In biblical times, the role of a creditor was significant in the socio-economic landscape of ancient Israel and the surrounding regions. A creditor is an individual or entity to whom money is owed by a debtor. The Bible addresses the relationship between creditors and debtors, providing guidance on ethical and moral conduct in financial dealings.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament contains several references to creditors, often highlighting the need for compassion and fairness. In Exodus 22:25, the law instructs, "If you lend money to My people, to the poor among you, you are not to act as a creditor to him; you are not to charge him interest." This command underscores the importance of mercy and justice, especially towards the impoverished. The prohibition against charging interest to fellow Israelites is reiterated in Leviticus 25:36-37, emphasizing the community's responsibility to support one another without exploiting financial hardship.

The account of the widow and Elisha in 2 Kings 4:1-7 illustrates the plight of those indebted to creditors. The widow, facing the threat of her sons being taken as slaves to satisfy a debt, seeks the prophet Elisha's help. This narrative highlights the severe consequences of debt and the need for divine intervention and community support.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the teachings of Jesus and the apostles further develop the ethical considerations surrounding creditors and debtors. In the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:23-35), Jesus illustrates the kingdom of heaven through the account of a king who forgives a massive debt. However, the forgiven servant refuses to show the same mercy to a fellow servant who owes him a smaller amount. This parable emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and mercy, urging believers to reflect God's grace in their financial dealings.

The Apostle Paul, in Romans 13:8, advises, "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law." This instruction encourages believers to prioritize love and relational integrity over financial obligations, promoting a community where mutual care supersedes material transactions.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

The biblical perspective on creditors is deeply intertwined with the principles of justice, mercy, and community responsibility. The Mosaic Law provided safeguards to protect debtors from exploitation, such as the Year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:10), where debts were forgiven, and land was returned to its original owners. These provisions aimed to prevent the accumulation of wealth in the hands of a few and to ensure economic balance within the community.

The Bible also warns against the harsh treatment of debtors. Proverbs 22:7 states, "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender." This proverb serves as a cautionary reminder of the power dynamics inherent in creditor-debtor relationships and the potential for abuse.

Spiritual Implications

From a spiritual perspective, the role of a creditor is a test of one's character and faithfulness to God's commandments. Believers are called to reflect God's justice and mercy in all aspects of life, including financial transactions. The biblical teachings on creditors encourage a heart of compassion, urging individuals to prioritize relationships and community well-being over personal gain.

In summary, the Bible provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the role and responsibilities of creditors, emphasizing ethical conduct, compassion, and the pursuit of justice in financial matters.Creditor

[LOAN]

1. (n.) One who credits, believes, or trusts.

2. (n.) One who gives credit in business matters; hence, one to whom money is due; -- correlative to debtor.

CREDITOR

kred'-i-ter:

(a) nosheh, participle of nashah: Exodus 22:24 (English translation: 25); 2 Kings 4:1 Isaiah 50:1; translated "extortioner," Psalm 109:11; "taker of usury," Isaiah 24:2 the King James Version;

(b) malweh, participle of lawah, Isaiah 24:2 the Revised Version (British and American), the King James Version "lender";

(c) ba`al mashsheh yadho: "lord of the loan of his hand," Deuteronomy 15:2;

(d) danistes: Luke 7:41, "creditor" the King James Version, "lender" the Revised Version (British and American); compare further danistos, Sirach 29:28, "lender" the King James Version, "money-lender" the Revised Version (British and American):

In the ideal social system of the Old Testament, debts are incurred only because of poverty, and the law protected the poor debtor from his creditor, who in Exodus 22:25 is forbidden to demand interest, and in Deuteronomy 15:2 to exact payment in view of the nearness of the year of release. 2 Kings 4:1 shows that the actual practice was not so considerate, and in consequence the creditor fell into bad repute. In Psalm 109:11 he is the extortioner; in Proverbs 29:13 the oppressor is evidently the creditor, though a different word is used; compare also Proverbs 22:7. In Sirach 29:28 the importunity of the creditor is one of the hardships of the poor man of understanding. The actual practice of the Jews may be gathered from Nehemiah 5:1; Jeremiah 34:8; and Sirach 29:1-11.

See also DEBT.

Walter R. Betteridge

1157. danistes -- a moneylender
... a moneylender. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: danistes Phonetic
Spelling: (dan-ice-tace') Short Definition: a lender, creditor Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1157.htm - 6k

586. apodekatoo -- to pay a tenth of
... give, pay, or take a tithe. From apo and dekatoo; to tithe (as debtor or creditor) --
(give, pay, take) tithe. see GREEK apo. see GREEK dekatoo. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/586.htm - 6k

5383. nashah -- to lend, become a creditor
... 5382, 5383. nashah. 5384 . to lend, become a creditor. Transliteration: nashah
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-shaw') Short Definition: creditor. Word Origin a prim ...
/hebrew/5383.htm - 6k

5377. nasha -- to lend on interest, be a creditor
... 5376, 5377. nasha. 5378 . to lend on interest, be a creditor. Transliteration:
nasha Phonetic Spelling: (naw-shaw') Short Definition: made. Word Origin a prim ...
/hebrew/5377.htm - 6k

4874. mashsheh -- a loan
... mashsheh. 4875 . a loan. Transliteration: mashsheh Phonetic Spelling: (mash-sheh')
Short Definition: creditor. ... creditor. From nashah; a debt -- + creditor. ...
/hebrew/4874.htm - 6k

3027. yad -- hand
... care (7), charge (7), close* (1), coast (1), command (3), compulsion* (3), consecrate*
(3), consecrated* (4), control (1), courage* (1), creditor* (1), custody ...
/hebrew/3027.htm - 8k

1167. baal -- owner, lord
... NASB Word Usage allies* (1), archers* (1), bird* (1), bound (1), bridegroom (1),
captain (1), case* (1), charmer* (1), citizens (1), creditor* (1), dominant (1 ...
/hebrew/1167.htm - 6k

The Righteousness of Christ is not Imputed to us for Righteousness ...
... If a man who owes another a hundred florins, pays this his creditor the hundred
which he owes, the creditor will not speak with correctness if he says, "I ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 1/article xxiv iv the righteousness.htm

Letter Xli. St. Ambrose in this Letter to his Sister Continues the ...
... 7. And let no one be startled at the word "creditor." [3576] We were before under
a hard creditor, who was not to be satisfied and paid to the full but by the ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/letter xli st ambrose in.htm

Moses' Prayer to be Blotted Out of God's Book.
... "SINS are compared to debts, which are written in the creditor's book, and crossed,
or blotted out, when paid.* Man's sins are written in the book of God's ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon viii moses prayer to.htm

"Therefore, Brethren, we are Debtors, not to the Flesh, to Live ...
... But let us inquire further into this debt. "We are debtors," saith he, and he
instanceth what is not the creditor, by which he giveth us to understand who is ...
/.../the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxxii therefore brethren we.htm

The Two Debtors
... LUKE Chaps. I to XII THE TWO DEBTORS. 'There was a certain creditor which had two
debtors; the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.42. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/the two debtors.htm

Whether we Ought to do Good to those Rather who are More Closely ...
... Yet, again, this would not apply if the creditor were in equal distress: in which
case, however, the claims on either side would have to be weighed with regard ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether we ought to do 2.htm

The Precept of Loving One's Enemies it is as Much Taught in the ...
... likewise. But in order that no man may be indigent, you have in Deuteronomy
a provision commanded by the Creator to the creditor. ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter xvi the precept of loving.htm

Whether Fraternal Correction is a Matter of Precept?
... Now when a man owes anyone a material due, such as the payment of a sum of money,
he must not be content that his creditor come to him, but he should seek him ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether fraternal correction is a.htm

Forgiven and Unforgiving
... transgressions against the Father? But the next point to be noticed is the
stern legal right of the creditor. It sounds harsh, cruel ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/forgiven and unforgiving.htm

The Sufferings of Christ Reconciled with the Goodness of God.
... Suppose that a creditor, through compassion to certain debtors, should persuade
a benevolent and opulent man to pay him in their stead; would not the debtors ...
/.../a theodicy or vindication of the divine glory/chapter iii the sufferings of.htm

Creditor (8 Occurrences)
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CREDITOR. ... 2 Kings 4:1 shows that the actual practice
was not so considerate, and in consequence the creditor fell into bad repute. ...
/c/creditor.htm - 11k

Debtor (7 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Various regulations as to the relation between
debtor and creditor are laid down in the Scriptures. (1 ...
/d/debtor.htm - 16k

Pledge (55 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The transfer of possession of personal property from a debtor to a creditor
as security for a debt or engagement; also, the contract created between ...
/p/pledge.htm - 28k

Loan (9 Occurrences)
... taken. A creditor could not enter the house to reclaim a pledge, but must
remain outside till the borrower brought it (10, 11). ...
/l/loan.htm - 16k

Exact (31 Occurrences)
... not the Revised Version (British and American)) Job 11:6 (but see below); Psalm
89:22), to demand interest, to be a harsh and importunate creditor, a practice ...
/e/exact.htm - 18k

Lend (21 Occurrences)
... 15:1-6; Deuteronomy 23:19, 20; 24:10, 11; 28:12, 44, borrowing and lending are taken
for granted as existing in Israel, but the creditor is required to release ...
/l/lend.htm - 18k

Debt (48 Occurrences)
... Even where a pledge is given and received, certain restrictions are thrown around
it, eg the creditor must not take a mill, nor a necessary garment, nor a ...
/d/debt.htm - 28k

Interest (35 Occurrences)
... The law of Moses (Exodus 22:25) forbade loaning at interest. There was to be no
creditor and no taker of interest among them (Leviticus 25:36, 37). ...
/i/interest.htm - 21k

Tirshatha (5 Occurrences)
... lord." It seems more probable that it is derived from the Babylonian root rashu,
"to take possession of," from which we get the noun rashu, "creditor." In this ...
/t/tirshatha.htm - 10k

Delegation (5 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) A kind of notation by which a debtor, to be liberated from his creditor,
gives him a third person, who becomes obliged in his stead to the creditor, or ...
/d/delegation.htm - 8k

Is it right for a church to go into debt? | GotQuestions.org

Creditor: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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