Many times when people come to see me about debt relief, they don’t want to file bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is seen as an indication that they are “bad” or that they are “unjust” or even “unchristian.”
I am not a Biblical scholar nor am I theologian. However, in Deuteronomy 15:1-3, the Bible does reference debts and the forgiveness of debt. Deuteronomy establishes many concepts that have influenced religious thought and life of both Jews and Christians down through the ages. Moses is generally considered the original author with possibly Joshua authoring the final chapters. Verses are from the King James Version.
“1 At the end of [every] seven years thou shalt make a release. 2 And this [is] the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth [ought] unto his neighbour shall release [it]; he shall not exact [it] of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD’S release. 3 Of a foreigner thou mayest exact [it again]: but [that] which is thine with thy brother thine hand shall release;"
I am not a Biblical scholar nor am I theologian. However, in Deuteronomy 15:1-3, the Bible does reference debts and the forgiveness of debt. Deuteronomy establishes many concepts that have influenced religious thought and life of both Jews and Christians down through the ages. Moses is generally considered the original author with possibly Joshua authoring the final chapters. Verses are from the King James Version.
“1 At the end of [every] seven years thou shalt make a release. 2 And this [is] the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth [ought] unto his neighbour shall release [it]; he shall not exact [it] of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD’S release. 3 Of a foreigner thou mayest exact [it again]: but [that] which is thine with thy brother thine hand shall release;"
The Sabbatical year was also to be a time of release (Deut 15:1) but only in one specific aspect - that all debts between the children of Israel were to be cancelled (Deut 15:2), though a foreigner’s debt was not annulled (Deut 15:3). That the Scriptures teach a canceling of outstanding debt and not just an annulment of the interest on the debt is clear from Deut 15:4-11.
"4 Save when there shall be no poor among you; for the LORD shall greatly bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee [for] an inheritance to possess it: 5 Only if thou carefully hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all these commandments which I command thee this day. 6 For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee. 7 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: 8 But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, [in that] which he wanteth. 9 Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee. 10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. 11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.”
