Sanction
Jump to: Webster'sConcordanceThesaurusGreekLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the term "sanction" refers to the authoritative approval or disapproval of certain actions, behaviors, or practices, often accompanied by rewards or punishments. Sanctions in the biblical sense are deeply rooted in the covenantal relationship between God and His people, where obedience to God's commands brings blessings, and disobedience results in curses or divine discipline.

Divine Sanctions in the Old Testament

The concept of divine sanction is prominently featured in the Mosaic Covenant, where God sets forth blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. In Deuteronomy 28, the blessings for obedience include prosperity, health, and victory over enemies: "The LORD will command the blessing upon you in your barns and in all that you undertake. He will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you" (Deuteronomy 28:8). Conversely, the curses for disobedience are severe and encompass a wide range of calamities, including disease, drought, and defeat: "But if you do not obey the LORD your God by carefully following all His commandments and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you" (Deuteronomy 28:15).

The sanctions of the Mosaic Law also include specific penalties for various transgressions. For example, the law prescribes capital punishment for certain offenses, such as murder (Exodus 21:12) and idolatry (Deuteronomy 13:6-10). These sanctions serve to uphold the holiness and justice of God within the community of Israel.

Sanctions in the New Testament

In the New Testament, the concept of sanction is often related to church discipline and the moral and ethical standards expected of believers. Jesus Himself speaks of the authority given to the church to bind and loose, which includes the power to impose sanctions on unrepentant members: "Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 18:18).

The Apostle Paul addresses the issue of church discipline in his letters, emphasizing the need for corrective measures to maintain the purity and integrity of the church. In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul instructs the Corinthian church to expel a member engaged in egregious sin: "Hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 5:5). This sanction serves both as a warning to the community and as a means of restoring the sinner to fellowship upon repentance.

Eternal Sanctions

The Bible also speaks of eternal sanctions, where the ultimate reward or punishment is determined by one's relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Eternal life is promised to those who believe in Christ and follow His teachings: "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Conversely, eternal separation from God is the sanction for those who reject Christ: "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him" (John 3:36).

Conclusion

Sanctions in the Bible serve as a means of upholding divine justice and holiness, guiding the behavior of God's people, and ultimately pointing to the eternal consequences of one's relationship with God. Through both temporal and eternal sanctions, the Bible underscores the seriousness of sin and the profound importance of obedience and faith in the life of a believer.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (v. t.) To approval; to ratify; to confirm.

2. (n.) Solemn or ceremonious ratification; an official act of a superior by which he ratifies and gives validity to the act of some other person or body; establishment or furtherance of anything by giving authority to it; confirmation; approbation.

3. (n.) Anything done or said to enforce the will, law, or authority of another; as, legal sanctions.

Greek
4901. sunepimartureo -- to testify or bear witness together with.
... sunepimartureo Phonetic Spelling: (soon-ep-ee-mar-too-reh'-o) Short Definition:
I unite in bearing witness Definition: I unite in bearing witness, sanction. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4901.htm - 6k

3549. nomotheteo -- to make law, to ordain by law
... nomotheteo Phonetic Spelling: (nom-oth-et-eh'-o) Short Definition: I ordain, enact
Definition: (a) I ordain, lay down, give the sanction of law to, enact, (b ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3549.htm - 6k

Library

Apostolic Sanction to this Exclusion of Heretics from the Use of ...
... Chapter XVI."Apostolic Sanction to This Exclusion of Heretics from the Use of the
Scriptures Heretics, According to the Apostle, are Not to Be Disputed With ...
/.../the prescription against heretics/chapter xvi apostolic sanction to this.htm

Basilides and Isidorus Allege Apostolic Sanction for their Systems ...
... Book VII. Chapter VIII."Basilides and Isidorus Allege Apostolic Sanction
for Their Systems; They Really Follow Aristotle. Basilides ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter viii basilides and isidorus allege.htm

Short Account of the Life and Writings of Robert Barclay ...
... III. pages 73, 74,] "The first publication of the work, (Barclay's Apology) was
under the sanction of the Society; and it having passed through two or three ...
/.../short account of the life.htm

The Origin and Growth of Law.
... Soon through his activities these almost instinctive habits, guided by rules, assume
the nature of customs that have a sanction, often of religion, practically ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/kent/the making of a nation/study ix the origin and.htm

On the Second Command in the Decalogue
... The second precept consists of a command and its sanction, from a description of
God, who is prompt and powerful to punish the transgressor, and who is greatly ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation lxxv on the second.htm

Evolution and Sociology
... as citizens of one great state," [23] the phrase, "Live according to Nature," so
far from having no application to the modern world or no sanction in modern ...
/.../the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/iv evolution and sociology.htm

The Allies of the Tempter.
... these I now proceed. I observe, then, in the first place, that the Tempter
has one Ally in Public Sanction. There are sources of ...
/.../chapin/humanity in the city/discourse vi the allies of.htm

In Jud??a and through Samaria - a Sketch of Samaritan History and ...
... And yet it was only on this occasion that the rite was administered under
His sanction. But the circumstances were exceptional. ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vii in judaea and.htm

The Samaritan and Alexandrian Canons.
... adopt, not only from their aversion to Greek literature generally, but also from
the recent origin of the books, perhaps also their want of prophetic sanction. ...
/.../davidson/the canon of the bible/chapter iii the samaritan and.htm

King Herod's Enrollment
... Incidentally, we notice that both the accusation that Herod had made war without
Roman sanction, and the defense that he had been authorized by the governor of ...
/.../ramsay/was christ born in bethlehem/chapter 9 king herods enrollment.htm

Thesaurus
Sanction (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Sanction (2 Occurrences). ... The man is to be congratulated
who does not pronounce judgement on himself in what his actions sanction. ...
/s/sanction.htm - 7k

Pass (1172 Occurrences)
... 7. (vi) To advance through all the steps or stages necessary to validity or
effectiveness; to be carried through a body that has power to sanction or reject ...
/p/pass.htm - 44k

Deutero-canonical
... Inasmuch as these books were regarded by the church at large as ecclesiastical and
helpful, and Augustine had given them canonical sanction, they rapidly ...
/d/deutero-canonical.htm - 14k

Deuterocanonical
... Inasmuch as these books were regarded by the church at large as ecclesiastical and
helpful, and Augustine had given them canonical sanction, they rapidly ...
/d/deuterocanonical.htm - 14k

Allow (86 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To praise; to approve of; hence, to sanction.
2. (vt ... with. 3. (vt) To sanction; to invest; to entrust. 4 ...
/a/allow.htm - 33k

Sabbath (126 Occurrences)
... Lord's day." The observance of this "Lord's day" as the Sabbath was the general
custom of the primitive churches, and must have had apostolic sanction (Comp. ...
/s/sabbath.htm - 86k

Epicureans (1 Occurrence)
... Ordinary morality has therefore no stronger sanction than the individual's
desire to secure his own happiness. Against public violations ...
/e/epicureans.htm - 20k

Version
... The Council of Trent (1546) declared it "authentic." It subsequently underwent various
revisions, but that which was executed (1592) under the sanction of Pope ...
/v/version.htm - 37k

Sanctifying (22 Occurrences)

/s/sanctifying.htm - 13k

Marriage (74 Occurrences)
... Scope and Viewpoint of the Present Article 1. Marriage among the Hebrews 2. Betrothal
the First Formal Part 3. Wedding Ceremonies 4. Jesus' Sanction of the ...
/m/marriage.htm - 62k

Resources
What is Roman Catholicism? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about gay marriage / same sex marriage? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Hilary of Poitiers? | GotQuestions.org

Sanction: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Sanctifying Our Surroundings
Top of Page
Top of Page