SPECIAL TOPIC: CONSCIENCE (suneidesis)

There is not a Hebrew counterpart to the Greek term "conscience." Possibly "heart" implied a knowledge of self and its motives (i.e., moral self-awareness). Originally the Greek term referred to consciousness related to the five senses. It came to be used of the inner senses (cf. Rom. 2:15; 1 Tim. 1:5,19). Paul uses this term twice in his trials in Acts (i.e., Acts 23:1; 24:16). It refers to his sense that he had not knowingly violated any known religious duties toward God (cf. 1 Cor. 4:4).

Conscience is the developing understanding of believers’ motives and actions based on

  1. a biblical worldview
  2. the indwelling Spirit
  3. a lifestyle knowledge based on the word of God

A Christian conscience is made possible by the personal reception of the gospel.

Paul uses the term "conscience" often in the Corinthian letters (cf. 1 Cor. 8:7,10,12; 10:25,27,28,29; 2 Cor. 1:12; 4:2; 5:11). It refers to that moral inner sense of what is appropriate or inappropriate (cf. Acts 23:1). The conscience can be affected by

  1. our past lives
  2. our poor choices
  3. our culture
  4. our personal preferences
  5. the Spirit of God

It is not a flawless guide (i.e., 1 Tim. 4:2), but it does determine the boundaries of an individual's faith. Therefore, to violate our conscience, even if it is in error or weak, is a major faith problem (i.e., Rom. 14:23).

Other NT authors use the term in the same sense.

  1. Hebrews 9:9,14; 10:2,22; 13:18
  2. 1 Peter 2:19; 3:16,21

The believer's conscience needs to be more and more formed by the Word of God and the Spirit of God (cf. 1 Tim. 3:9). God will judge believers (cf. 2 Cor. 5:10) by the light they have (i.e., weak or strong, cf. Rom. 14:1-15:13; 1 Cor. 8:7-13), but all of us need to be open to

  1. the Bible for more information about God and His will, plan, and purpose
  2. the Spirit for more understanding and the power to act on that understanding
  3. a growing, daily, experiential knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and our becoming more and more like Him

For a good discussion of the theological nexus of "heart," "mind," and "conscience" see Dale Moody, The Word of Truth, pp. 239-253.

Copyright © 2014 Bible Lessons International