Dictionary of Bible Themes » 8000 The life of the believer » 8700 Threats to the life of faith » 8734 evil » 8737 evil, believers' responses to
Scripture outlines several ways in which believers should respond to evil.
Evil is to be avoided
Psalm 1:1; Proverbs 4:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:22 See also Job 28:28; Psalm 119:115; Proverbs 4:27; Proverbs 14:16; Isaiah 52:11; Acts 2:40 Peter's appeal to the crowd; Romans 12:9; Romans 13:14
Evil likened to yeast:
1 Corinthians 5:6-7; Galatians 5:9 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Ephesians 4:27; Ephesians 5:3,6-7; 2 Thessalonians 3:6; 1 Peter 3:11; Psalm 34:14
Evil is to be hated
Proverbs 8:13 See also Psalm 97:10; Amos 5:15; John 3:20; Romans 12:9
Evil is to be rebuked
Matthew 16:23 pp Mark 8:33 2 Timothy 4:2 See also 1 Samuel 2:29; Samuel 13:13; Samuel 15:22; 2 Samuel 12:9 Nathan rebukes David; 1 Kings 18:18 Elijah rebukes Ahab; 2 Chronicles 16:9; 2 C 20; 2 C 18; Ezra 10:10; Psalm 141:5; Daniel 4:27; Daniel 5:22; Matthew 14:4 pp Mark 6:18 John the Baptist rebukes Herod; Luke 23:40; Acts 5:3-4 Peter rebukes Ananias; Acts 5:9 Peter rebukes Sapphira; 1 Timothy 1:3; Timothy 5:20; Titus 1:13; Titus 2:15
Evil is to be resisted
Proverbs 1:10; Galatians 2:11; Ephesians 6:11; James 4:7 See also 1 Corinthians 5:13; Ephesians 5:11; Hebrews 12:1; 1 Peter 2:1; Peter 5:9
Evil is to be repaid with good
Luke 6:35; Romans 12:20-21 See also Proverbs 25:21-22; Exodus 23:5; Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 5:44 pp Luke 6:27; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 1 Peter 3:9
Believers should pray in response to evil
Matthew 6:13 pp Luke 11:4 Acts 4:29; Hebrews 4:16 See also Exodus 17:4; 1 Kings 18:36; 2 Kings 19:19; 2 Chronicles 20:12; Ezra 8:23; Nehemiah 1:4; Matthew 26:41 pp Mark 14:38 pp Luke 22:46; Acts 12:5; James 5:13
Believers should trust God in the face of evil
Psalm 23:4; Matthew 26:39 pp Mark 14:36 pp Luke 22:42 See also Psalm 4:8; Psalm 20:7; Psalm 27:1; Isaiah 12:2; Daniel 3:17-18; Habakkuk 3:17-18; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 13:6; Psalm 118:6-7
See also
8030 trust 8213 confidence 8226 discernment 8485 spiritual warfare, conflict 8493 watchfulness, believers 8618 prayerfulness
