Definition and Context
Conspiring, in a biblical context, refers to the act of planning or plotting something, often with the intent to deceive or harm others. It involves secretive and deceitful collaboration between individuals or groups to achieve a particular end, typically one that is unjust or malevolent. The Bible addresses the concept of conspiring in various narratives and teachings, highlighting its moral and spiritual implications.

Biblical Instances of Conspiring

1. Joseph and His Brothers
One of the earliest examples of conspiring in the Bible is found in the account of Joseph and his brothers. Driven by jealousy, Joseph's brothers conspired against him. Genesis 37:18-20 states, "Now Joseph’s brothers saw him in the distance, and before he arrived, they plotted to kill him. 'Here comes that dreamer!' they said to one another. 'Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. We can say that a vicious animal devoured him. Then we will see what becomes of his dreams!'"

2. The Conspiracy Against Jesus
The New Testament recounts the conspiracy against Jesus Christ by the religious leaders of His time. The chief priests and elders plotted to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill Him. Matthew 26:3-4 records, "At that time the chief priests and elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him."

3. The Plot Against Paul
The Apostle Paul also faced conspiracies against his life. In Acts 23:12-13 , it is written, "When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. More than forty of them were involved in this plot."

Moral and Spiritual Implications

The Bible consistently portrays conspiring as an act contrary to God's will, often associated with wickedness and sin. It is seen as a manifestation of human depravity and a lack of trust in God's sovereignty and justice. The Psalms frequently speak against those who conspire, emphasizing God's awareness and ultimate judgment of such actions. Psalm 2:1-2 asks, "Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One."

Warnings and Teachings

Scripture warns against engaging in conspiracies and encourages believers to live in truth and integrity. Proverbs 3:29 advises, "Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he trusts you and dwells beside you." The Bible calls for transparency, honesty, and reliance on God's wisdom rather than human schemes.

God's Sovereignty Over Conspiracies

Despite human attempts to conspire, the Bible affirms God's ultimate control over all events. Isaiah 8:10 declares, "Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; state a proposal, but it will not happen. For God is with us." This assurance provides comfort to believers, reminding them that no conspiracy can succeed against God's purposes.

Conclusion

While the Bible acknowledges the reality of conspiracies, it also offers hope and guidance for those who trust in God. By adhering to biblical principles of truth and righteousness, believers can resist the temptation to conspire and instead live in a manner that honors God.(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Conspire.4824. sumboulion -- counsel, by impl. a council
... a council NASB Word Usage conferred* (2), conspired* (1), conspiring (1), consultation
(1), consulted* (1), council (1), plotted together (1), together (2). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4824.htm - 6k

Knox in the War of the Congregation: the Regent Attacked: Her ...
... Since the arrival of Throckmorton in France, as ambassador of England, in the
previous summer (1559), the Huguenots had been conspiring. ...
/.../lang/john knox and the reformation/chapter xii knox in the.htm

Introduction
... But he fell under the displeasure of Theodoric, and was charged with conspiring
to deliver Rome from his rule, and with corresponding treasonably to this end ...
//christianbookshelf.org/boethius/the theological tractates/introduction.htm

Introduction
... But he fell under the displeasure of Theodoric, and was charged with conspiring
to deliver Rome from his rule, and with corresponding treasonably to this end ...
/.../boethius/the trinity is one god not three gods/introduction.htm

Let Thus Much have Been Said with Regard to Charity...
... c21. But if it be goaded on and inflamed with deceitful visions and unclean incentives
by the devilish spirit, associated and conspiring therewith in malignant ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on patience /20 let thus much have.htm

The Puritan Beginnings of the Church in virginia ---Its Decline ...
... arrived with reinforcements and supplies, only thirty-eight were surviving out of
the one hundred and five, and of these the strongest were conspiring to seize ...
/.../bacon/a history of american christianity/chapter v the puritan beginnings.htm

Argument. --God is Above all Things, Himself Containing all Things ...
... together discordant materials into the concord of all elements, that out of these
unlike principles one world is so established by a conspiring union, that it ...
/.../chapter ii argument god is above.htm

There are Certain Moments in Life which Seem Weighted with the ...
... there are strong suspicions that he has met with a violent death,"perhaps at the
hands of the Freemasons, who are ever at work conspiring against the Faith ...
/.../corelli/the master-christian/xxviii there are certain moments.htm

The Waterer Watered
... sun makes large draughts upon the royal exchequer of the deep; nevertheless the
ocean is not diminished, for all the rivers are constantly conspiring to keep ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/the waterer watered.htm

Father and Judge
... and sometimes has been foolish enough to pit them against each other instead of
doing as Peter does here, braiding them together as both conspiring to one ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/father and judge.htm

Matt. x. 34
... Thus Paul also divided them that were conspiring against him. [1466] And in Naboth's
case that agreement was at the same time more grievous than any war. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xxxv matt x 34.htm

Conspiring (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Conspire. Multi-Version
Concordance Conspiring (4 Occurrences). Mark 3:6 The Pharisees ...
/c/conspiring.htm - 7k

Ephraim (168 Occurrences)
... (John 11:54), a town to which our Lord retired with his disciples after he had raised
Lazarus, and when the priests were conspiring against him. ...
/e/ephraim.htm - 56k

Conspireth (2 Occurrences)

/c/conspireth.htm - 7k

Constancy (1 Occurrence)

/c/constancy.htm - 7k

Pharisees (86 Occurrences)
... water was poured out. They retaliated by rousing his people against him
and conspiring with the Syrian king. On his deathbed he ...
/p/pharisees.htm - 66k

Herod (45 Occurrences)
... The trials and executions of his own conspiring sons were conducted with the
acquiescence of the Roman power, for Herod was shrewd enough not to make a move ...
/h/herod.htm - 57k

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