Topical Encyclopedia
The term "crazy" is not directly found in the Bible; however, the concept of madness or irrational behavior is addressed in various passages. In biblical times, what might be considered "crazy" today could encompass a range of behaviors from mental illness to foolishness or spiritual deception.
Old Testament ReferencesIn the Old Testament, madness is sometimes seen as a consequence of disobedience to God.
Deuteronomy 28:28 states, "The LORD will afflict you with madness, blindness, and confusion of mind." Here, madness is depicted as a divine judgment upon those who turn away from God's commandments.
The account of King Saul provides an example of a leader who experienced periods of irrational behavior. In
1 Samuel 16:14 , it is written, "Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him." Saul's erratic actions, such as attempting to kill David, can be seen as manifestations of this torment.
New Testament ReferencesIn the New Testament, the perception of madness is sometimes associated with the rejection of divine truth. In
Acts 26:24 , during Paul's defense before Festus, it is recorded, "At this stage of Paul’s defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, 'You are out of your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you to madness!'" Here, Festus perceives Paul's fervent testimony about Christ as madness, highlighting how spiritual truths can be misunderstood by those who do not believe.
The Gospels also recount instances where Jesus was accused of being out of His mind. In
Mark 3:21 , it is noted, "When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, 'He is out of His mind.'" This reflects the misunderstanding and skepticism Jesus faced, even from those close to Him.
Wisdom and FoolishnessThe Bible often contrasts wisdom with foolishness, which can be seen as a form of spiritual madness.
Proverbs 9:13 describes folly as a woman who is "loud, undisciplined, and without knowledge." The foolish person, in biblical terms, is one who rejects wisdom and understanding, leading to destructive behavior.
Ecclesiastes 7:25 states, "I turned my heart to know and explore and seek out wisdom and the scheme of things, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly." This verse underscores the pursuit of wisdom as a means to avoid the pitfalls of foolishness and irrationality.
Spiritual WarfareThe Bible also acknowledges the spiritual dimension of madness, where demonic influence can lead to irrational behavior. In the Gospels, Jesus frequently encounters individuals possessed by demons, whose actions could be described as "crazy." In
Mark 5:15 , after Jesus heals a demon-possessed man, it is noted, "When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid." This account illustrates the transformative power of Christ in restoring sanity and order.
ConclusionWhile the Bible does not use the term "crazy" as it is understood today, it addresses the themes of madness, foolishness, and spiritual deception. These concepts are often linked to a departure from God's wisdom and truth, highlighting the importance of spiritual discernment and reliance on divine guidance.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Characterized by weakness or feebleness; decrepit; broken; falling to decay; shaky; unsafe.
2. (a.) Broken, weakened, or disordered in intellect; shattered; demented; deranged.
3. (a.) Inordinately desirous; foolishly eager.
Greek
4583. seleniazomai -- to be moonstruck, spec. be epileptic...... be a lunatic. Middle voice or passive from a presumed derivative of selene;
to be moon-struck, ie
Crazy -- be a lunatic. see GREEK selene.
...Library
The Middle Colonies: the Jerseys, Delaware, and Pennsylvania --The...
... Half-crazy or more than half-crazy adventurers and hysterical women, taking up
fantastical missions in the name of the Lord, and never so happy as when they...
False Comforts for Sinners.
... They might just as well say to God, in plain words, "O God, you are too hard, you
go too fast, you will make himcrazy, or kill him, he cannot stand it; poor...
Against Embellishing the Body.
... And if Plutus [1585] is blind, are not those women that arecrazy about
him, and have a fellow-feeling with him, blind too? Having...
Moral Insanity.
... If bedlam itself furnishes evidence that its bedlamites arecrazy,
intellectually; so does every sinner that he is mad, morally....
His Journey to South Russia.
... When they had loaded their luggage and spread hay to lie upon, they started; but
before they were out of sight of the stable thecrazy vehicle broke down, and...
Judas Hangs Himself.
... and none for you. The blood of the innocent cries aloud for vengeance.".
"What has driven youcrazy? Speak, but speak with reverence...
Topical Index
... Christ, 21, 65, 84, 103 Confessing Christ, 26, 27, 35, 52, 77, 109 Conversion, 25,
80, 88 Conviction, 21 Courage, 20 Covetousness, 27, 35, 51Crazy from sin...
Introductory Remarks on the Importance of Orthodoxy
... are philosophically right. For obviously a man ought to confess himself
crazy before he confesses himself heretical. The Bohemian...
Impressive Phrases
... emotional. cowardly, timid, shrinking, and timorous.crazy, absurd, nonsensical,
and preposterous. crude, rough, jagged, and pitiless. D....
Letter x. To John, Theologos, Apostle and Evangelist, Imprisoned...
... As for you then, I would never be socrazy as to imagine that you feel any suffering;
but I am persuaded that you ate sensible of the bodily sufferings merely...
Thesaurus
Crazy (5 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Crazy (5 Occurrences). Acts 12:15 They said to
her, "You are
crazy!" But she insisted that it was so. They
...Mad (22 Occurrences)
... 4. (superl.) Disordered in intellect;crazy; insane.... (KJV ASV YLT). Acts 26:24 As
he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you arecrazy!...
Festus (14 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Acts 26:24 As he thus made his
defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you arecrazy!...
Quarrels (10 Occurrences)
... 1 Timothy 6:4 he is puffed up with pride and has no true knowledge, but iscrazy
over discussions and controversies about words which give rise to envy...
Quarrelling (5 Occurrences)
... (WEY). 1 Timothy 6:4 he is puffed up with pride and has no true knowledge, but is
crazy over discussions and controversies about words which give rise to envy...
Unbelieving (22 Occurrences)
... the whole assembly is assembled together and all speak with other languages, and
unlearned or unbelieving people come in, won't they say that you arecrazy?...
Unlearned (7 Occurrences)
... the whole assembly is assembled together and all speak with other languages, and
unlearned or unbelieving people come in, won't they say that you arecrazy?...
Learning (40 Occurrences)
... When he understood that he was from Cilicia, he said, (See NIV). Acts 26:24 As he
thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you arecrazy!...
Wild (147 Occurrences)
... training, or regulation; turbulent; tempestuous; violent; ungoverned; licentious;
inordinate; disorderly; irregular; fanciful; imaginary; visionary;crazy....
Insane (10 Occurrences)
... (WBS). Acts 26:24 As he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul,
you arecrazy! Your great learning is driving you insane!" (WEB WBS NIV)....
Resources
Are people who claim to talk to God insane? | GotQuestions.orgIs there any truth to The Da Vinci code? | GotQuestions.orgDid Jesus lie to His brothers in John 7:8 10? | GotQuestions.orgCrazy: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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