Plagiarism is the act of taking someone else’s work or ideas and passing them off as one’s own. This can include copying words or ideas without giving credit to the original source. Though the word “plagiarism” is not found in the Bible, the Bible does speak to the concepts of honesty, integrity, and giving credit where it is due.
The Eighth Commandment given to Moses states, “You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15). Plagiarism is a form of intellectual theft, where someone takes credit for words or ideas that are not originally theirs. Proverbs 19:5 warns, “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.” Presenting plagiarized work as one’s own original writing is bearing false witness.
Several biblical passages speak to integrity and honesty in how we represent ourselves and give credit to others. Philippians 4:8 instructs us to think on things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable. Plagiarism violates the principles of truth and honor. Ephesians 4:25 says, “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” We are called to speak truthfully and avoid falsehood.
Proverbs 20:17 states, “Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.” While plagiarism may seem like an easy shortcut in the moment, it will ultimately lead to a bitter result.
The Bible upholds the importance of working diligently and not wrongly benefiting from others’ labor. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 says, “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” Plagiarism circumvents doing the hard work for oneself.
Several biblical principles around giving credit where it is due can apply to proper citation to avoid plagiarism. Romans 13:7 says, “Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” When we use others’ ideas in our work, we owe them the honor and respect of proper attribution.
Overall, the Bible promotes honesty, integrity, diligent work, and giving credit where it is due. Plagiarism violates these principles, and thus should be avoided by those desiring to live according to biblical standards.
Old Testament Examples Relevant to Plagiarism
Though the word “plagiarism” is not used, the Old Testament provides some potential examples relevant to the concepts of properly crediting sources and not falsely claiming others’ work as one’s own:
- The Ten Commandments were understood to come from God, not claimed as Moses’ own ideas (Exodus 20:1-17)
- The design for the tabernacle was given by God to Moses and carried out by skilled workers (Exodus 31:1-11)
- Songs and prayers were often prefaced by crediting the author, like those of David and Solomon (Psalms; 1 Kings 8:12-53)
- False prophets who stole words from other prophets were condemned (Jeremiah 23:30)
- Solomon gathered wisdom from others rather than claiming total originality (Ecclesiastes 1:16-18)
These examples demonstrate attributing ideas and words to correct sources rather than taking credit in deceptive or dishonest ways. This aligns with a biblical view against plagiarism. At the same time, Scripture affirms building appropriately on what God has revealed to previous generations (Matthew 13:52).
New Testament Examples Relevant to Plagiarism
As with the Old Testament, the New Testament does not use the modern word “plagiarism” but provides principles and potential examples relevant to properly crediting sources:
- Jesus quoted Old Testament scriptures but did not claim them as his own words (Luke 4:16-21)
- New Testament writers attributed Old Testament quotes to original prophetic sources (Acts 2:14-36)
- Paul quoted philosophers like Epimenides but credited his source (Titus 1:12)
- The writer of Hebrews assumed readers knew he was quoting from Psalms rather than claiming the words as his own (Hebrews 1:5-14)
- Peter referred to Paul’s writings as Scripture (2 Peter 3:15-16)
- John credited prophetic inspiration to divine sources (Revelation 1:9-3:22)
As the Bible was written over centuries with multiple human authors, biblical writers were careful to credit divine inspiration or human sources appropriately. This aligns with principles of honesty and not wrongly taking credit for others’ work.
Old Testament Commandments and Teachings Relevant to Plagiarism
Several Old Testament laws and commands speak to ethics and practices relevant to plagiarism:
- Do not steal (Exodus 20:15) – Plagiarism takes credit for words and ideas that do not belong to the plagiarizer.
- Do not bear false witness (Exodus 20:16) – Taking credit for plagiarized material essentially bears false witness about the origins and authorship of that material.
- Acknowledge God as the source of ideas (Proverbs 2:6-9; Isaiah 55:8-11) – Failure to properly cite sources fails to acknowledge and glorify God as the ultimate source of all wisdom, knowledge, and creativity.
- Do not move boundary stones (Deuteronomy 19:14) – Plagiarism transgresses boundaries by taking credit for others’ intellectual property.
- Love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18) – Plagiarism fails to love and respect the original writer.
These and other Old Testament principles instruct people of faith to act with honesty and give credit where it is due. Plagiarism contradicts these timeless biblical values.
New Testament Teachings Relevant to Plagiarism
Several New Testament passages also speak to ethics aligned with properly attributing sources and avoiding plagiarism:
- Speak truthfully (Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:9) – Plagiarized work falsely represents the authorship and origins of material.
- Do not steal (Romans 13:9) – Plagiarism is a form of stealing others’ work.
- Be generous in sharing (2 Corinthians 9:11) – Plagiarism selfishly uses others’ work without permission versus sharing freely with proper citation.
- Give credit where due (Romans 13:7) – Plagiarism fails to appropriately honor sources.
- Do not be lazy (Proverbs 18:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12) – Plagiarism stems from laziness rather than diligent study and work.
These New Testament instructions and other biblical principles instruct Christians to show integrity and godly character that avoids plagiarism or any misrepresentation of sources.
Biblical Examples of Citing Sources
Though no formal citation styles like MLA or APA existed in biblical times, biblical authors often cited sources or gave credit when referencing or quoting others’ words and ideas. Here are some examples:
- New Testament citation of Old Testament prophecies by name (Matthew 2:23; Mark 1:2; Luke 4:17-21)
- Paul quoting Greek poets and crediting them by name (Acts 17:28; Titus 1:12)
- Moses crediting his father-in-law Jethro for a good idea (Exodus 18:17-24)
- The book of Proverbs crediting some proverbs to Solomon, Agur, and Lemuel (Proverbs 1:1; Proverbs 30-31)
- Daniel crediting and paraphrasing Jeremiah’s prophecies (Daniel 9:2)
- The book of Joshua frequently crediting Moses’ leadership and writings (Joshua 1:7; Joshua 8:31)
While not in today’s academic formats, these examples do reveal a biblical precedent for crediting sources of information to maintain integrity and honesty.
Consequences of Plagiarism According to Biblical Principles
The Bible does not prescribe specific punishments for plagiarism. However, biblical principles suggest several potential consequences:
- Damage to reputation and character (Proverbs 22:1) – Plagiarism undermines trustworthiness.
- Restitution and repayment (Leviticus 6:1-7) – Making right for intellectual theft may require repayment and loss of profits.
- Discipline or loss of position (Jeremiah 20:1-6) – Leaders especially are held to high standards (James 3:1).
- God’s disfavor and conviction of sin (Hebrews 4:12-13) – Plagiarists disrupt their relationship with God.
- Legal penalties (Romans 13:1-5) – Copyright law may impose fines and other penalties.
While consequences will vary, plagiarism contradicts biblical values and can significantly impact one’s life and relationships.
Responding to Plagiarism in a Biblical Manner
How would the Bible instruct someone who discovers plagiarism to respond? Biblical principles point to several considerations:
- Confront privately first (Matthew 18:15-17)
- Request repentance and restitution (Luke 19:8-9)
- Forgive if the person repents (Colossians 3:13)
- Correct gently (Galatians 6:1; 2 Timothy 2:24-25)
- Avoid gossip or damaging response (Proverbs 11:13; Ephesians 4:29)
- Be graceful as you desire grace (James 2:13)
- Aim for justice and restoration (Micah 6:8; Galatians 6:1)
In cases of plagiarism, believers should lovingly call the offender to repentance and reconciliation while avoiding escalation or undue shame. The goal is always redemption and restoration.
Guidance for Avoiding Plagiarism According to Biblical Principles
What practical steps can help avoid plagiarism according to principles from the Bible?
- Give credit for any words or ideas from other sources (Romans 13:7)
- Use quotation marks and citations for direct wording (Deuteronomy 19:14)
- Paraphrase properly and cite the source (Proverbs 2:6)
- Do your own work rather than stealing others’ (Proverbs 18:9)
- Submit work to plagiarism checkers to ensure no issues (2 Timothy 2:15)
- Err on the side of over-citing rather than under-citing sources (Philippians 4:8)
- Ask permission before using copyrighted material (Matthew 7:12)
- When uncertain, ask your instructor for guidance (Proverbs 1:5)
Applying biblical values results in properly representing sources, doing your own work, and avoiding any plagiarism or intellectual theft.
Plagiarism Is Wrong According to the Bible Because…
In summary, plagiarism is wrong biblically because it:
- Violates God’s standards of honesty and truthfulness
- Takes credit for others’ work in a deceptive manner
- Circumvents diligent study and reliance on God’s wisdom
- Fails to properly acknowledge sources of information
- Breaches trust and integrity in academics or work
- Harms the plagiarized individual’s reputation and livelihood
When evaluated based on biblical values, plagiarism contradicts principles of integrity, hard work, trustworthiness, and love for others. Followers of Christ should maintain high ethical standards by properly crediting sources and focusing on producing original work.