Reviling
“To abuse, revile, rail at”
Summary
Reviling is the act of speaking abusively against another, condemned in Scripture as incompatible with Christian character, with believers called to bless rather than revile in return.
☩Forbidden to Believers
Revilers are listed among those who will not inherit the kingdom of God. The tongue that reviles inflicts deep wounds and reflects an unchanged heart. Believers are commanded to put away all reviling speech along with bitterness, wrath, and malice.
☩Christ's Example
When Christ was reviled, He reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not, but committed Himself to the righteous Judge. His example teaches believers to endure reproach without retaliation, returning blessing for cursing. The apostles followed this pattern, being reviled and blessing in return.
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Revile," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VIII (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Revile; Reviler; Reviling," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Reviling," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).