In the context of biblical teachings, the concept of being "discredited" often relates to the loss of credibility, trust, or authority, particularly in matters of faith, doctrine, or moral conduct. The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings that highlight the consequences of actions that lead to discreditation, both for individuals and communities.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the theme of discreditation is frequently associated with the failure to uphold God's commandments and the resulting loss of divine favor. For instance, the Israelites experienced periods of discreditation when they turned away from God and worshiped idols. In Deuteronomy 28, God outlines the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience, emphasizing that turning away from His commandments would lead to disgrace among the nations: "You will become an object of horror, scorn, and ridicule among all the nations to which the LORD will drive you" (Deuteronomy 28:37).

The prophets often warned Israel and Judah about the consequences of their unfaithfulness. Jeremiah, for example, lamented the discredit brought upon the people due to their persistent idolatry and injustice: "Your own conduct and actions have brought this upon you. This is your punishment. How bitter it is, because it pierces to the heart!" (Jeremiah 4:18).

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, discreditation is often linked to false teachings and hypocrisy. Jesus frequently rebuked the Pharisees and scribes for their hypocritical behavior, which discredited their authority as religious leaders. In Matthew 23, Jesus pronounces woes upon them, highlighting their failure to practice what they preach: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter" (Matthew 23:13).

The Apostle Paul also addresses the issue of discreditation in his epistles. In 1 Timothy, Paul warns against false teachers who deviate from sound doctrine, thereby discrediting the faith: "If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing" (1 Timothy 6:3-4). Paul emphasizes the importance of maintaining integrity and sound teaching to avoid discrediting the gospel.

Moral and Ethical Implications

The Bible underscores the importance of living a life that upholds the teachings of Christ to avoid discreditation. Believers are called to be "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world" (Matthew 5:13-14), living in a manner that reflects the transformative power of the gospel. The Apostle Peter encourages Christians to maintain good conduct among non-believers so that their actions may glorify God: "Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us" (1 Peter 2:12).

Community and Leadership

In the early church, maintaining credibility was crucial for leaders and the community. Elders and deacons were required to be above reproach, as their conduct directly impacted the church's reputation and witness. Paul instructs Titus to appoint elders who are "blameless, the husband of but one wife, having children who are believers and are not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination" (Titus 1:6). This standard was set to ensure that leaders did not bring discredit upon the church through their actions.

Overall, the Bible presents discreditation as a serious issue with spiritual, moral, and communal implications. It calls believers to live in a manner that upholds the truth of the gospel, maintaining integrity and credibility in all aspects of life.(imp. & p. p.) of Discredit.3469. momaomai -- to find fault with
... found . See 3470 . Word Origin from momos Definition to find fault with
NASB Word Usage discredit (1), discredited (1). blame. From ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3469.htm - 6k

Concerning the Eradication of the Love of Human Praise, Because ...
... desire of glory be surpassed by the love of righteousness, so that, if there be
seen anywhere "lying neglected things which are generally discredited," if they ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 14 concerning the eradication of.htm

'Lovest Thou Me?'
... that stand again? Lovest thou Me more than these that never discredited
their boasting so shamefully?'. So, dear brethren! here we ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture st john chaps xv to xxi/lovest thou me.htm

Use of the Old Testament by the First Christian Writers, and by ...
... doctrine,"(92) the argument, though based on fact, is scarcely conclusive; else
Esther, Canticles, Ecclesiastes, and other works might be equally discredited. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/davidson/the canon of the bible/chapter v use of the.htm

The End of Cambyses.
... wounded."His remorse and despair."Cambyses calls his nobles about him."His dying
declaration."Death of Cambyses."His dying declaration discredited. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/darius the great/chapter ii the end of.htm

Book Five a Year of Decision. ...
... And how have they harmed thee? Or in what way have they discredited thy power, which
is just and perfect in its rule even to the last item in creation? ...
/.../augustine/confessions and enchiridion/book five a year of.htm

Evolution and Sociology
... Nature, as a moral teacher, thanks to the Darwinian interpretation, was never more
discredited than at this hour; and friend and foe alike agree in warning us ...
/.../the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/iv evolution and sociology.htm

The Design and Unity of Luke's History
... sources," according to the elaborate and somewhat pedantic theories that have been
fashionable recently in Germany, but are already becoming discredited there. ...
/.../ramsay/was christ born in bethlehem/chapter 2 the design and.htm

The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans
... But Baur's habit of pronouncing spurious every book or part of a book which did
not agree with his peculiar estimate of St. Paul, is now discredited. ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter xiii the epistle of.htm

The Profane Account Given of the Origin of Christ and the Holy ...
... I should suppose the coupling of two males to be a very shameful thing, or else
the one [6736] must be a female, and so the male is discredited [6737] by the ...
/.../tertullian/against the valentinians/chapter xi the profane account given.htm

Language and Style.
... The citations of the latter book are discredited by Farrar (Speaker's Comm. p.411)
however, and probably those of the former are in a similar position. ...
/.../daubney/the three additions to daniel a study/language and style 2.htm

Discredited (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Discredit. Multi-Version Concordance
Discredited (3 Occurrences). Acts 19:27 and not only ...
/d/discredited.htm - 7k

Septuagint
... effects of translation. "Biblical Greek," once considered a distinct species,
is now a rather discredited term. The hundreds of ...
/s/septuagint.htm - 38k

Archaeology
... at Leyden, definitely and absolutely breaks with the Wellhausen school of criticism,
chiefly on the ground that archaeology has discredited their viewpoint and ...
/a/archaeology.htm - 61k

Criticism (1 Occurrence)
... at Leyden, definitely and absolutely breaks with the Wellhausen school of criticism,
chiefly on the ground that archaeology has discredited their viewpoint and ...
/c/criticism.htm - 101k

Discreet (9 Occurrences)

/d/discreet.htm - 9k

General (9 Occurrences)
... By a gradual and intelligible transference of ideas "apocryphal," as applied to
secret writings thus discredited by the church, came to have the bad sense of ...
/g/general.htm - 49k

Discredit (4 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To refuse credence to; not to accept as true; to disbelieve; as, the
report is discredited. 4. (vt) To deprive of credibility. ...
/d/discredit.htm - 8k

Discreditable (1 Occurrence)

/d/discreditable.htm - 6k

Separate (115 Occurrences)
... In the West, where Origen was viewed with suspicion, the Acts of Paul were apparently
discredited, the only use of them as a reliable source being found in ...
/s/separate.htm - 71k

Johannine
... But after the fall of Jerusalem this primitive apocalypticism became, with the passing
years, more and more discredited; and the Christian faith had either to ...
/j/johannine.htm - 38k

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