Conscience
“Joint-knowledge, consciousness with oneself”
Summary
The moral faculty by which humans apprehend right and wrong and pass judgment on their own actions.
☩Nature and Definition
Conscience is the conscious knowledge of good and evil—the faculty by which we discern between right and wrong and are prompted to choose the former and refuse the latter. The Greek word 'suneidesis' means 'joint-knowledge,' a self-knowledge in which the inner self comes forward as a witness. Remarkably, the word 'conscience' does not occur in the Old Testament, where the heart often stands for conscience. In the New Testament, it appears thirty times, primarily in Paul's writings.
☩Universal Witness
There is a divine law written by nature on the heart of every person, whether Jew or Gentile. Even the most benighted peoples distinguish between right and wrong, making them a law to themselves, their conscience bearing witness as their thoughts accuse or excuse them. The law provided more light about what was right and wrong, but Christianity brings conscience into the full light of God's revealed word.
☩States of Conscience
Scripture describes various states of conscience: a 'good conscience' enables one when accused to know the charge is untrue; a 'pure conscience' is characterized by separation from evil; a 'weak conscience' struggles with matters like meats and days; a 'purged conscience' through faith in Christ's blood has no more consciousness of sins as regards imputation before God. Others have a 'defiled conscience' or one 'seared with a hot iron,' hardened and insensible to what should touch them.
☩The Conscience Enlightened
Conscience must be exercised in the sight of God and governed by His word, otherwise many displeasing actions may be advocated on its plea. Paul before his conversion had lived in good conscience while persecuting Christians—an unenlightened conscience, zeal without knowledge. The believer is to exercise a conscience void of offense toward God and men, trained and disciplined to be pure, active, and sensitive.
Related Verses78 mentions
References
- 1.American Tract Society, "Conscience," in American Tract Society Bible Dictionary (American Tract Society, 1859).
- 2.James Hastings (ed.), "Conscience," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 3.George Morrish, "Conscience," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 4.Richard Watson, "Conscience," in A Biblical and Theological Dictionary (John Mason, 1831).