Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Nature:Malice is a term used in the Bible to describe a deep-seated ill will or desire to harm others. It is often associated with wickedness, evil intent, and a corrupt heart. In the biblical context, malice is considered a sin that stems from the fallen nature of humanity and is contrary to the character of God, who is love and righteousness.
Biblical References:The Bible addresses malice in several passages, highlighting its destructive nature and the need for believers to rid themselves of such attitudes. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul frequently admonishes Christians to put away malice as part of their transformation in Christ.
1.
Ephesians 4:31 : "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice." This verse is part of Paul's exhortation to the Ephesians to live a life worthy of their calling, emphasizing the importance of removing negative and harmful behaviors from their lives.
2.
Colossians 3:8 : "But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." Here, Paul instructs the Colossian believers to discard their old sinful nature and embrace the new life in Christ, which is characterized by love and purity.
3.
1 Peter 2:1 : "Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander." The Apostle Peter encourages believers to grow in their salvation by eliminating malice and other sinful behaviors, fostering a community of love and sincerity.
Theological Implications:Malice is fundamentally opposed to the teachings of Jesus Christ, who calls His followers to love their neighbors and even their enemies (
Matthew 5:44). The presence of malice in one's heart is indicative of a life not fully surrendered to the Holy Spirit, who produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, and kindness (
Galatians 5:22-23).
Practical Application:Christians are called to examine their hearts and actions regularly, seeking to identify and eradicate any form of malice. This involves a conscious effort to forgive others, seek reconciliation, and cultivate a spirit of compassion and empathy. The transformation from malice to love is a testament to the work of Christ in a believer's life and serves as a powerful witness to the world.
Contrast with God’s Character:God's nature is inherently good, and He is described as being slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love (
Psalm 103:8). Malice, therefore, is antithetical to God's character and His desires for humanity. Believers are called to imitate God (
Ephesians 5:1), which includes rejecting malice and embracing love and forgiveness.
Conclusion:While malice is a common human failing, the Bible provides clear guidance for overcoming it through the power of the Holy Spirit and the transformative work of Jesus Christ. By aligning their lives with biblical teachings, Christians can reflect God's love and grace in a world often marked by hostility and ill will.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Enmity of heart; malevolence; ill will; a spirit delighting in harm or misfortune to another; a disposition to injure another; a malignant design of evil.
2. (n.) Any wicked or mischievous intention of the mind; a depraved inclination to mischief; an intention to vex, annoy, or injure another person, or to do a wrongful act without just cause or cause or excuse; a wanton disregard of the rights or safety of others; willfulness.
3. (v. t.) To regard with extreme ill will.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
MALICE, MALIGNITYmal'-is, ma-lig'-ni-ti (kakia, poneros, kakoetheia): "Malice," now used in the sense of deliberate ill-will, by its derivation means badness, or wickedness generally, and was so used in Older English. In the Apocrypha it is the translation of kakia, "evil," "badness" (The Wisdom of Solomon 12:10, 20; 16:14; 2 Maccabees 4:50, the Revised Version (British and American) "wickedness"); in Ecclesiasticus 27:30; 28:7, we have "malice" in the more restricted sense as the translation of menis, "confirmed anger." In the New Testament "malice" and "maliciousness" are the translation of kakia (Romans 1:291 Corinthians 5:8;1 Corinthians 14:20Colossians 3:8); malicious is the translation of poneros, "evil" (3John 1:10, the Revised Version (British and American) "wicked"); it also occurs in Additions to Esther 13:4, 7, verse 4, "malignant"; The Wisdom of Solomon 1:4, the Revised Version (British and American) that deviseth evil"; 2 Maccabees 5:23; malignity occurs inRomans 1:29 as the translation of kakoetheia, "evil disposition"; "maliciously," Susanna verses 43, 62; 2 Maccabees 14:11, the Revised Version (British and American) "having ill will."
W. L. Walker
Greek
2549. kakia -- wickedness... wickedness. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: kakia Phonetic Spelling:
(kak-ee'-ah) Short Definition: evil, wickedness,
malice Definition: (a
...4189. poneria -- iniquity
... See 4190 (). Word Origin from poneros Definition iniquity NASB Word Usagemalice
(1), wicked ways (1), wickedness (5). iniquity, wickedness....
2550. kakoetheia -- malevolence
... everything" (Souter). Word Origin from kakos and ethos Definition malevolence
NASB Word Usagemalice (1).malice, malevolence. From a...
3570. nuni -- now
... Col 3:8: "But (3570 ) you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath,malice,
slander, and abusive speech from your mouth" (). 3570...
4190. poneros -- toilsome, bad
... also (passively) ill, ie Diseased; but especially (morally) culpable, ie Derelict,
vicious, facinorous; neuter (singular) mischief,malice, or (plural) guilt...
2556. kakos -- bad, evil
... 2556 (an adjective, and the root of 2549 , "innermalice") -- properly, inwardly , ();
(figuratively) inner flowing out of a character (= the "rot is already...
2205. zelos -- to have warmth of feeling for or against, to be...
... zeal" (in a favorable sense, ardor; in an unfavorable one, jealousy, as of a husband
(figuratively, of God), or an enemy,malice) -- emulation, envy(-ing...
2635. katalaleo -- to speak evil of
... to," intensifying 2980 , "to prattle on") -- properly, speak to in a hostile, deriding
way; to mock (revile), from someone's reputation by "malice of speech...
420. anexikakos -- enduring evil
... 420 (an adjective, derived from 430 , "to bear " and 2556 , "malice, evil") -- properly,
the quality of (), especially when (treated unjustly), ie when...
1225. diaballo -- to bring charges (usually with hostile intent)
... 1225 -- properly, "to throw across (back and forth), "either with rocks or words
(with slander, gossip, used only in Lk 16:1). The word impliesmalice even if...
Strong's Hebrew
7169. qarats -- to nip, pinch... A primitive root; to pinch, ie (partially) to bite the lips, blink the eyes (as
a gesture of
malice), or (fully) to squeeze off (a piece of clay in order to
...Library
Of that Cause of Sin which isMalice (Four Articles)
... OF THAT CAUSE OF SIN WHICH ISMALICE (FOUR ARTICLES). We must...malice: and under
this head there are four points of inquiry: (1) Whether...
Whether the Goodness andMalice of the External Action are the...
... OF GOODNESS ANDMALICE IN EXTERNAL HUMAN AFFAIRS (SIX ARTICLES) Whether the goodness
andmalice of the external action are the same as those of the interior act...
Of the Goodness andMalice of Sorrow or Pain (Four Articles)
... OF THE GOODNESS ANDMALICE OF SORROW OR PAIN (FOUR ARTICLES). We must now
consider the goodness andmalice of pain or sorrow: under...
Of the Goodness andMalice of the Interior Act of the Will (Ten...
... OF THE GOODNESS ANDMALICE OF THE INTERIOR ACT OF THE WILL (TEN ARTICLES).
We must now consider the goodness of the interior act...
Whether the Whole Goodness andMalice of the External Action...
... OF GOODNESS ANDMALICE IN EXTERNAL HUMAN AFFAIRS (SIX ARTICLES) Whether the whole
goodness andmalice of the external action depends on the goodness of the will...
TheMalice of the Angels with Regard to Sin (Nine Articles)
... THEMALICE OF THE ANGELS WITH REGARD TO SIN (NINE ARTICLES). In the next
place we must consider how angels became evil: first of...
Whether Anyone Sins through CertainMalice?
... OF THAT CAUSE OF SIN WHICH ISMALICE (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether anyone sins through
certainmalice?... Because ignorance is opposed to purpose or certainmalice....
Whether Goodness orMalice is First in the Action of the Will, or...
... OF GOODNESS ANDMALICE IN EXTERNAL HUMAN AFFAIRS (SIX ARTICLES) Whether goodness
ormalice is first in the action of the will, or in the external action?...
Whether the Degree of Goodness orMalice in the Will Depends on...
... OF THE GOODNESS ANDMALICE OF THE INTERIOR ACT OF THE WILL (TEN ARTICLES) Whether
the degree of goodness ormalice in the will depends on the degree of good or...
Of Goodness andMalice in External Human Affairs (Six Articles)
... OF GOODNESS ANDMALICE IN EXTERNAL HUMAN AFFAIRS (SIX ARTICLES).... (1) Whether goodness
andmalice is first in the act of the will, or in the external action?...
Thesaurus
Malice (24 Occurrences)... 3. (vt) To regard with extreme ill will. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
MALICE, MALIGNITY. mal'-is, ma-lig'-ni-ti (kakia, poneros
...Malignity (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (n.) The state or quality of being malignant; disposition to do evil; virulent
enmity; malignancy;malice; spite....MALICE, MALIGNITY....
Malicious (13 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Indulging or exercisingmalice; harboring
ill will or enmity. 2. (a.) Proceeding from hatred or...
Murder (41 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The offense of killing a human being withmalice pretense or aforethought,
express or implied; intentional and unlawful homicide....
Envy (56 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.)Malice; ill will; spite.... 13. (vi) To showmalice
or ill will; to rail. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ENVY....
Grudge (11 Occurrences)
... 4. (vi) To feel compunction or grief. 5. (n.) Sullenmalice or malevolence; cherished
malice, enmity, or dislike; ill will; an old cause of hatred or quarrel....
Rage (43 Occurrences)
... NIV). Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander,
be put away from you, with allmalice. (See NIV). Colossians...
Railing (9 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and railing,
be put away from you, with allmalice: (ASV). Colossians...
Evil-speaking (5 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and
evil-speaking, be put away from you, with allmalice: (WBS YLT)....
Despite (18 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.)Malice; malignity; spite; malicious anger; contemptuous hate. 3. (n.) An
act ofmalice, hatred, or defiance; contemptuous defiance; a deed of contempt....
Resources
Who was John Foxe? What is Foxe's Book of Martyrs? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about envy? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about being nosey? | GotQuestions.orgMalice: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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