Tolerance (Bear with One Another)

Tolerance:

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.

Martin H. Manser, Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies (London: Martin Manser, 2009).

Who should receive the benefit of tolerance?

Toleration should be exercised for the benefit of those whose faith is weak

Ro.14.1 (1-6)

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ro 14:1.

Paul is calling for mutual acceptance between the Strong and the Weak

there as a specific dispute around Christians abiding by Jewish food laws

Paul encourages the strong not to despise or scandalize the weak

Col.2

Paul encourages the church to not allow themselves to be disqualified

not indulging in the worshiping the angels of the false teachers

These teachers were invoking angels for help and protection from evil spirits

not to be influenced by these evil spirits

Col.3.1-17

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Col 3:1–17.

God’s Word Translation - defines what it means to bear with one another

As holy people whom God has chosen and loved, be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, and patient.

13. Put up with each other, and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

14. Above all, be loving. This ties everything together perfectly.

Passion Translation

Colossians 3:13-14 T

[13] Tolerate the weaknesses of those in the family of faith, forgiving one another in the same way you have been graciously forgiven by Jesus Christ. If you find fault with someone, release this same gift of forgiveness to them. [14] For love is supreme and must flow through each of these virtues. Love becomes the mark of true maturity.

To Bear ἀνέχομαιanechomaiendure; bear with, to hold up, to put up with