In the context of the Bible, the term "censured" refers to the act of expressing strong disapproval or condemnation, often in a formal or authoritative manner. This concept is evident throughout Scripture, where individuals, groups, or actions are subject to divine or communal rebuke due to disobedience, sin, or deviation from God's commandments.

Old Testament Instances

1. Moses and Aaron: In Numbers 20:12, Moses and Aaron are censured by God for their lack of faith at the waters of Meribah. The Lord says, "Because you did not trust in Me enough to honor Me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land I have given them." This censure results in their exclusion from leading the Israelites into the Promised Land.

2. King Saul: Saul, the first king of Israel, faces censure for his disobedience to God's commands. In 1 Samuel 15:22-23, the prophet Samuel rebukes Saul, saying, "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king."

3. The Israelites: Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites are frequently censured for their idolatry and unfaithfulness. In Judges 2:1-3, the Angel of the LORD rebukes them for breaking the covenant, leading to their oppression by surrounding nations.

New Testament Instances

1. Peter: In Galatians 2:11-14, the Apostle Paul recounts how he censured Peter (Cephas) for his hypocrisy. Paul states, "When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, fearing those in the circumcision group."

2. The Corinthian Church: The Apostle Paul censures the Corinthian church for various issues, including divisions, immorality, and misuse of spiritual gifts. In 1 Corinthians 5:1-2, Paul addresses a case of immorality, saying, "It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this?"

3. The Seven Churches: In Revelation 2-3, Jesus, through John, censures several of the seven churches of Asia Minor for various failings. For example, in Revelation 2:4-5, the church in Ephesus is rebuked: "But I have this against you: You have abandoned your first love. Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place."

Theological Implications

Censure in the Bible serves as a divine or apostolic corrective measure intended to bring about repentance and restoration. It underscores the holiness of God and the seriousness of sin, emphasizing the need for obedience and faithfulness among God's people. The censures recorded in Scripture are not merely punitive but are often accompanied by calls to repentance and promises of forgiveness and restoration for those who turn back to God.(imp. & p. p.) of Censure.423. anepilemptos -- without reproach
... 423 (from 1 "not" and 1949 , "") - properly, not apprehended (found wrong)
when censured or attacked, ie without blame in light of the . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/423.htm - 7k

Love's Prodigality Censured and vindicated
... LOVE'S PRODIGALITY CENSURED AND VINDICATED. 'Then Jesus, six ... her. III. Jesus
vindicates the act of His censured servant. His words ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture i/loves prodigality censured and vindicated.htm

Innovations of Eudoxius Censured in a Letter Written by George ...
... Book IV. Chapter XIII."Innovations of Eudoxius censured in a Letter written
by George, Bishop of Laodicea. Deputation from the ...
/.../chapter xiii innovations of eudoxius censured.htm

Concerning the Liberty of Seneca, who More Vehemently Censured the ...
... Book VI. Chapter 10."Concerning the Liberty of Seneca, Who More Vehemently
Censured the Civil Theology Than Varro Did the Fabulous. ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 10 concerning the liberty of.htm

The Pythagorean Doctrine of Transmigration Sketched and Censured.
... Chapter XXVIII."The Pythagorean Doctrine of Transmigration Sketched and
Censured. What, then, by this time means that ancient ...
/.../a treatise on the soul/chapter xxviii the pythagorean doctrine of.htm

The Sinning Brother.
... not "death-bringing." [6019] This would seem to be very harsh; for I do not think
that any one will readily be found who has not been censured thrice for the ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/30 the sinning brother.htm

The Personal Character of this Book.
... O that you censured me in such things as are indeed worthy of just blame!
For I must not deny that both in my conduct and in my ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 1 i the personal character.htm

Men Desire to Observe the Rules of Learning, but Neglect the ...
... to me to imitate, who, should they in relating any acts of theirs"not in themselves
evil"be guilty of a barbarism or solecism, when censured for it became ...
/.../the confessions and letters of st/chapter xviii men desire to observe.htm

Letter cxliii. (AD 412. )
... for you, however, who love me warmly, if, in opposing those by whom, whether through
malice or ignorance or superior intelligence, I am censured, you maintain ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter cxliii a d 412.htm

Wherefore, if Either Our Reasoning or Our Discourse Hath in any ...
... What then have I learnt? What think you, save that, when these are censured,
the Catholic system of teaching is not censured. Thus ...
/.../augustine/on the profit of believing /section 36 wherefore if either.htm

Of the Beginning and Rise of the Romish Papacy, Till it Attained a ...
... to their own Patriarchate. 7. If they censured other bishops, they themselves
were censured in their turn. 8. They had no right ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 7 of the beginning.htm

Censured (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Censure. Multi-Version Concordance
Censured (1 Occurrence). Titus 2:8 and healthy language ...
/c/censured.htm - 6k

Census (24 Occurrences)

/c/census.htm - 15k

Censure (3 Occurrences)

/c/censure.htm - 7k

Divination (25 Occurrences)
... realization. So far is his vocation from being censured that it is actually
called into the service of Yahweh (see Numbers 22-24). ...
/d/divination.htm - 45k

Jonathan (109 Occurrences)
... with nightfall. In this respect, however, he perhaps cannot be censured with
justice, as he never had an entirely free hand. 4. Filial ...
/j/jonathan.htm - 59k

Hosea (6 Occurrences)
... "Their homicides and fornication, their perjury and theft, their idolatry and impiety,
are censured and satirized with a faithful severity." He was a ...
/h/hosea.htm - 43k

Philippi (8 Occurrences)
... From it we judge that the condition of the church as a whole was satisfactory, though
a certain presbyter, Valens, and his wife are severely censured for their ...
/p/philippi.htm - 36k

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