Definition and Context: In biblical terms, "allowing" refers to the act of permitting or giving consent to an action, behavior, or situation. It involves the exercise of free will and the discernment of what is permissible according to God's laws and principles. The concept of allowing is closely tied to themes of authority, obedience, and moral discernment.

Biblical References:

1. Divine Allowance: Throughout Scripture, God demonstrates His sovereign authority by allowing certain events to occur, even those that involve human sinfulness or suffering, to fulfill His greater purposes. For instance, in the account of Job, God allows Satan to test Job's faith, demonstrating that divine allowance can serve as a means of testing and refining faith (Job 1:12: "The LORD said to Satan, 'Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.'").

2. Human Free Will: The Bible acknowledges human free will, allowing individuals to choose between obedience and disobedience. In Deuteronomy 30:19 , God sets before the Israelites a choice: "I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, so that you and your descendants may live." This passage underscores the responsibility that comes with the freedom to choose.

3. Moral Discernment: Christians are called to exercise discernment in what they allow in their lives, aligning their choices with biblical teachings. In 1 Corinthians 10:23 , Paul writes, "Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible, but not everything is edifying." This highlights the need for believers to consider the spiritual and moral implications of their actions.

4. Church Authority: The New Testament provides guidance on the role of church authority in allowing or disallowing certain practices within the Christian community. In Matthew 18:18 , Jesus tells His disciples, "Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." This passage is often interpreted as granting the church authority to make decisions regarding discipline and doctrine.

5. Cultural and Contextual Allowances: The early church grappled with issues of cultural practices and their compatibility with Christian faith. In Acts 15, the Jerusalem Council addressed the question of whether Gentile converts should be required to follow Jewish law. The council allowed Gentiles to abstain from certain practices while not imposing the full weight of the law, demonstrating a balance between cultural sensitivity and doctrinal integrity (Acts 15:28-29: "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements...").

Theological Implications: The concept of allowing in the Bible is deeply intertwined with God's sovereignty, human responsibility, and the pursuit of holiness. It challenges believers to seek God's will in their decisions and to exercise their freedom in a manner that honors Him. Allowing is not merely about personal preference but involves a commitment to living in accordance with God's revealed truth.(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Allow.1439. eao -- to let alone, leave
... 1439 -- to , which implies that goes with the allowing -- such as pointing to a
lurking danger (see Ac 23:32) or "putting up with something" with . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1439.htm - 7k

4307. pronoia -- foresight, forethought
... providence. Cognate: 4307 -- properly, advance-knowledge ("forethought"),
enabling (allowing for) something to happen. See 4306 (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4307.htm - 6k

8242. saq -- sack, sackcloth
... From shaqaq; properly, a mesh (as allowing a liquid to run through), ie Coarse loose
cloth or sacking (used in mourning and for bagging); hence, a bag (for ...
/hebrew/8242.htm - 6k

Moses, Allowing Divorce, and Christ Prohibiting It, Explained John ...
... Jesus is the Christ of the Creator. Chapter XXXIV."Moses, Allowing Divorce,
and Christ Prohibiting It, Explained John Baptist and Herod. ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xxxiv moses allowing divorce and.htm

Marcion Untrue to his Theory He Pretends that his Gods are Equal ...
... Then, Allowing Their Divinity, Denies This Diversity. ... By allowing their divinity,
you have denied their diversity. Footnotes: [2388] Parilitatem. ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter vi marcion untrue to his.htm

What Evil Is. That Evil is that which is against Nature. In ...
... On the Morals of the Manich??ans. Chapter 2. "What Evil is. That Evil is that Which
is Against Nature. In Allowing This, the Manich??ans Refute Themselves. ...
/.../chapter 2 name evil is.htm

Description of the Different Heretical Monsters which Spring from ...
... But after him in time though like him in wickedness came Eunomius, who, though allowing
that the Persons of the Holy Trinity were divine and like [2367] each ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter ii description of the.htm

Whether those who are Guilty of Simony are Fittingly Punished by ...
... provided the beneficiary first of all renounce what he has received simoniacally,
so that he will receive either the lesser dispensation allowing him to ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether those who are guilty.htm

Hebrews i. 1, 2
... and bidden him to gaze downwards, and sees him turning giddy and confused, and dizzy,
taking hold of him, he leads him down to the lower stand, allowing him to ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily i hebrews i 1.htm

Extracts No. Iv.
... But, you must excuse me for not being able to see the force and conclusiveness of
your reasoning, when you say that my 'allowing it any importance at all, is ...
/.../ballou/a series of letters in defence of divine revelation/extracts no iv.htm

How the Word is the Maker of all Things, and Even the Holy Spirit ...
... And he who shrinks from allowing the Holy Spirit to have been made through Christ
must, if he admits the truth of the statements of this Gospel, assume the ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/6 how the word is.htm

The Ideas of those Philosophers are Refuted who Deny to God the ...
... the Epicureans say), or that He is ignorant of men's actions as the wicked say"or
that, if He knows all things, He is an unjust judge in allowing the good to ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xiii the ideas of.htm

Useful Hints.
... Here is where conscience and confidence will help you. Be cautious about
allowing your child to go somewhere to stay all night. ...
/.../byrum/the value of a praying mother/chapter xxvii useful hints.htm

Allowing (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Allow. Multi-Version
Concordance Allowing (5 Occurrences). Mark 1:34 Then He cured ...
/a/allowing.htm - 8k

Gleaning (10 Occurrences)
... glen'-ing (laqat, `alal): The custom of allowing the poor to follow the reapers
in the field and glean the fallen spears of grain is strikingly illustrated in ...
/g/gleaning.htm - 12k

Allows (7 Occurrences)

/a/allows.htm - 8k

Weights (14 Occurrences)
... we have certain evidence of it from the extant examples of the monetary shekels
of the Jews, which are of this standard, or very nearly so, allowing some loss ...
/w/weights.htm - 21k

Measures (50 Occurrences)
... we have certain evidence of it from the extant examples of the monetary shekels
of the Jews, which are of this standard, or very nearly so, allowing some loss ...
/m/measures.htm - 35k

Opposite (137 Occurrences)
... Acts 27:7 When we had sailed slowly many days, and had come with difficulty opposite
Cnidus, the wind not allowing us further, we sailed under the lee of Crete ...
/o/opposite.htm - 37k

Jeremiah (141 Occurrences)
... BC 588). The Chaldeans released him, and showed him great kindness, allowing
him to choose the place of his residence. He accordingly ...
/j/jeremiah.htm - 75k

Lees (3 Occurrences)
... It was applied to "lees" from the custom of allowing wine to stand on the lees that
it might thereby be better preserved (Isaiah 25:6). "Men settled on their ...
/l/lees.htm - 8k

Lee (3 Occurrences)
... Acts 27:7 When we had sailed slowly many days, and had come with difficulty opposite
Cnidus, the wind not allowing us further, we sailed under the lee of Crete ...
/l/lee.htm - 7k

Impurity (42 Occurrences)
... Romans 1:24 For this reason, in accordance with their own depraved cravings, God
gave them up to uncleanness, allowing them to dishonour their bodies among ...
/i/impurity.htm - 21k

Where/how do you draw the line between helping someone and allowing someone to take advantage of you? | GotQuestions.org

What is theodicy? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about protection? | GotQuestions.org

Allowing: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus