In the context of Christian theology and biblical interpretation, the term "disputable" often refers to matters that are open to debate or interpretation among believers. These are issues where Scripture may not provide explicit guidance, leading to differing opinions within the Christian community. The concept of disputable matters is particularly addressed in the New Testament, where the Apostle Paul provides guidance on how to handle such issues within the church.

Biblical References:

1. Romans 14:1-4 : "Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on his opinions. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not belittle the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand."

In this passage, Paul addresses the Roman church regarding dietary practices, which were a source of contention. He emphasizes the importance of accepting fellow believers without judgment on disputable matters, recognizing that God has accepted each person.

2. Romans 14:5-6 : "One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes a special day does so to the Lord; he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God."

Here, Paul extends the principle to the observance of special days, another area of potential dispute. He encourages believers to be fully convinced in their own minds and to act in a way that honors the Lord, whether they observe certain days or not.

3. 1 Corinthians 8:9-13 : "Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. For if someone with a weak conscience sees you who are well informed eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged to eat what is sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. By sinning against your brothers in this way and wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall."

In this passage, Paul discusses the issue of eating food sacrificed to idols, a disputable matter in the Corinthian church. He advises believers to exercise their freedom with consideration for others, ensuring that their actions do not lead others into sin.

Theological Implications:

Disputable matters often arise from cultural, historical, or personal differences among believers. The New Testament encourages Christians to approach these issues with grace, humility, and a focus on unity. The principle of love and consideration for others is paramount, as believers are called to prioritize the spiritual well-being of their brothers and sisters in Christ over personal freedoms.

Practical Application:

In contemporary Christian practice, disputable matters may include issues such as worship styles, modes of baptism, or interpretations of eschatological events. Believers are encouraged to engage in respectful dialogue, seeking to understand differing perspectives while maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3). The emphasis is on building one another up in love, recognizing that each believer is accountable to the Lord.1. (v. i.) Capable of being disputed; liable to be called in question, controverted, or contested; or doubtful certainty or propriety; controvertible; as, disputable opinions, propositions, points, or questions.

2. (v. i.) Disputatious; contentious.

Advantages of Revelation Above Natural Reason.
... For example, in that disputable point of persecuting men for conscience sake, besides
the embittering their minds with hatred, indignation, and all the ...
/.../sect v advantages of revelation.htm

Christian Morals. Part I.
... and circumspectly in this funambulatory [24] track and narrow path of goodness:
pursue virtue virtuously: leven not good actions nor render virtues disputable. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/browne/christian morals/christian morals part i.htm

The Maniac
... But certain religious leaders in London, not mere materialists, have begun in our
day not to deny the highly disputable water, but to deny the indisputable dirt ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/orthodoxy/ii the maniac.htm

section iii.
... Of those three great inventions [57] in Germany, there are two which are not without
their incommodities, and tis disputable whether they exceed not their use ...
//christianbookshelf.org/browne/religio medici/section iii.htm

Prior to the fall of the Empire in the middle of the fifteenth ...
... It was, however, only when theologians tried to make plain what was meant by
the latter phrase, that it prickled with disputable points. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/brownlie/hymns of the holy eastern church/ii.htm

The Duty of Reproving Our Neighbour
... 3. But if we desire not to lose our labour, we should rarely reprove anyone for
anything that is of a disputable nature, that will bear much to be said on both ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 65 the duty of.htm

Letter Lxxxiv. To Pammachius and Oceanus.
... to Apollinaris of Laodicea, and attended his lectures; yet, although he instructed
me in the holy scriptures, I never embraced his disputable doctrine as to ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lxxxiv to pammachius and.htm

Brother Hugh
... the keys of all the Alpine roads to Italy and Germany and whose infant daughter
was betrothed to the boy John Lackland with dowries disputable, whereat Henry ...
/.../marson/hugh bishop of lincoln/chapter ii brother hugh.htm

On Attending the Church Service
... God: "If you desire to be extensively useful, do not spend your time and strength
in contending for or against such things as are of a disputable nature; but ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 104 on attending the.htm

Introduction to vita S. Antoni.
... Passing over the disputable evidence of the De Vita Contemplativa ascribed to Philo,
(which Weingarten endeavours, against Lucius and others, to put back to a ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/introduction to vita s antoni.htm

Disputable (1 Occurrence)
... disputed; liable to be called in question, controverted, or contested; or doubtful
certainty or propriety; controvertible; as, disputable opinions, propositions ...
/d/disputable.htm - 7k

Dispossessors (1 Occurrence)

/d/dispossessors.htm - 6k

Disputation (2 Occurrences)

/d/disputation.htm - 8k

Galatians (2 Occurrences)
... This consideration dictates the order of our inquiry, which proceeds from the plainer
to the more involved and disputable parts of the subject. ...
/g/galatians.htm - 43k

Hebrews (24 Occurrences)
... been retained with the address. The evidences adduced of a feminine mind
behind the epistle are highly disputable. On the other hand ...
/h/hebrews.htm - 70k

Epistle (13 Occurrences)

/e/epistle.htm - 101k

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Disputable: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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