The virtue of being prepared to accept people and their viewpoints. While commended within the church, Scripture insists that believers must have a vital concern for maintaining and defending the truth.
Toleration should be exercised for the benefit of those whose faith is weak
Romans 14:1 See also Romans 14:2–6, Romans 14:13–22; 1 Corinthians 8:8–13
Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on his opinions.
Examples of tolerance
By Jesus Christ: Matthew 19:13–14 parallels Mark 10:13–14, Luke 18:15–16 in contrast to the disciples' intolerance; Mark 9:33–36 parallel Luke 9:46–47; Mark 9:38–40 parallel Luke 9:49–50; Philippians 1:17–18 by Paul
Limits to toleration
Evil cannot be tolerated
Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the faithless? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
Wickedness cannot be tolerated
I know your deeds, your labor, and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and you have tested and exposed as liars those who falsely claim to be apostles.
Serious doctrinal errors cannot be tolerated
Galatians 2:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:1–3 See also 1 Timothy 6:3–5, 1 Timothy 6:20–21; 2 Timothy 4:3–4; 2 Peter 2:1
This issue arose because some false brothers had come in under false pretenses to spy on our freedom in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.
Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him, we ask you, brothers, not to be easily disconcerted or alarmed by any spirit or message or letter seeming to be from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord has already come. Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness — the son of destruction — is revealed.
Sexual sin should not be tolerated
1 Corinthians 5:1–5, 1 Corinthians 6:18–20; Revelation 2:14
Idolatry should not be tolerated
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.