Bible Question: Are we humans created by God with a conscience or is conscience taught? (by either parents, society etc.) Please answer with a bibilcal reference to support you side |
Bible Answer: Word Study.................... Greetings Charo! There are many references to the conscience in the New Testament (but there is no such word in the OT - there the term heart seems to be used), but not many of the address the issue of where it comes from. There are three passages though which show that a conscience has an objective source. 1) 1 Tim. 4:2 - "Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron." Here is a reference to those who believe something in opposition to their conscience. If the conscience were simply a subjective worldview accepted from or taught by culture, then it seems like the conscience would simply change to fit our goals. Here though, the conscience has been seared to quiet it. 2) Titus 1:15 - "To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted." The fact that a conscience can be corrupted seems to indicate that there is an objective reality behind the conscience. I don't see how a subjective conscience could be corrupted. 3) 2 Cor. 1:12 - "Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God’s grace." This verse seems to be saying that Paul's conscience was at least informed by God's grace. Given the Biblical data (including the many other verses I haven't cited), I would say that there is an objective conscience of right and wrong which has God as it's ultimate source. This conscience can be corrupted or influenced by other factors though! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |