...
... to me that, when he was at a meeting of African bishops which had been called for
certain ecclesiastical affairs, he found there a letter purporting to be ...
/.../24 my brother eusebius writes.htm

The Great Controversy
... "The Donation of Constantine' is the name traditionally applied, since the later
Middle Ages, to a document purporting to have been addressed by Constantine ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the great controversy/the great controversy.htm

Introductory Notice to Apocrypha of the New Testament.
... a few of the Apocryphal Gospels are of comparatively early origin (see Translator's
Introduction), there is no evidence that any Gospels purporting to be what ...
/.../unknown/apocrypha of the new testament/introductory notice to apocrypha of.htm

Mosaic Cosmogony.
... in regard to matters of fact merely, the Sacred Writings should use the common language
and assume the common belief of mankind, without purporting to correct ...
/.../temple/essays and reviews the education of the world/mosaic cosmogony.htm

Making Haste to be Rich.
... Then it was discovered that he had been making fictitious notes, purporting to be
the bills payable of country merchants, which his own credit had carried ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arthur/words for the wise/making haste to be rich.htm

The Canon in the Confession of Different Churches.
... The historical document containing the articles of "The Union of the Valleys,"
AD1571, separates indeed the canonical and apocryphal books, purporting to be ...
/.../davidson/the canon of the bible/chapter x the canon in.htm

Appendix iii in the Hampton Court Conference.
... Accordingly a Petition purporting to be signed by "a thousand of His Majesty's subjects
and ministers," hence called "the Millenary Petition," in which they ...
/.../luckock/studies in the book of common prayer/appendix iii in the hampton.htm

Appendix B: Forgery Procured by Mary of Guise
... {280e} There exists a document, in the cipher of Throckmorton, English Ambassador
in France, purporting to be a copy of a letter from the Regent to the Duc and ...
/.../lang/john knox and the reformation/appendix b forgery procured by.htm

Chapter vi.
... transaction, referring expressly to extreme labours, dangers, and sufferings, sustained
by themselves and their companions; lastly, a history purporting to be ...
//christianbookshelf.org/paley/evidences of christianity/chapter vi.htm

The Ignatian Epistles and their Claims. The External Evidence.
... As very few records remain to illustrate the ecclesiastical history of that period,
it is not strange that epistles, purporting to have emanated from one of ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter ii the ignatian epistles.htm

Purporting (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Purport. Multi-Version
Concordance Purporting (1 Occurrence). 2 Thessalonians 2:2 ...
/p/purporting.htm - 6k

Purport (1 Occurrence)

/p/purport.htm - 6k

Purpose (448 Occurrences)

/p/purpose.htm - 37k

Agrapha
... 7. Result: Although the number of agrapha purporting to be sayings of Jesus which
have been collected by scholars seems at first sight imposing, those which ...
/a/agrapha.htm - 21k

Maccabees
... Speaker's Apocrypha, II, 329) says these documents "have a general air of authenticity."
Most modern scholars reject the letters purporting to emanate from the ...
/m/maccabees.htm - 52k

Genealogy (29 Occurrences)
... It is impossible that among a people given to genealogies two lists purporting to
give the ancestry of a man in the same line could diverge so widely. ...
/g/genealogy.htm - 70k

Jesus (10891 Occurrences)
... It is impossible that among a people given to genealogies two lists purporting to
give the ancestry of a man in the same line could diverge so widely. ...
/j/jesus.htm - 101k

Christ (573 Occurrences)
... It is impossible that among a people given to genealogies two lists purporting to
give the ancestry of a man in the same line could diverge so widely. ...
/c/christ.htm - 101k

Books (16 Occurrences)
... Speaker's Apocrypha, II, 329) says these documents "have a general air of authenticity."
Most modern scholars reject the letters purporting to emanate from the ...
/b/books.htm - 101k

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