Definition and Context:
Scruples refer to a person's moral or ethical considerations that may cause hesitation or doubt in deciding what is right or wrong. In a biblical context, scruples often relate to personal convictions about matters not explicitly addressed in Scripture, where believers may differ in their understanding or practice.

Biblical References:
The concept of scruples is most prominently discussed in the New Testament, particularly in the context of Christian liberty and the conscience. Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8-10 address issues where believers may have differing convictions, such as dietary laws and the observance of special days.

Romans 14:1-3 :
"Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on his opinions. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not belittle the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted him."

In this passage, the Apostle Paul encourages believers to accept one another despite differing scruples. The focus is on maintaining unity and love within the body of Christ, rather than allowing personal convictions to cause division.

1 Corinthians 8:9-13 :
"Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, who are well informed, eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged to eat food sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. By sinning against your brothers in this way and wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to stumble."

Here, Paul emphasizes the importance of considering the impact of one's actions on the conscience of others. While believers have freedom in Christ, they are called to exercise that freedom with love and sensitivity towards those with weaker consciences.

Principles for Handling Scruples:
1. Acceptance and Non-Judgment: Believers are encouraged to accept one another without passing judgment on disputable matters (Romans 14:1). This requires humility and a recognition that not all issues are essential to the faith.

2. Love and Edification: The guiding principle in matters of scruples should be love. Believers are to act in ways that build up the body of Christ, prioritizing the spiritual well-being of others over personal freedom (1 Corinthians 8:1).

3. Personal Conviction: Each believer must be fully convinced in their own mind regarding their scruples (Romans 14:5). This involves seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit and Scripture to develop personal convictions.

4. Avoiding Stumbling Blocks: Believers should be mindful not to cause others to stumble in their faith by exercising their freedom in ways that might lead others into sin (1 Corinthians 8:9).

5. Living for the Lord: Ultimately, believers are called to live for the Lord, whether in matters of eating, drinking, or observing special days. The focus should be on honoring God in all things (Romans 14:6-8).

Conclusion:
The biblical teaching on scruples highlights the importance of love, unity, and mutual respect within the Christian community. While believers may hold different convictions on non-essential matters, they are called to prioritize the edification and spiritual growth of one another, reflecting the love of Christ in their interactions.

Scruples.
... Homily V. Chapter VI."Scruples. "Then said I: Are those things correct,
then, which are spoken by poets and philosophers, that ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter vi scruples.htm

Scruples --Heavenly Favors --Journey to Barcelona
... CHAPTER III SCRUPLES"HEAVENLY FAVORS"JOURNEY TO BARCELONA. ... But all this did not
remove his scruples, which had been tormenting him for months. ...
/.../chapter iii scruplesheavenly favorsjourney to.htm

The Limits of Liberty
... 21. It is a hard saying for some of us. Is my liberty to be restricted
by the narrow scruples of 'strait-laced' Christians? Yes. ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/the limits of liberty.htm

A Solemn Address to those who Will not be Persuaded to Fall in ...
... If it be, the case is different from what I have yet considered, and the cure must
be different. This is not a place to combat with the scruples of infidelity. ...
/.../the rise and progress of religion in the soul/chapter xi a solemn address.htm

I 1888
... She, too, has passed through the martyrdom of scruples, but Jesus gave her the grace
to receive the Blessed Sacrament always, even when she imagined she had ...
//christianbookshelf.org/therese/story of a soul/i 1888.htm

Christ Appears in Galilee for the Last Time. --The Commission of ...
... [822]. Footnotes: [822] The subsequent scruples of the disciples to go among the
heathen do not prove that they had not received this commission. ...
/.../section 304 christ appears in.htm

Object of Christ in the Last Supper.
... No scruples were entertained about the crucifixion on that day, but only about leaving
the bodies on the cross on the Sabbath, which was a fixed feast-day. ...
/.../section 265 object of christ.htm

Biographical Sketch.
... Elector's command. Hundreds signed the edict. Some who had scruples yielded
on account of their wives and children. There was a ...
/.../gerhardt/paul gerhardts spiritual songs/biographical sketch.htm

Second Conversation
... Business abroad as at home. * times of prayer and self-mortification not
essential for the practice. * All scruples brought to God. ...
/.../lawrence/the practice of the presence of god/second conversation.htm

Ignatius Leaves his Native Land --What He did at Montserrat and at ...
... Communion every week. But herein he found a great source of anxiety on account
of the scruples with which he was annoyed. For though ...
/.../loyola/the autobiography of st ignatius/chapter ii ignatius leaves his.htm

Scruples (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Scruples (2 Occurrences). Romans 14:1 But him that is
weak in faith receive ye, 'yet' not for decision of scruples. (ASV). ...
/s/scruples.htm - 6k

Stick (47 Occurrences)
... 21. (vi) To be embarrassed or puzzled; to hesitate; to be deterred, as by
scruples; to scruple; -- often with at. 22. (vi) To cause ...
/s/stick.htm - 23k

Scrupulous (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (a.) Full of scruples; inclined to scruple; nicely doubtful; hesitating to
determine or to act, from a fear of offending or of doing wrong. ...
/s/scrupulous.htm - 7k

Immanuel (3 Occurrences)
... Fearing to commit himself to the policy of Divine dependence, but with a pretense
at religious scruples, "Neither will I tempt Yahweh," the king refuses ...
/i/immanuel.htm - 16k

Discernings (1 Occurrence)
... The Greek word occurs in Hebrews 5:14; and Romans 14:1: "But him that is weak in
faith receive ye, yet not for decision of scruples." This translation scarcely ...
/d/discernings.htm - 8k

Disputation (2 Occurrences)
... In Romans 14:1, the King James Version "doubtful disputations" becomes in the Revised
Version (British and American) "decision of scruples" (Greek diakriseis ...
/d/disputation.htm - 8k

Allow (86 Occurrences)
... in the thing which he alloweth" (the Revised Version (British and American) "approveth,"
ie in practice), ie who is not troubled with scruples; Romans 14:22. ...
/a/allow.htm - 33k

Allowance (11 Occurrences)
... in the thing which he alloweth" (the Revised Version (British and American) "approveth,"
ie in practice), ie who is not troubled with scruples; Romans 14:22. ...
/a/allowance.htm - 12k

Superstitious (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (a.) Evincing superstition; over scrupulous and rigid in religious observances;
addicted to superstition; full of idle fancies and scruples in regard to ...
/s/superstitious.htm - 8k

Spirits (129 Occurrences)
... The Greek word occurs in Hebrews 5:14; and Romans 14:1: "But him that is weak in
faith receive ye, yet not for decision of scruples." This translation scarcely ...
/s/spirits.htm - 42k

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