Indulgence
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words [1]
"a loosening, relaxation of strain" (akin to aniemi, "to relax, loosen"), is translated "indulgence" in Acts 24:23 , RV (AV, "liberty"), in the command of Felix to the centurion, to moderate restrictions upon Paul. The papyri and inscriptions illustrate the use of the word as denoting relief (Moulton and Milligan, Vocab.) In the NT it always carries the thought of relief from tribulation or persecution; so 2—Thessalonians 1:7 , "rest;" in 2—Corinthians 2:13; 7:5 it is rendered "relief," RV (AV, "rest"); in 2—Corinthians 8:13 , "eased." Josephus speaks of the rest or relief (anesis) from plowing and tillage, given to the land in the Year of Jubilee. See Ease , Liberty , Relief , Rest.
"a filling up, satiety" (akin to pimplemi, "to fill"), is translated "indulgence (of the flesh)" in Colossians 2:23 , RV (AV, "satisfying"). Lightfoot translates the passage "yet not really of any value to remedy indulgence of the flesh." A possible meaning is, "of no value in attempts at asceticism." Some regard it as indicating that the ascetic treatment of the body is not of any honor to the satisfaction of the flesh (the reasonable demands of the body): this interpretation is unlikely. The following paraphrase well presents the contrast between the asceticism which "practically treats the body as an enemy, and the Pauline view which treats it as a potential instrument of a righteous life:" ordinances, "which in fact have a specious look of wisdom (where there is no true wisdom), by the employment of self-chosen acts of religion and humility (and) by treating the body with brutality instead of treating it with due respect, with a view to meeting and providing against over-indulgence of the flesh" (Parry, in the Camb. Greek Test.).
Webster's Dictionary [2]
(1): ( n.) Remission of the temporal punishment due to sins, after the guilt of sin has been remitted by sincere repentance; absolution from the censures and public penances of the church. It is a payment of the debt of justice to God by the application of the merits of Christ and his saints to the contrite soul through the church. It is therefore believed to diminish or destroy for sins the punishment of purgatory.
(2): ( n.) The act of indulging or humoring; the quality of being indulgent; forbearance of restrain or control.
(3): ( v. t.) To grant an indulgence to.
(4): ( n.) An indulgent act; favor granted; gratification.
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [3]
(Lat. indulgentia), in English history, is the title applied to a proclamation of Charles II (A.D. 1662), and especially to one of James II, April 4, 1687, announcing religious toleration to all classes of his subjects, suspending all penal laws against nonconformists, and abolishing religious tests as qualifications for civil office. The king's object was simply to favor Roman Catholics, and therefore neither the English Church nor the great body of the dissenters received the illegal stretch of prerogative with favor, and refused to believe that a "dispensing power" exercised by the king independently of Parliament could be of any lasting advantage. Howe and Baxter maintained this opinion. The same instrument was extended to Scotland, and divided the Covenanters into two parties. At first the king, asked toleration for Papists only, but the Scottish Parliament, usually very. obsequious would not listen. He finally declared, as if Popery were already in the ascendant, that lie would never use "force or invincible necessity against any man on account of his Protestant faith," and all this he did "-by his sovereign authority, prerogative royal, and absolute power." — Macaulay, Hist. of England, 1, 213; 3:44 sq.; Skeats, Hist. of Free Churches of England, p. 77 sq.; Stoughton, Eccl. Hist. of England since the Restoration, 2, 296, et al.
The Nuttall Encyclopedia [4]
Remission by Church authority of the guilt of a sin on the penitent confession of the sinner to a priest, which, according to Roman Catholic theology, the Church is enabled to dispense out of the inexhaustible treasury in reserve of the merits of Christ.
