The term "aggressive" is not directly found in the Bible; however, the concept can be explored through various scriptural narratives and teachings that address behavior, attitude, and interpersonal relationships. Aggression, in its negative form, often involves hostility, forcefulness, or assertiveness that can lead to conflict and discord. The Bible provides guidance on how believers should conduct themselves, emphasizing peace, humility, and love.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, aggression is often depicted in the context of warfare and conflict. For example, the Israelites, under God's command, engaged in battles to claim the Promised Land. However, these acts were divinely sanctioned and not examples of personal aggression. The Bible also warns against personal aggression and violence. Proverbs 15:18 states, "A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms a dispute." This proverb highlights the destructive nature of aggressive behavior and the value of patience and calmness.

New Testament Teachings

The New Testament further develops the theme of avoiding aggression through the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, teaches, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9). This beatitude underscores the importance of fostering peace rather than engaging in aggressive behavior.

The Apostle Paul also addresses aggression in his epistles. In Romans 12:18, he advises, "If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone." Paul encourages believers to pursue peace and avoid unnecessary conflict. Additionally, in Galatians 5:22-23, Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit, which includes gentleness and self-control, qualities that stand in opposition to aggression.

Jesus as the Model of Non-Aggression

Jesus Christ serves as the ultimate example of non-aggressive behavior. Despite facing hostility and aggression from religious leaders and others, Jesus responded with love, patience, and forgiveness. In 1 Peter 2:23, it is written, "When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly." Jesus' response to aggression was rooted in trust in God's justice and a commitment to His mission of love and redemption.

Practical Application for Believers

Believers are called to emulate Christ's example by responding to aggression with love and patience. Ephesians 4:31-32 instructs, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you." This passage encourages Christians to reject aggressive tendencies and instead cultivate kindness and forgiveness.

In summary, while the Bible does not explicitly use the term "aggressive," it provides clear guidance on how to handle situations that may provoke aggression. Through the teachings of Scripture, believers are encouraged to pursue peace, exercise self-control, and embody the love and gentleness exemplified by Jesus Christ.(a.) Tending or disposed to aggress; characterized by aggression; making assaults; unjustly attacking; as, an aggressive policy, war, person, nation.3336. metalempsis -- taking, receiving, sharing
... receiving. Cognate: 3336 -- an "aggressive" receiving which brings a certain
("-effect," used only in 1 Tim 4:3). See 3335 (). Word ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3336.htm - 6k

The Aggressive Rejection.
... The Tragic Break in the Plan The Aggressive Rejection. Then came the second
stage, the aggressive rejection. This is the plotting stage. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks about jesus/the aggressive rejection.htm

Introduction
... The assumption in the epithet is that the Greek Church is not missionary and aggressive,
and the implication is that it has been so from earliest times. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/brownlie/hymns from the east/introduction.htm

An Active Life of Service.
... Life of Service. The third life is a life of active service, of aggressive
earnestness in winning men. I say aggressive. That word ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on service/an active life of service.htm

The Sword of the Spirit
... Is it possible, then, that the Spirit of God entering into a man can be to him a
sword; that a man's character has this aggressive quality; that a man fights ...
/.../peabody/mornings in the college chapel/xxxv the sword of the.htm

Fighting Holiness
... is to make it quite clear that a Full Salvation does not mean a hot-house emotionalism
or glass-case sanctity, but a vigorous, daring, aggressive religion, on ...
/.../howard/standards of life and service/xv fighting holiness.htm

Love Wooing yet More.
... And they have grown more openly aggressive. There are three attempts at
His arrest. ... They at once begin an aggressive wordy attack. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/love wooing yet more.htm

Introduction.
... The sermons of Mrs. Booth already re-published under the title of "Aggressive
Christianity," came to American Christians as a tonic to their weakness, and a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/booth/godliness/introduction.htm

Proving God's Faithfulness (1902-1908)
... As I thought of facing the crowds of heathen women day by day, and what it would
mean to carry on aggressive evangelism outside, there was one need I felt must ...
/.../how i know god answers prayer/vi proving gods faithfulness 1902-1908.htm

The Gospel in Samaria
... Forgetting that strength to resist evil is best gained by aggressive service, they
began to think that they had no work so important as that of shielding the ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 11 the gospel in.htm

The Long, Rough Road He Trod
... It ran through three stages, the silent contemptuous rejection, the active aggressive
rejection, then the hardened, murderous rejection running up to the ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on following the christ/the long rough road he.htm

Aggressive (2 Occurrences)
... (a.) Tending or disposed to aggress; characterized by aggression; making assaults;
unjustly attacking; as, an aggressive policy, war, person, nation. ...
/a/aggressive.htm - 7k

Offensive (15 Occurrences)
... 3. (a.) Making the first attack; assailant; aggressive; hence, used in attacking; --
opposed to defensive; as, an offensive war; offensive weapons. ...
/o/offensive.htm - 11k

War (529 Occurrences)
... finally subdued. Except in the case of Jericho and Ai, the war did not become
aggressive till after the death of Joshua. Till then ...
/w/war.htm - 64k

Desolation (131 Occurrences)
... When Daniel undertook to specify an abomination so surpassingly disgusting to the
sense of morality and decency, and so aggressive against everything that was ...
/d/desolation.htm - 46k

Malefactor (2 Occurrences)
... the subject as doing or making evil, the latter as creating or originating the bad,
and hence, designates the more energetic, aggressive, initiating type of ...
/m/malefactor.htm - 49k

Push (23 Occurrences)
... 13. (n.) The faculty of overcoming obstacles; aggressive energy; as, he has push,
or he has no push. Multi-Version Concordance Push (23 Occurrences). ...
/p/push.htm - 14k

Baean
... Its aggressive hostility against their religion and the rebuilding of their sanctuary
duplicated the conspiracy of Sanballat and his confederates against the ...
/b/baean.htm - 6k

Bithynia (2 Occurrences)
... 278 to 74 BC The last king, weary of the incessant strife among the peoples of Asia
Minor, especially as provoked by the aggressive Mithridates, bequeathed his ...
/b/bithynia.htm - 11k

Aggression (1 Occurrence)

/a/aggression.htm - 6k

Ashurbanipal (1 Occurrence)
... Under Urlaki, the old enemy Elam, which had been at peace with Assyria since the
preceding reign, now became aggressive and made inroads into Babylonia. ...
/a/ashurbanipal.htm - 12k

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