The term "tolerable" in the Bible often refers to the degree of judgment or punishment that will be endured by certain cities or individuals, particularly in the context of their response to the message of the Gospel. The concept is primarily found in the New Testament, where Jesus uses it to compare the fate of unrepentant cities to that of notorious sinful cities from the Old Testament.

Biblical References:

1. Matthew 10:14-15 : "And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town." In this passage, Jesus instructs His disciples on how to deal with towns that reject their message. The comparison to Sodom and Gomorrah, cities known for their wickedness and subsequent destruction, underscores the severity of rejecting the Gospel.

2. Matthew 11:20-24 : "Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 'Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.'" Here, Jesus rebukes the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum for their lack of repentance despite witnessing His miracles. The use of "tolerable" indicates a lesser degree of punishment for historically sinful cities compared to those who reject Christ's message.

3. Mark 6:11 : "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that place as a testimony against them." While the term "tolerable" is not explicitly used in this verse, the concept is similar to that in Matthew 10:14-15, emphasizing the consequences of rejecting the Gospel.

4. Luke 10:10-12 : "But if you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go into the streets and declare, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off as a testimony against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’ I tell you, it will be more tolerable on that day for Sodom than for that town." This passage parallels the account in Matthew, reinforcing the idea that the rejection of the Gospel message results in a harsher judgment than that of Sodom.

Theological Implications:

The use of "tolerable" in these contexts highlights the principle of greater accountability for those who have received greater revelation. The cities that witnessed Jesus' miracles and heard His teachings are held to a higher standard than those who did not have such direct exposure to the truth. This reflects a broader biblical theme that knowledge and opportunity bring responsibility, and the rejection of divine revelation incurs severe consequences.

The comparison to Sodom and Gomorrah serves as a stark warning about the seriousness of rejecting God's message. These cities, emblematic of sin and divine judgment, are used as a benchmark to illustrate the gravity of ignoring the Gospel. The implication is that the opportunity to hear and respond to the message of Christ is a profound privilege, and the response to it has eternal significance.1. (a.) Capable of being borne or endured; moderately good.

2. (a.) Moderately good or agreeable; not contemptible; not very excellent or pleasing, but such as can be borne or received without disgust, resentment, or opposition; passable; as, a tolerable administration; a tolerable entertainment; a tolerable translation.

414. anektoteros -- more tolerable
... more tolerable. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: anektoteros Phonetic
Spelling: (an-ek-tot'-er-os) Short Definition: endurable, tolerable Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/414.htm - 6k

For There were Even in the Apostles' Times Some who Preached the ...
... at all of drawing out heretical impiety from its caverns, but that the catholic
tongue should deviate from the straight path of truth; more tolerable were it ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/against lying/section 16 for there were.htm

The Prophets were Sent from one and the Same Father from whom the ...
... and similar sins, will bring on the day of judgment at the end of time (in novissimo);
on which day He declares that it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxxvi the prophets were sent.htm

But if Moreover any not Having Charity, which Pertaineth to the ...
... denying Christ he should suffer none of these things, which he did suffer by confessing
Him: but we must account that it will perhaps be more tolerable for him ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on patience /23 but if moreover any.htm

Opposition to Jesus.
... sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre
and Sidon at the day of judgment than for you. And thou ...
/.../renan/the life of jesus/chapter xx opposition to jesus.htm

"The Last Things"
... Where they are of value, their benefit consists either in obtaining a full
forgiveness or, at least, in making damnation more tolerable. 111. ...
/.../augustine/handbook on faith hope and love/chapter xxix the last things.htm

That the Self-Existent Being must be a Free Agent.
... acted upon. Without liberty, nothing can, in any tolerable propriety of
speech, be said to be an agent, or cause of any thing. For ...
/.../ix proposition ix that the.htm

Mission and Return of the Seventy.
... [For comment, see pp.362-365.] 12 I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable in
that day for Sodom, than for that city.13 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxxxiii mission and return of.htm

The Unrepentant Cities.
... But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of
judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, shalt thou be exalted unto heaven? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/the unrepentant cities.htm

The Passages in which the Saviour Declares that There Shall be a ...
... which had not believed, and while setting them in unfavorable comparison with foreign
cities, says, "But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 5 the passages in which.htm

Superiors Ought Carefully to Examine the Dispositions of those ...
... If by the severity of laws and constitutions they may come to be kept in some tolerable
order, yet this reaches only to the exterior, and lasts no longer than ...
/.../chapter viii superiors ought carefully.htm

Tolerable (6 Occurrences)
... not very excellent or pleasing, but such as can be borne or received without disgust,
resentment, or opposition; passable; as, a tolerable administration; a ...
/t/tolerable.htm - 8k

Sodom (49 Occurrences)
... Matthew 10:15 Most certainly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land
of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city. ...
/s/sodom.htm - 28k

Judgment-day (4 Occurrences)
... Matthew 10:15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of
Sodom and Gomorrha in judgment-day than for that city. (DBY). ...
/j/judgment-day.htm - 7k

Nevertheless (153 Occurrences)
... Nevertheless (153 Occurrences). Matthew 11:22 But I tell you, it will be more tolerable
for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. (See NAS). ...
/n/nevertheless.htm - 37k

Gomorrha (5 Occurrences)
... Matthew 10:15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of
Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. (KJV DBY). ...
/g/gomorrha.htm - 8k

Gomorrah (25 Occurrences)
... Matthew 10:15 Most certainly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land
of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city. ...
/g/gomorrah.htm - 17k

Bearable (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Capable of being borne or endured; tolerable.
Multi-Version Concordance Bearable (1 Occurrence). Matthew ...
/b/bearable.htm - 6k

Judgment (430 Occurrences)
... Matthew 10:15 Most certainly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land
of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city. ...
/j/judgment.htm - 52k

Verily (146 Occurrences)
... Matthew 10:15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of
Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. ...
/v/verily.htm - 39k

Sidon (35 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Matthew 11:22 But I tell you, it
will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. ...
/s/sidon.htm - 25k

Why is so much of the world still unevangelized? | GotQuestions.org

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Tolerable: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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