The term "compel" in the biblical context often refers to the act of urging or forcing someone to do something. It appears in various forms throughout Scripture, illustrating both physical and moral persuasion. The concept of compulsion is significant in understanding the dynamics of human interaction, divine command, and the spread of the Gospel.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the idea of compulsion is often associated with the exertion of authority or power. For example, in 1 Samuel 13:12, Saul felt compelled to offer a burnt offering, demonstrating how external pressures can lead to actions that may not align with God's commands. The Hebrew word often translated as "compel" can also mean to "seize" or "constrain," indicating a forceful action.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the Greek word "anagkazo" is commonly translated as "compel." One of the most notable uses of this term is found in the Parable of the Great Banquet in Luke 14:23, where the master instructs his servant to "compel them to come in, so that my house will be full" . This passage highlights the urgency and importance of inviting people into the Kingdom of God, suggesting a form of moral persuasion rather than physical force.

Another significant instance is in Matthew 5:41, where Jesus teaches, "If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles" . Here, the concept of compulsion is used to illustrate the principle of going beyond what is required, reflecting a spirit of generosity and service.

Compulsion in the Spread of the Gospel

The early church faced various forms of compulsion, both in spreading the Gospel and in facing persecution. In Acts 26:11, Paul recounts how he "tried to force them to blaspheme" before his conversion, showing how compulsion can be used negatively against believers. However, after his conversion, Paul himself was compelled by the love of Christ to preach the Gospel, as seen in 2 Corinthians 5:14: "For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died" .

Moral and Ethical Implications

The concept of compulsion raises important moral and ethical questions within a biblical framework. While physical compulsion is generally viewed negatively, moral and spiritual compulsion, as driven by love and truth, is seen as a positive force. The believer is called to be compelled by the love of Christ, leading to actions that reflect God's will and purpose.

Conclusion

The biblical understanding of compulsion encompasses both the negative aspects of force and the positive aspects of moral persuasion. It challenges believers to discern the motivations behind their actions and to be driven by the love and truth of the Gospel in all interactions.1. (v. t.) To drive or urge with force, or irresistibly; to force; to constrain; to oblige; to necessitate, either by physical or moral force.

2. (v. t.) To take by force or violence; to seize; to exact; to extort.

3. (v. t.) To force to yield; to overpower; to subjugate.

4. (v. t.) To gather or unite in a crowd or company.

5. (v. t.) To call forth; to summon.

6. (v. i.) To make one yield or submit.

COMPEL

kom-pel': Our English word always has in it now the flavor of force, not always, however, physical. It may be strong moral urgency, though "constrain" better expresses this.

1. In the Old Testament:

There are several words indicative of such strong pressure:

(1) 'anac "to press": "none could compel" to drink (Esther 1:8);

(2) nadhach, "to drive," "force": "compelled Judah thereto" (the King James Version, the Revised Version, margin); "led Judah astray" the Revised Version (British and American) (2 Chronicles 21:11). The same word rendered "force," as the adulteress by flattering words her victim (Proverbs 7:21);

(3) 'adhadh, "to serve": not to compel him to serve as a bond servant (Leviticus 25:39 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "make him serve");

(4) parats, "to break forth upon," "urge": "his servants compelled him" (1 Samuel 28:23 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "constrained").

2. In the New Testament:

In the New Testament two words are found:

(1) aggareuo: The word is of Persian origin and means to employ a courier. The Aggaroi were public couriers stationed by appointment of the kings of Persia, at fixed localities, with horses ready for use, to transmit speedily from one to another the royal messages. These couriers had authority to press into their service, in case of need, horses, vessels, and even men, they might meet (Josephus, Ant, XIII ii, 3); "compel thee to go a mile" (Matthew 5:41 the King James Version; the Revised Version, margin "impress"); "compelled Simon to bear his cross" (Matthew 27:32 Mark 15:21 the King James Version; the Revised Version, margin "impressed").

(2) anagkazo, "to constrain," whether by force, threats, entreaties, persuasion, etc.: "compel them to come in" (Luke 14:23 the King James Version; the Revised Version (British and American) "constrain"). This has been a favorite text of religious persecutors. As Robertson says in his history of Charles V, "As they could not persuade, they tried to compel men to believe." But it simply means that utmost zeal and moral urgency should be used by Christians to induce sinners to enter the Kingdom of God. Compare Acts 26:11.

George Henry Trever

315. anagkazo -- to necessitate, compel
... to necessitate, compel. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: anagkazo Phonetic
Spelling: (an-ang-kad'-zo) Short Definition: I force, compel Definition: I force ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/315.htm - 7k

29. aggareuo -- to impress, compel
... to impress, compel. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: aggareuo Phonetic Spelling:
(ang-ar-yew'-o) Short Definition: I impress, send Definition: I impress ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/29.htm - 6k

4912. sunecho -- to hold together, to hold fast, pass. to be ...
... by illness). Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sunecho Phonetic Spelling:
(soon-ekh'-o) Short Definition: I press together, confine, compel, am afflicted ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4912.htm - 7k

3849. parabiazomai -- to force against (nature)
... 3849 (from 3844 , ", close-beside" and 971 , "to compel by force") -- properly,
using words that powerfully "hit home" and hence are persuasive (successful). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3849.htm - 7k

4900. sunelauno -- to reconcile
... to reconcile. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sunelauno Phonetic Spelling:
(soon-el-ow'-no) Short Definition: I compel, urge Definition: I compel, urge ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4900.htm - 6k

1210. deo -- to tie, bind
... bind. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: deo Phonetic Spelling: (deh'-o) Short
Definition: I bind Definition: I bind, tie, fasten; I impel, compel; I declare ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1210.htm - 8k

597. anas -- to compel, constrain
... 596, 597. anas. 598 . to compel, constrain. Transliteration: anas Phonetic
Spelling: (aw-nas') Short Definition: compulsion. ... compel. To insist -- compel. ...
/hebrew/597.htm - 5k

5647. abad -- to work, serve
... working (1), worship (7), worshipers (6). keep in bondage, be bondmen,
bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear,. A primitive root; to work ...
/hebrew/5647.htm - 6k

5080. nadach -- to impel, thrust, banish
... banish, bring, cast down out, chase, compel, draw away, drive away, out,.
A primitive root; to push off; used in a great variety ...
/hebrew/5080.htm - 6k

6555. parats -- to break through
... abroad, make a breach, break away, down burst out, come spread abroad, compel,
disperse, grow,. A primitive root; to break out (in ...
/hebrew/6555.htm - 6k

Compel them to Come In
... Compel Them to Come In. A Sermon (No.227). ... REV. CH SPURGEON. at the Music Hall,
Royal Surrey Gardens. "Compel them to come in.""Luke 14:23. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/compel them to come in.htm

But as it was Easily Seen to be Unjust to Compel Freemen against ...
... Chapter XXVIII. But as it was easily seen to be unjust to compel freemen
against their will? But as it was easily seen to be unjust ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/apology/chapter xxviii but as it.htm

October 26. "Go Out into the Highways and Compel them to Come In" ...
... OCTOBER 26. "Go out into the highways and compel them to come in" (Luke xiv. 23).
"Go out into the highways and compel them to come in" (Luke 14:23). ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /october 26 go out into.htm

Whether one Can be Compelled by One's Father's Command to Marry?
... this. Objection 3: Further, no one should promise, especially with an oath,
for one whom he cannot compel to keep the promise. Now ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether one can be compelled.htm

Whether the Devil Can Induce Man to Sin of Necessity?
... Objection 1: It would seem that the devil can induce man to sin of necessity. Because
the greater can compel the lesser. ... Therefore he does not compel to sin. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the devil can induce 2.htm

It is Indeed Better as no one ever could Deny that Men Should...
... believe or not believe? Towards whom did Christ use violence? Whom did He
compel? Here they have the Apostle Paul. Let them recognize ...
/.../writings in connection with the donatist controversy /chapter 6 21 it.htm

Letter ii. Self-Control and Self-Culture.
... It may help you in acquiring this self-control to reflect often what a really great
thing it is to be able to compel yourself to do from a sense of duty what ...
/.../letter ii self-control and self-culture.htm

2 Cor. x. 1, 2
... For what he would say is this, I beseech you do not compel me, nor leave me to use
my power against those that hold us cheap, and think of us as carnal.' This ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxi 2 cor x.htm

Matt. xvi. 24
... "If any man will come after me." "I force not, I compel not, but each one I make
lord of his own choice; wherefore also I say, If any man will.' For to good ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lv matt xvi 24.htm

The Dilemma in which I am Placed is of Your Making: it is Brought ...
... You at once forbid me to answer and compel me. Well, then; I must shun excess
on both sides. ... You at once forbid me to answer and compel me. ...
/.../3 the dilemma in which.htm

Compel (10 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. COMPEL. kom-pel': Our English word always has
in it now the flavor of force, not always, however, physical. ...
/c/compel.htm - 12k

Force (250 Occurrences)
... 9. (n.) To constrain to do or to forbear, by the exertion of a power not resistible;
to compel by physical, moral, or intellectual means; to coerce; as ...
/f/force.htm - 40k

Compelled (22 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Compel. Multi-Version Concordance
Compelled (22 Occurrences). Matthew 14:22 And immediately ...
/c/compelled.htm - 12k

Display (30 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 10:2 I beseech you not to compel me when present to make a bold display
of the confidence with which I reckon I shall show my 'courage' against ...
/d/display.htm - 15k

Press (57 Occurrences)
... 4. (v.) To urge, or act upon, with force, as weight; to act upon by pushing or
thrusting, in distinction from pulling; to crowd or compel by a gradual and ...
/p/press.htm - 46k

Banish (13 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To condemn to exile, or compel to leave one's country, by authority of the
ruling power. ... 3. (vt) To drive away; to compel to depart; to dispel. ...
/b/banish.htm - 10k

Showing (41 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 10:2 I beseech you not to compel me when present to make a bold display
of the confidence with which I reckon I shall show my 'courage' against ...
/s/showing.htm - 19k

Constrain (6 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To hold back by force; to restrain; to repress. 4. (vt) To compel; to force;
to necessitate; to oblige. ... See COMPEL. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/c/constrain.htm - 9k

Compassions (17 Occurrences)

/c/compassions.htm - 11k

Quarrel (22 Occurrences)
... one's lot. 14. (vt) To quarrel with. 15. (vt) To compel by a quarrel; as,
to quarrel a man out of his estate or rights. 16. (n.) One ...
/q/quarrel.htm - 15k

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Compel: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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