The state of being liked and admired. Scripture notes how the faithful preaching of the gospel will lead to hostility and unpopularity, not least on account of its demands on people and its proclamation of judgment.

Mark 2:2

The popularity of Jesus Christ during his early ministry

See also

Crowds gathered round him

Mark 3:10; 5:24
Luke 5:1; 8:19,45
Matthew 4:25; 13:2; 15:30
Mark 1:33; 2:13

Many people followed him

Luke 12:1
1 Samuel 18:7; 21:11; 29:5

The popularity of David

2 Samuel 3:36
John 12:43

Popularity can result from seeking approval from human beings, rather than from God

See also

Luke 6:26
Colossians 3:22
2 Samuel 15:1-6

Actions carried out to gain popularity

Acts 12:1-3

Absalom's attempt to curry favour

Acts 24:27

Herod's arrest of Christians

Acts 25:9

Felix' imprisonment of Paul

Festus' prosecution of Paul

1 Corinthians 1:26-29; 2:6-7

Causes of unpopularity for the gospel

Its appeal to those whom the world regards as weak and foolish

Romans 7:7
1 Timothy 5:20

Its insistence that people are sinful

1 John 1:8
John 11:45-48

Its challenge to vested interests

Acts 19:23-40

the Pharisees' privileged position

Acts 5:17-41; 21:27-36

the silversmith's trade

Mark 10:17-23

The high demands that the gospel makes of people

John 6:60-66

See also

The difficulty of some of Jesus Christ's sayings

2369 Christ, responses to
2426 gospel, responses
5279 crowds
5863 flattery
5924 quarrelsomeness
8116 discipleship, cost
8460 pleasing God
8848 worldliness