Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and ConceptRisk, in a biblical context, refers to the exposure to danger, harm, or loss. It involves making decisions or taking actions that have uncertain outcomes. The Bible, while not explicitly using the term "risk," addresses the concept through narratives, teachings, and principles that guide believers in navigating uncertain situations with faith and wisdom.
Biblical Examples of Risk1.
Abraham's Journey: Abraham's call to leave his homeland and go to an unknown land (
Genesis 12:1-4) exemplifies a significant risk. He left behind security and familiarity, trusting in God's promise. This act of faith is highlighted in
Hebrews 11:8: "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going."
2.
Esther's Courage: Queen Esther risked her life by approaching King Xerxes without being summoned, to save her people from annihilation (
Esther 4:16). Her famous words, "If I perish, I perish," reflect the willingness to face potential loss for a greater cause.
3.
David and Goliath: Young David's confrontation with Goliath (1 Samuel 17) was a bold risk. Despite the odds, David trusted in God's deliverance, declaring, "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine" (
1 Samuel 17:37).
Principles of Risk in Scripture1.
Faith and Trust in God: The Bible encourages believers to trust in God's sovereignty and guidance when facing risks.
Proverbs 3:5-6 advises, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."
2.
Wisdom and Discernment: While faith is crucial, the Bible also emphasizes the importance of wisdom.
Proverbs 22:3 states, "The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences." Believers are called to assess risks wisely and seek God's guidance.
3.
Courage and Obedience: Biblical narratives often highlight the courage required to take risks for God's purposes.
Joshua 1:9 encourages, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
4.
Sacrificial Love: The New Testament presents risk in the context of sacrificial love. Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan (
Luke 10:30-37) illustrates the risk of helping others in need, prioritizing love and compassion over personal safety.
Theological ReflectionsRisk, from a theological perspective, is intertwined with the concepts of faith, providence, and obedience. Believers are called to step out in faith, trusting in God's plan and provision, while exercising discernment and wisdom. The Bible presents risk as an opportunity to demonstrate reliance on God, courage in the face of uncertainty, and commitment to His purposes.
Practical Implications for BelieversIn daily life, Christians are encouraged to approach risk with a balanced perspective, combining faith with prudence. Whether in personal decisions, ministry endeavors, or acts of service, believers are to seek God's will, trust in His promises, and act with courage and love, knowing that God is ultimately in control.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Hazard; danger; peril; exposure to loss, injury, or destruction.
2. (n.) Hazard of loss; liability to loss in property.
3. (n.) To expose to risk, hazard, or peril; to venture; as, to risk goods on board of a ship; to risk one's person in battle; to risk one's fame by a publication.
4. (n.) To incur the risk or danger of; as, to risk a battle.
Greek
3851. parabouleuomai --risk, disregard...risk, disregard. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: parabouleuomai Phonetic Spelling:
(par-ab-ool-yoo'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I expose myself to danger
...2794. kindunos -- danger
... danger. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: kindunos Phonetic Spelling:
(kin'-doo-nos) Short Definition: danger, peril,risk Definition: danger...
5111. tolmao -- to have courage, to be bold
... 5111 (from , "bold courage") -- properly, to show daring courage necessary for a
validrisk ("putting it all on the line"); courageously venture forward by...
Strong's Hebrew
6148. arab -- to take on pledge, give in pledge, exchange... exchange NASB Word Usage associate (2), became surety (1), become guarantors (1),
become surety (1), becomes (1), becomes surety (2), dare to
risk (1), deal (1
...Library
Gambling, Card-Playing
... So it is with gambling. It is giving the natural tendency to chance, torisk an
illegitimate play.... Note the hazard andrisk of our Pilgrim Fathers....
And Indeed that Christ was not Only Man, but God Also; that Even...
... For there is a greatrisk of saying that the Saviour of the human race was only
man; that the Lord of all, and the Chief of the world, to whom all things were...
The Water-Mark of John's Gospel.
... It means to be persuaded that a thing is true; then to place confidence in
it, to trust. And trust always contains the idea ofrisk....
The Overcoming of Insignificance
... Therisk of the five-talent man is his conceit; therisk of the two-talent man
is his envy; therisk of the one-talent man is his hopelessness....
Thou Shalt not Bear False Witness against Thy Neighbor.
... This Commandment seems small, and yet is so great, that he who would rightly keep
it mustrisk and imperil life and limb, goods and honor, friends and all that...
Jesus the Resurrection and Life.
... His love for His friends drew Him back at therisk of His life to the neighbourhood
of Jerusalem: it is as if to His eye Lazarus represented all His friends...
Proving God's Faithfulness (1902-1908)
... My one plea in refusing to enter that life was therisk to the children.... I have
only one child left, and it wouldrisk her life too much."....
The Blood of Sprinkling
... But is Christ no more than that? If I cast myself into the sea, andrisk my life
to save another, I am a deliverer.... Did he butrisk his life?...
1 Corinthians xiii. 11
... But still, considering what life is, even to the youngest and strongest, it does
seem a fearfulrisk to be living unredeemed; to be living in that state, that...
Love and Law.
... portrait of Sir Edgar Tomlinson, who, by interposing his body between the spear
of a Roundhead and his royal master, saved his life at the imminentrisk of his...
Thesaurus
Risk (5 Occurrences)... 3. (n.) To expose to
risk, hazard, or peril; to venture; as, to
risk goods on board
of a ship; to
risk one's person in battle; to
risk one's fame by a
...Adventure (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.)Risk; danger; peril.... 6. (n.) Torisk, or hazard; jeopard; to venture.
7. (n.) To venture upon; to run therisk of; to dare....
Venture (10 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) An undertaking of chance or danger; the risking of something upon an event
which can not be foreseen with certainty; a hazard; arisk; a speculation....
Run (147 Occurrences)
... 45. (vi) To encounter or incur, as a danger orrisk; as, to run therisk of losing
one's life.... 46. (vi) To put at hazard; to venture; torisk. 47....
Wage (39 Occurrences)
... to wage a dollar. 2. (vt) To expose one's self to, as arisk; to incur,
as a danger; to venture; to hazard. 3. (vt) To engage in...
Peril (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Danger;risk; hazard; jeopardy; exposure
of person or property to injury, loss, or destruction....
Plight (4 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) A network; a plait; a fold; rarely a garment. 5. (n.) That which is exposed
torisk; that which is plighted or pledged; security; a gage; a pledge....
Hedge (12 Occurrences)
... 6. (vi) To shelter one's self from danger,risk, duty, responsibility, etc., as
if by hiding in or behind a hedge; to skulk; to slink; to shirk obligations....
Novice (1 Occurrence)
... of Christ "lest he be lifted up with pride, and fall into the condemnation of the
devil." This means that a recent convert runs the very seriousrisk of being...
Obadiah (21 Occurrences)
... spiritual degeneracy he maintained his fidelity to God, and interposed to protect
The Lord's prophets, an hundred of whom he hid at great personalrisk in a...
Resources
How should Christians view refugees? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about steroids? | GotQuestions.orgMedical marijuana - what does the Bible say? | GotQuestions.orgRisk: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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