The term "illegal" refers to actions or behaviors that are not permitted by law. In the context of the Bible, the concept of legality is often intertwined with divine law, civil law, and moral law. The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings that address the nature of lawfulness and the consequences of illegal actions.

Biblical Law and Authority

The Bible establishes God as the ultimate lawgiver. In the Old Testament, the Mosaic Law given to the Israelites serves as a comprehensive legal and moral code. This law includes commandments that govern religious practices, social justice, and personal conduct. For instance, the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) form the foundation of legal and moral expectations for God's people.

Civil Authority

The New Testament acknowledges the role of civil authorities and the importance of obeying the laws of the land. Romans 13:1-2 states, "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves." This passage underscores the belief that civil laws are instituted by God and that obedience to them is a form of obedience to God.

Illegal Actions and Sin

Illegal actions, when they contravene God's commandments, are considered sinful. The Bible frequently addresses the consequences of sin, which can include both spiritual and temporal repercussions. For example, in 1 John 3:4 , it is written, "Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness." This verse equates sin with lawlessness, highlighting the spiritual dimension of illegal actions.

Examples of Illegal Actions in Scripture

Throughout the Bible, there are numerous examples of individuals who engaged in illegal actions and faced consequences. King Saul, for instance, unlawfully offered a burnt offering, an act reserved for the prophet Samuel, leading to his rejection as king (1 Samuel 13:8-14). Similarly, Achan's illegal act of taking forbidden items during the conquest of Jericho resulted in severe punishment for him and his family (Joshua 7).

Justice and Mercy

While the Bible emphasizes the importance of adhering to the law, it also highlights God's mercy and forgiveness. In the account of the woman caught in adultery, Jesus demonstrates mercy by challenging those without sin to cast the first stone (John 8:1-11). This account illustrates the balance between justice and mercy, encouraging believers to seek repentance and forgiveness for illegal actions.

Conclusion

The Bible provides a comprehensive framework for understanding legality, emphasizing the importance of obedience to both divine and civil laws. Illegal actions are viewed through the lens of sin and lawlessness, with an emphasis on the need for repentance and the availability of God's mercy.(a.) Contrary to, or in violation of law; unlawful; illicit; hence, immoral; as, an illegal act; illegal trade; illegal love.111. athemitos -- lawless
... lawless. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: athemitos Phonetic Spelling:
(ath-em'-ee-tos) Short Definition: illegal, unlawful Definition: illegal ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/111.htm - 7k

459. anomos -- lawless, without law
... without law. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: anomos Phonetic Spelling:
(an'-om-os) Short Definition: lawless, sinful, illegal Definition: lawless ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/459.htm - 7k

113. athesmos -- lawless
... [In ancient secular Greek, 114 () referred to what was "illegal (contrary
to statute)," as in Plutarch (1:712b; cf. TDNT 1:167).]. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/113.htm - 7k

Council of Tyre; Illegal Deposition of St. Athanasius.
... Book II. Chapter XXV."Council of Tyre; Illegal Deposition of St. Athanasius.
The plots of the enemies of Athanasius involved him ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of sozomenus/chapter xxv council of tyre illegal.htm

If a Presbyter Has through Ignorance Contracted an Illegal ...
... The Sixth Ecumenical Council. Canon XXVI. If a presbyter has through
ignorance contracted an illegal marriage? If a presbyter ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon xxvi if a presbyter.htm

The Transplanting of Congregationalism
... and entered upon his twelve years of absolute rule, marked by imprisonments, by
arbitrary fines, forced loans, sales of monopolies, and illegal taxes, which ...
/.../chapter ii the transplanting of.htm

A Savage Duel.
... says, "You crucify Him. I find no fault in Him." It would be illegal, but
it would not be the first illegal thing. But these men ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks about jesus/a savage duel.htm

Deuteronomy
... (a) As the true worship is jeopardized by a multiplicity of sanctuaries, these
sanctuaries are declared illegal, and their paraphernalia are to be destroyed ...
/.../mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/deuteronomy.htm

Narrative of Events at Alexandria in the Time of Lucius the Arian ...
... sympathy with parents? What instance is there of the perpetration of so illegal
a deed by any one of the ancients? The male children ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter xix narrative of events at.htm

Jean Jacques Rousseau.
... He drew the most charming pictures of female loveliness, and married, after
long-continued illegal intercourse, his servant,"a vulgar and ill-tempered woman. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/schaff/the person of christ/jean jacques rousseau.htm

The Real High Priest and his Counterfeit
... That preliminary examination brought out nothing to incriminate the prisoner, and
was flagrantly illegal, being an attempt to entrap Him into self-accusing ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the real high priest and.htm

Asa's Reformation, and Consequent Peace and victory
... 'Strange altars,'"that is, those dedicated to other gods; 'high places,'"that is,
where illegal sacrifice to Jehovah was offered; 'pillars,'"that is ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture g/asas reformation and consequent peace.htm

Cestius Sends Neopolitanus the Tribune to See in what Condition ...
... Yet were not the governors of Jerusalem silent upon this occasion, but did themselves
write to Cestius, as did Bernice also, about the illegal practices of ...
/.../chapter 16 cestius sends neopolitanus.htm

Illegal (2 Occurrences)
... (a.) Contrary to, or in violation of law; unlawful; illicit; hence, immoral; as,
an illegal act; illegal trade; illegal love. ...Illegal (2 Occurrences). ...
/i/illegal.htm - 7k

Persecution (22 Occurrences)
... you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake" (Luke 6:22); "They
shall put you out of the synagogues" (John 16:2). (4) Illegal arrest and ...
/p/persecution.htm - 47k

Arrest (22 Occurrences)
... had shown their inordinate zeal and hostility by taking the unusual, and for those
who were to sit as judges on the case, the improper and illegal course of ...
/a/arrest.htm - 45k

Trial (45 Occurrences)
... had shown their inordinate zeal and hostility by taking the unusual, and for those
who were to sit as judges on the case, the improper and illegal course of ...
/t/trial.htm - 52k

Usurious (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Practicing usury; taking illegal or exorbitant
interest for the use of money; as, a usurious lender. ...
/u/usurious.htm - 6k

Levites (267 Occurrences)
... up this distinction and represents it as being of Mosaic origin, making of the sons
of Zadok "sons of Aaron." "In this way arose as an illegal consequence of ...
/l/levites.htm - 72k

Lawless (16 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Contrary to, or unauthorized by, law;
illegal; as, a lawless claim. 2. (a.) Not subject to, or ...
/l/lawless.htm - 12k

License (3 Occurrences)
... permission from the proper authorities to perform certain acts or to carry on a
certain business, which without such permission would be illegal; a grant of ...
/l/license.htm - 8k

Gathered (384 Occurrences)
... Matthew 27:6 When the High Priests had gathered up the money they said, "It is illegal
to put it into the Treasury, because it is the price of blood." (WEY). ...
/g/gathered.htm - 35k

Illegitimate (4 Occurrences)

/i/illegitimate.htm - 8k

How should a Christian respond to illegal aliens/illegal immigrants? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about illegal immigration? | GotQuestions.org

Should a Christian continue spanking his/her children if it is illegal? | GotQuestions.org

Illegal: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus