What is blasphemy?

From my previous post on Facebook.
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Blasphemy is…
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A violation of the third commandment (Ex. 20:7; Dt. 5:11), blasphemy robs God of his majesty and holiness and thus is regarded by Scripture as a heinous sin.
In Scripture the greatest incidence of blasphemy is against God himself (Lv. 24:11–23; Is. 52:5; Ezk. 20:27; Rev. 13:6; 16:9, 11, 21).
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‘The blasphemy against the Spirit’ referred to in the above texts is no specific sin, such as denial of the Spirit’s divinity, but that disposition of deliberate hostility to the power of God actualized through the third person of the Trinity which precludes a person’s contrition and repentance (cf.
Blasphemy is committed not only by slanderous words (Lv. 24:11, 15–16), but also by denying Christ (1 Tim. 1:13), the practice of idolatry (Ne. 9:18, 26), false teaching (1 Tim. 1:20), oppression of the saints (Is. 52:5), insulting the poor (Jas. 2:6–7) and profession without practice (Rom. 2:24; 2 Tim. 3:2).
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Sinclair B. Ferguson and J.I. Packer, New Dictionary of Theology (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000), 105.
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BLASPHEMY Improper action with regard to using God’s name; an attitude of disrespect expressed in an act directed against God’s character.
Holman Bible Editorial Staff, Holman Concise Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 1997).
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Blasphemy Irreverent and insulting or slanderous expressions against God.
Millard J. Erickson, The Concise Dictionary of Christian Theology (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2001), 24.
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This noun is used to denote the violation of the glory, majesty, and power of God and may be translated “blasphemy” or “mockery.”
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William D. Mounce, Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2006), 67–117.
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BLASPHEMY—In the sense of speaking evil of God this word is found in Ps. 74:18; Isa. 52:5; Rom. 2:24; Rev. 13:1, 6; 16:9, 11, 21. It denotes also any kind of calumny, or evil-speaking, or abuse (1 Kings 21:10; Acts 13:45; 18:6, etc.). Our Lord was accused of blasphemy when he claimed to be the Son of God (Matt. 26:65; comp. Matt. 9:3; Mark 2:7). They who deny his Messiahship blaspheme Jesus (Luke 22:65; John 10:36).
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Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost (Matt. 12:31, 32; Mark 3:28, 29; Luke 12:10) is regarded by some as a continued and obstinate rejection of the gospel, and hence is an unpardonable sin, simply because as long as a sinner remains in unbelief he voluntarily excludes himself from pardon. Others regard the expression as designating the sin of attributing to the power of Satan those miracles which Christ performed, or generally those works which are the result of the Spirit’s agency.
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M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1893), 101–102.
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BLASPHEMY Transliteration of a Greek word meaning literally “to speak harm.” In the biblical context blasphemy is an attitude of disrespect that finds expression in an act directed against the character of God.
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Old Testament: Blasphemy draws its Christian definition through the background of the OT. It is significant that blasphemy reflects improper action with regard to the use of God’s name. God revealed His character and invited personal relationship through the revelation of His name. Therefore, the use of God’s name gave the Israelites the opportunity of personal participation with the very nature of God.
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Leviticus 24:14–16 guides the Hebrew definition of blasphemy. The offense is designated as a capital crime, and the offender is to be stoned by the community. Blasphemy involves the actual pronunciation of the name of God along with an attitude of disrespect. Under the influence of this interpretation, the personal name of God (Yahweh) was withdrawn from ordinary speech and the title of Adonai (Lord) was used in its place.
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Israel, at various times, was guilty of blasphemy. Specifically mentioned were the instances of the golden calf (Neh. 9:18) and the harsh treatment of the prophets (Neh. 9:26). David was accused by Nathan of making a mockery of God’s commands and giving an occasion for the enemies of Israel to blaspheme—to misunderstand the true nature of God (2 Sam. 12:14)…
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New Testament: The NT broadens the concept of blasphemy to include actions against Christ and the church as the body of Christ. Jesus was regarded by the Jewish leaders as a blasphemer Himself (Mark 2:7). When tried by the Sanhedrin, Jesus not only claimed messianic dignity but further claimed the supreme exalted status (Luke 22:69). Such a claim, according to the Sanhedrin, fit the charge of blasphemy and, therefore, deserved death (Matt. 26:65; Mark 14:64). However, according to the NT perspective, the real blasphemers were those who denied the messianic claims of Jesus and rejected His unity with the Father (Mark 15:29; Luke 22:65; 23:39).
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The unity of Christ and the church is recognized in the fact that persecutions against Christians are labeled as blasphemous acts (1 Tim. 1:13; 1 Pet. 4:4; Rev. 2:9). It is also important that Christians avoid conduct that might give an occasion for blasphemy, especially in the area of attitude and speech (Eph. 4:31; Col. 3:8; 1 Tim. 6:4; Titus 3:2).
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The sin of blasphemy is a sin that can be forgiven. However, there is a sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit that cannot be forgiven (Matt. 12:32; Mark 3:29; Luke 12:10). This is a state of hardness in which one consciously and willfully resists God’s saving power and grace. It is a desperate condition that is beyond the situation of forgiveness because one is not able to recognize and repent of sin. Thus one wanting to repent of blasphemy against the Spirit cannot have committed the sin.
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Jerry M. Henry, “Blasphemy,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 222–223.
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Blaspheme, Blasphemy, Blasphemer, Blasphemous Strong’s Greek #988
“blasphemy”) is so translated thirteen times in the RV, but “railing” in Matt. 15:19; Mark 7:22; Eph. 4:31; Col. 3:8; 1 Tim. 6:4; Jude 9.
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Blaspheme, Blasphemy, Blasphemer, Blasphemous Strong’s Greek #988
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The word “blasphemy” is practically confined to speech defamatory of the Divine Majesty.
Blaspheme, Blasphemy, Blasphemer, Blasphemous Strong’s Greek #987
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blasphemeo (βλασφημέω, 987), “to blaspheme, rail at or revile,” is used (a) in a general way, of any contumelious speech, reviling, calumniating, railing at, etc., as of those who railed at Christ, e.g., Matt. 27:39; Mark 15:29; Luke 22:65 (RV, “reviling”); 23:39; (b) of those who speak contemptuously of God or of sacred things, e.g., Matt. 9:3; Mark 3:28; Rom. 2:24; 1 Tim. 1:20; 6:1; Rev. 13:6; 16:9, 11, 21; “hath spoken blasphemy,” Matt. 26:65; “rail at,” 2 Pet. 2:10; Jude 8, 10; “railing,” 2 Pet. 2:12; “slanderously reported,” Rom. 3:8; “be evil spoken of,” Rom. 14:16; 1 Cor. 10:30; 2 Pet. 2:2; “speak evil of,” Titus 3:2; 1 Pet. 4:4; “being defamed,” 1 Cor. 4:13.
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W. E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, and William White Jr., Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville, TN: T. Nelson, 1996), 69.
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