Theme · ethical
Obedience and Disobedience
Obedience and disobedience form the central axis of covenant life. Adam's disobedience brings death; Abraham's obedience in offering Isaac becomes the model of faith. Deuteronomy sets before Israel two ways — blessing for obedience, curse for rebellion — and the rest of the Old Testament narrates the consequences of choosing the latter. The prophets plead for return and obedience from the heart. Jesus is obedient to the Father even unto death, undoing Adam's disobedience. Paul frames salvation as the movement from one man's disobedience (Adam) to one man's obedience (Christ) — and calls believers to a life of responsive, grateful obedience.
Passages expressing this theme
- 1Chr 28:9 — And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the
- 1Chr 29:17 — I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy t
- 1Cor 1:10 — Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind
- 1Cor 3:10 — According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
- 1Cor 4:2 — Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
- 1Cor 5:1 — It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.
- 1Cor 5:11 — But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one n
- 1Cor 6:18 — Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
- 1Cor 9:12 — If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
- 1Cor 9:16 — For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
- 1Cor 9:17 — For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
- 1Cor 9:24 — Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
- 1Cor 9:27 — But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
- 1Cor 10:6 — Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
- 1Cor 10:10 — Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
- 1Cor 10:11 — Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
- 1Cor 14:20 — Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
- 1Cor 15:10 — But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
- 1Cor 16:13 — Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
- 1John 1:6 — If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
- 1John 2:3 — And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
- 1John 2:5 — But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
- 1John 2:6 — He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
- 1John 2:17 — And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
- 1John 2:24 — Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
The Church Fathers on Obedience and Disobedience
There are three different distinct kinds of obedience. For either from fear of punishment we avoid evil and are servilely disposed; or looking to the gain of a reward we perform what is commanded, like to mercenaries; or we obey the law for the sake of good itself and our love to Him who gave it, and so savour of…
Here is the paradox of Christianity. As practical imperatives for here and now the two great commandments have to be translated "Behave as if you loved God and man." For no man can love because he is told to. Yet obedience on this practical level is not really obedience at all. And if a man really loved God and man,…
Since the law of grace considers the origin, fall, and remedy of nature, it belongs to it to approve the threefold mode and distinction of obedience. For it approves filial obedience, Ephesians 6: Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is just. It also approves servile obedience, 1 Timothy 6: Whoever are…
We must not be submissive to those who command us to act unlawfully. But to those who call us to live with piety, we must be subject to one another. Having laid down this general law of obedience, Paul next advises the Ephesians in detail on their duties to another.
24. What is it that those who resist and refuse to comply are likened by the prophet to diviners and idolaters, except that diviners strove to know divine things and to divine hidden matters, while idolaters subjected themselves to figments by venerating them? But those who resist the commands of their superiors…
Does the sovereign order the payment of tribute, I am ready to render it. Does my master command me to act as a bondsman and to serve, I acknowledge the serfdom. Man is to be honoured as a fellow-man; God alone is to be feared,-He who is not visible to human eyes, nor comes within the compass of human art. Only when…