In the context of the Bible, the concept of "tolerated" often relates to the idea of enduring or allowing certain behaviors, practices, or beliefs that may not align with God's commandments or the teachings of Scripture. The term itself is not frequently used in the Bible, but the principle can be observed in various passages where God or His people endure certain actions or situations, often with the hope of repentance or change.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the Israelites were often warned against tolerating the practices and idolatry of surrounding nations. God commanded them to remain separate and not to adopt the customs of the peoples around them. For example, in Deuteronomy 18:9-12 , God instructs the Israelites: "When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there." This passage highlights the importance of not tolerating practices that are contrary to God's laws.

The account of King Solomon provides a narrative example of the dangers of tolerating idolatry. Despite his wisdom, Solomon's marriages to foreign women led him to tolerate and eventually participate in idol worship, which was against God's commands (1 Kings 11:1-8). This tolerance of idolatry ultimately led to the division of the kingdom.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of tolerance is addressed in the context of church discipline and moral behavior. The Apostle Paul, in his letters, often admonishes the early Christian communities to maintain purity and not to tolerate sin within the church. In 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 , Paul rebukes the Corinthian church for tolerating sexual immorality: "It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been stricken with grief and removed from your fellowship the man who did this?"

The letters to the seven churches in Revelation also address the issue of tolerance. In Revelation 2:20 , the church in Thyatira is criticized for tolerating false teaching: "But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols."

Principles of Tolerance in Christian Living

While the Bible warns against tolerating sin and false teachings, it also calls believers to exercise patience and love towards others. Christians are encouraged to bear with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2) and to be patient, as God is patient with humanity, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

The balance between not tolerating sin and showing love and patience is a recurring theme in Christian ethics. Believers are called to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) and to correct others gently (Galatians 6:1), always aiming for restoration and reconciliation.

In summary, while the Bible acknowledges the necessity of tolerance in terms of patience and love, it clearly delineates the boundaries where tolerance of sin and falsehood is not acceptable. The ultimate goal is to uphold God's truth while extending grace and seeking the repentance and restoration of those who have strayed.(imp. & p. p.) of Tolerate.

Whether Heretics Ought to be Tolerated?
... OF HERESY (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether heretics ought to be tolerated? Objection
1: It seems that heretics ought to be tolerated. For ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether heretics ought to be.htm

But May not Images be Tolerated in the Churches, as Books to the ...
... Lord's Day 35 Question 98 But may not images be tolerated in the churches,
as books to the laity? But may not images be tolerated ...
/.../various/the heidelberg catechism /question 98 but may not.htm

Whether the Rites of Unbelievers Ought to be Tolerated?
... OF UNBELIEF IN GENERAL (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether the rites of unbelievers
ought to be tolerated? Objection 1: It would seem that ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the rites of unbelievers.htm

A Certain Degree of Intemperance is to be Tolerated in the Case of ...
... Book I. Chapter 16 [XIV.]"A Certain Degree of Intemperance is to Be Tolerated in
the Case of Married Persons; The Use of Matrimony for the Mere Pleasure of ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 16 xiv a certain degree.htm

Circular Letter to the Clergy of the Arch-Deaconry of Suffolk.
... Whether there he any in their parish, that absent themselves from Church, who resort
to no other assembly for the worship of God, which is by law now tolerated ...
/.../prideaux/directions to church-wardens/circular letter to the clergy.htm

What the Ruler's Discrimination Should be Between Correction and ...
... connived at, but indicated in that they are connived at; that things, even though
openly known, ought sometimes to be seasonably tolerated, but sometimes ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter x what the rulers.htm

Letter xxii. (AD 392. )
... For rioting and drunkenness are so tolerated and allowed by public opinion, that
even in services designed to honour the memory of the blessed martyrs, and ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter xxii a d 392.htm

Directions to Church-Wardens, &C.
... But since all such, who frequent any other assembly for God's worship tolerated
by the said act, must on their pleading the same, and making proof thereof, be ...
/.../prideaux/directions to church-wardens/directions to church-wardens &c.htm

Letter xxix. (AD 395. )
... of our God." [1531] After reading these, I charged them to consider how believers
could hear these words, "but ye are washed," if they still tolerated in their ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter xxix a d 395.htm

Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness.
... Being but an angel, Satan is neither omnipresent, omniscient nor omnipotent.
He is only a tolerated rebel, as we are tolerated rebels. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xix jesus tempted in the.htm

Tolerated (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Tolerate. Multi-Version Concordance
Tolerated (1 Occurrence). Esther 3:4 Now it came to ...
/t/tolerated.htm - 6k

Tolerate (8 Occurrences)

/t/tolerate.htm - 9k

Uzziah (27 Occurrences)
... to coming generations that all earthly monarchy must bow before the inviolable order
of the divine will, and that no interference could be tolerated with that ...
/u/uzziah.htm - 27k

Jehu (63 Occurrences)
... Notwithstanding all this apparent zeal for the worship of Jehovah, Jehu yet
tolerated the worship of the golden calves at Dan and Bethel. ...
/j/jehu.htm - 47k

Jehoash (28 Occurrences)
... Hazael "was cutting Israel short." He tolerated the worship of the golden calves,
yet seems to have manifested a character of sincere devotion to the God of ...
/j/jehoash.htm - 32k

Tolerating (1 Occurrence)

/t/tolerating.htm - 6k

Retribution (14 Occurrences)
... Within the sphere of physical law this is clearly exemplified. No breach
of the so-called laws of Nature is tolerated. Strictly ...
/r/retribution.htm - 29k

Pass (1172 Occurrences)
... not expect to pass. 9. (vi) To be suffered to go on; to be tolerated; hence,
to continue; to live along. 10. (vi) To go unheeded ...
/p/pass.htm - 44k

Pharisees (86 Occurrences)
... This would be a shock to the Assidean purists, as Judas, though a priest, was not
a Zadokite; but his actions would be tolerated at that time on account of the ...
/p/pharisees.htm - 66k

Ten (234 Occurrences)
... (2) The 2nd commandment forbids the use of images in worship; even an image of Yahweh
is not to be tolerated (compare Exodus 32:5). Yahweh's mercy is greater ...
/t/ten.htm - 60k

How many wives did Abraham have? | GotQuestions.org

Why is it important to be familiar with church history? | GotQuestions.org

Is gluttony a sin? What does the Bible say about overeating? | GotQuestions.org

Tolerated: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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