1. The Old Testament

 Blasphemy in the Old Testament is not just about speaking disrespectfully but involves despising God, His authority, His name, and His people. The Old Testament provides multiple examples and laws that emphasize the seriousness of this offense. 

•  The Definition of Blasphemy in the Old Testament 

Blasphemy is often linked to: 

a. Despising God’s authority and rule

 b. Speaking irreverently about God’s name 

c. Offending God’s people and sacred institutions

 This sin reflects a heart that rejects God’s sovereignty and undermines His holiness.

 a. Blasphemy as Despising God and His Rule:

 “Now an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the Israelites, and her son was a man of Israel. The son of the Israelite woman and an Israelite man went out among the Israelites and quarreled in the camp. The Israelite woman’s son blasphemed the Name with a curse, so they brought him to Moses. (His mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.) Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Take the blasphemer outside the camp. All those who heard him are to lay their hands on his head, and the entire assembly is to stone him.’”                          ( Leviticus 24: 10 -16 )

 This passage illustrates the seriousness of blasphemy, not just as an act of speech but as an offense against God’s holiness. The blasphemer was immediately brought before Moses, and the community was involved in the judgment, emphasizing that blasphemy was both a spiritual and communal crime.

 b. Blasphemy Against God’s Name and the Church (God’s People)

 “Isaiah said to them, ‘Tell your master, “This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard—those words the king of Assyria’s officials have blasphemed me with.”'” ( 2 Kings 19: 6 ) 

Here, blasphemy is directed not just at God’s name but also at His authority and the people He protects. The Assyrian officials mocked God, declaring that no God could save Jerusalem. This was a direct attack on God’s sovereignty and power

. “And now what do I have here,” declares the Lord, “for my people have been taken away for nothing, and those who rule them mock me,” declares the Lord. “And all day long my name is constantly blasphemed.” ( Isaiah 52: 5 )

 This verse shows that blasphemy can also be a systemic issue, where leaders and rulers openly mock God’s name, leading to the oppression of His people.

 “They went to the king in the courtyard and reported everything that Baruch had read to the people. When the king heard all the words of the scroll, he took it from the secretary Baruch and read it. It was a scroll of the words of the Lord, which had been spoken against him and against the people and against all the nations.” ( Jeremiah 36: 20 )

 In this passage, the word of God (delivered through Jeremiah) is rejected and disrespected by the king. Blasphemy here is tied to the rejection of God’s message and the contempt shown toward His prophets. 

* Theological Implications of Blasphemy in the Old Testament 

a.) Blasphemy is a Heart Issue: 

It reflects a rebellious heart that rejects God’s authority.

 “Say to the Israelites: ‘Anyone who curses their God will be held responsible; anyone who blasphemes the name of the Lord is to be put to death. The entire assembly is to stone them.’”                              ( Leviticus 24: 15 -16 ) 

This passage highlights that blasphemy is not just about words but a reflection of a heart that rebels against God’s authority.

b.) It’s a Corporate Sin: 

Not just individual but also affects the community and society. 

“But anyone who sins defiantly, whether native-born or foreigner, blasphemes the Lord and is to be cut off from the people of Israel. Because they have despised the Lord’s word and broken his commands, they must be surely cut off; their guilt remains on them.” ( Numbers 15:30-31)

 c.) Serious Consequences:

 In the Old Testament, blasphemy often led to severe penalties, including death, indicating its gravity. 

“If a prophet or one who foretells by dreams appears among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, ‘Let us follow other gods’ (gods you have not known) ‘and let us worship them,’ you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer.” ( Deuteronomy 13: 1 -5 )

 This passage underscores the severe consequences of leading others into idolatry, which can be tied to blasphemous actions. 

2. Blasphemy in the Context of the New Testament 

While the New Testament expands the concept of blasphemy (especially regarding the Holy Spirit), the core issue remains the same: 

•  Rejection of God’s authority 
• Disrespect for His name 
•  Hatred or contempt toward His people and word

 *Theological Interpretations:

 a.) Blasphemy Against God’s Name: 

Often seen as any form of irreverence toward God, including false oaths, curses, and disrespectful speech

“Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of Him to whom you belong?”                                                   ( James 2: 7 )

 Here, James condemns those who dishonor God’s name through prejudice and discrimination, showing that blasphemy can also manifest through attitudes and actions, not just words. This passage highlights that blasphemy against God’s name includes both verbal abuse and acts of irreverence. 

 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” ( Ephesians 4: 29 ) 

Although not directly mentioning blasphemy, Paul’s instruction about speech reflects the broader biblical principle of honoring God with our words.  

“Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of Him to whom you belong?”                                                    ( James 2: 7 ) 

Here, James condemns those who dishonor God’s name through prejudice and discrimination, showing that blasphemy can also manifest through attitudes and actions, not just words. 

Theological Insight: 

Blasphemy against God’s name is not limited to overt curses or false oaths; it extends to any form of speech or behavior that shows disrespect toward God’s holiness. This includes trivializing God’s name, speaking carelessly about divine matters, or living in a way that misrepresents God’s character to others. The New Testament consistently teaches that reverence for God’s name is essential to authentic Christian living. 

b.) Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit: 

The most serious form, understood by many theologians as the conscious, willful rejection of the Holy Spirit’s conviction, leading to spiritual hardening. 

“And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”                 ( Matthew 12: 31 -32 ) 

Jesus explicitly states that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is an unforgivable sin, emphasizing its gravity. 

“But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.” ( Mark 3: 29 ) 

This verse reinforces the idea that rejecting the work of the Holy Spirit is a sin with eternal consequences. 

“It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.”                                               ( Hebrews 6: 4 -6 ) 

This passage suggests that rejecting the truth and power of the Holy Spirit leads to spiritual hardening, akin to blasphemy against the Spirit.

 c) . Blasphemy Accusations: Jesus & Paul 

In the New Testament, accusations of blasphemy played a critical role in the conflicts between early Christians and religious authorities. Jesus was accused of blasphemy for claiming divine authority, which challenged the established Jewish beliefs. Similarly, Paul faced charges of blasphemy for preaching against idol worship, particularly in the city of Ephesus where the goddess Artemis was worshipped. These accusations not only led to legal and social consequences but also highlighted the radical nature of the early Christian message in a world resistant to its claims.

1. Blasphemy Against Jesus:

Jesus claimed divine authority, which led to accusations of blasphemy from the Jewish leaders.

 “Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, ‘Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’” ( Mark 2: 6 -7 ) 

In this passage, Jesus forgives sins, which the teachers of the law perceive as blasphemy because, in their understanding, only God can forgive sins. 

“Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?’ ‘I am,’ said Jesus. ‘And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’ The high priest tore his clothes and said, ‘Why do we need any more witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?’ ‘He is worthy of death,’ they said.”                      ( Mark 14: 61 -64 )

 Here, Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah and the Son of God leads to accusations of blasphemy, resulting in a death sentence from the Jewish council. 

“We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” ( John 10: 33 ) 

This verse shows that the Jewish leaders viewed Jesus’ claim to divinity as blasphemy, contradicting their monotheistic beliefs. 

2. Blasphemy Against the Goddess Artemis (Paul’s Accusation): 

Paul faced accusations of blasphemy in Ephesus, where he preached against idolatry. 

“The man who brought the charge against them said, ‘These men are Jews, and they are throwing our city into an uproar by their teaching. They have rushed here as though they were going to set the temple of the great goddess Artemis on fire.’” ( Acts 19: 37 )

 Although not explicitly called “blasphemy,” Paul and his companions were accused of disrespecting Artemis, the goddess worshipped in Ephesus. The accusation was rooted in the perceived threat to their religious identity and the economic interests tied to the temple of Artemis.