Baptist Bible Institute  

Methods of Bible Study – Student’s copy

Word Study

Conscience  (συνείδησις)

Roy Zuck offers the following definition –

“Therefore, based on ethnology and New Testament usage, the conscience can be defined as “the inner knowledge or awareness of, and sensitivity to, some moral standard.” That standard may differ with each individual, as will be discussed later, but even so the conscience is the faculty of man by which he has an awareness of some standard of conduct.”

Using the standard method of Bible Study, your Bible, Concordance, and chart, research the word ‘conscience’, determining the application according to each use in context.  Upon completion of your study, write concluding remarks and set out four or five application to the believer’s lives.

Unbeliever’s Conscience

Insight into the conscience of the natural world is available through studies that have been done on isolated groups of people.  An example is provided from the following excerpt –

A recent exposition on the culture of the Rio Grande Pueblo Indians revealed the development of their internalized moral code, also known as the ‘conscience’.  The development of the conscience of this people is interesting because it is solely based on the natural world without the introduction of the Word of God, the Bible.  This excerpt is taken from the study published in the Encyclopedia of Morals edited by Vergilius Ferm, page 497. 

“The behaviour and conduct of the individual is thus strictly prescribed by the moral code.  Moral standards are established by the host of relatives that comprise the extended family and are reinforced by village agencies and traditional sanctions.  It is not dependent either solely or dominantly on “external sanctions”, rather, the Rio Grande Pueblo culture has internalized the moral code as a “conscience” in the individual.  Moreover, moral standards have become established as cultural values and ideals to which the individual must conform.

Believer’s Conscience

“My conscience is clear”.  What does this statement mean?

Acts 24:14-16 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

To have a clean conscience with no offense to God or man, a Christian should follow these instructions –

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