Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the concept of "risk" often involves stepping out in faith, trusting in God's provision and protection despite uncertain or dangerous circumstances. The Bible provides numerous examples of individuals who risked their lives, reputations, or possessions for the sake of obedience to God, the advancement of His kingdom, or the welfare of others.
Old Testament Examples1.
Esther: One of the most prominent examples of risk in the Old Testament is Queen Esther. She risked her life by approaching King Xerxes without being summoned, an act punishable by death, to plead for the lives of her people.
Esther 4:16 records her courageous words: "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."
2.
David: Before becoming king, David risked his life by confronting Goliath, the Philistine giant, with only a sling and five stones. His faith in God’s deliverance was evident in
1 Samuel 17:37 : "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."
3.
Daniel: Daniel risked his life by continuing to pray to God despite King Darius's decree that anyone who prayed to any god or man other than the king would be thrown into the lions' den.
Daniel 6:10 states, "Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before."
New Testament Examples1.
Paul: The Apostle Paul frequently risked his life for the sake of the Gospel. In
2 Corinthians 11:26 , he recounts his experiences: "I have been on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles, in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger on the sea, and in danger among false brothers."
2.
Priscilla and Aquila: This husband and wife team risked their lives for Paul. In
Romans 16:3-4 , Paul writes, "Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who have risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them."
3.
The Early Church: The early Christians often faced persecution and risked their lives for their faith.
Acts 5:40-41 describes the apostles' response to persecution: "They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name."
Theological ImplicationsThe willingness to take risks for the sake of faith and obedience to God is a recurring theme in Scripture. Such actions are often motivated by a deep trust in God's sovereignty and goodness. The Bible encourages believers to weigh the cost of discipleship, as seen in
Luke 14:27-28 : "And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple. Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it?"
Risk, in the biblical sense, is not reckless or foolhardy but is often a calculated step of faith, grounded in the assurance of God's promises and the hope of eternal reward.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
imp. & p. p.) of Risk.
Greek
3860. paradidomi -- to hand over, to give or deliver over, to...... over (1), hand (6), handed (9), handed...over (1), handed down (4), handed over
(4), hands (1), permits (1), put (1), putting (1),
risked (1), surrender (1
...5294. hupotithemi -- to place under, lay down, mid. to suggest
... Word Origin from hupo and tithemi Definition to place under, lay down, mid. to suggest
NASB Word Usage pointing (1),risked (1). lay down, make known....
Strong's Hebrew
7993. shalak -- to throw, fling, cast... 1), cast them away (1), cast away (5), cast down (2), cast off (1), casts (1), dropped
(1), fling (2), hurl (1), hurled (2), left (1),
risked* (1), snatched (1
...5048. neged -- in front of, in sight of, opposite to
... 1), demoralized* (1), directly (1), distance* (3), front (15), opposite (16), opposite*
(5), other side (1), presence (13), resist* (1),risked* (1), sight (2...
Library
A Libation to Jehovah
... devotion. God only had the right to receive what men hadrisked their lives
to obtain, and therefore he 'poured it out unto the Lord.'....
"Simply Murdered"
... Hardly a single Caste wife in all this Empire would be found in the little band
of open Christians to-day, if the missionary concerned had notrisked more than...
The Permanent Significance of the Old Testament
... of grace, on which were nourished Jesus and his disciples, and millions in former
generations, and for the restoration of which the reformersrisked their very...
They came to be in his Presence
... and courage because of his ministry." Because he was unafraid to experiment and
venture on fresh approaches to old problems, herisked misunderstanding and...
Centenary Commemoration
... He who watched his flock as, centuries after, other shepherds watched theirs, on
the hill- sides of Bethlehem; he who hadrisked his own life that he might...
The Further Adventures of Saint George.
... Yet, willing to try her longer, he replied""Sweet Princess, not content that I have
risked my life to preserve yours, would you have me sacrifice my honour...
"Art Thou He?"
... These heroic soulsrisked all the peril that might accrue to themselves from this
identification with their master; they did not hesitate to come to his cell...
And in Jesus Christ, his Only Son, Our Lord, who was Conceived by...
... other end than to explain and express this redemption, how and whereby it was
accomplished, that is, how much it cost Him, and what He spent andrisked that He...
Self-Inspection.
... had rendered him. By some oversight no notice had been taken of Nicanor,
though he hadrisked his life for the king. Then Philip...
The Order of Thought which Surrounded the Development of Jesus.
... alternative. In these days, man risks little and gains little. In heroic periods
of human activity, manrisked all and gained all. The...
Thesaurus
Risked (5 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Risked (5 Occurrences). Acts 15:26 men who have
risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (WEB NAS RSV NIV).
...Risk (5 Occurrences)
... Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy?" For
theyrisked their lives to bring it. Therefore he would not drink it....
Jeopardy (7 Occurrences)
... Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy?" For
theyrisked their lives to bring it. Therefore he would not drink it....
Risking (1 Occurrence)
Exploits (8 Occurrences)
... Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy?" For
theyrisked their lives to bring it. Therefore he would not drink it....
Michal (18 Occurrences)
... such a matter. For the sake of the man whom she loved too she braved her
father's wrath andrisked her own life. Even her later...
Rescued (49 Occurrences)
... NIV). Judges 9:17 for my father fought for you, andrisked his life, and
rescued you from the hand of Mid'ian; (DBY RSV). 1 Samuel...
Pudens (1 Occurrence)
... At this time, however, there were some of the Christians whorisked their earthly
all, and their lives too, in order to prove their adherence to Paul, and...
Shammah (8 Occurrences)
... The succeeding incident (2 Samuel 23:13), namely, the famous act of three of David's
heroes whorisked their lives to bring their leader water from the well of...
Rescue (92 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS NIV). Judges 9:17 for my father fought for you, andrisked his life,
and rescued you from the hand of Mid'ian; (Root in DBY RSV NIV)....
Resources
Summary of the Book of Esther - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the story of Deborah and Barak? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Epaphroditus in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgRisked: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
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