The term "badly" in the context of the Bible often refers to actions, situations, or conditions that are unfavorable, harmful, or morally wrong. While the specific word "badly" may not frequently appear in many English translations, the concept is prevalent throughout Scripture, describing the consequences of sin, disobedience, and the fallen state of humanity.

Moral and Ethical Contexts

In the moral and ethical teachings of the Bible, actions done "badly" are those that go against God's commandments and principles. The Bible consistently warns against behaviors that are considered sinful or unrighteous. For instance, in the Old Testament, the Israelites are repeatedly admonished for acting badly by turning away from God and following pagan practices. The prophets often called out such behavior, urging the people to repent and return to righteousness.

Consequences of Acting Badly

The Bible illustrates that acting badly leads to negative consequences, both spiritually and physically. In the Book of Proverbs, wisdom literature emphasizes the outcomes of foolish and wicked behavior. Proverbs 13:15 states, "Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the faithless is hard." This highlights the principle that living contrary to God's ways results in hardship and difficulty.

Examples in Scripture

Several biblical narratives depict individuals or groups acting badly, resulting in divine judgment or personal downfall. One notable example is King Saul, whose disobedience to God's commands led to his rejection as king. In 1 Samuel 15:19 , the prophet Samuel confronts Saul, saying, "Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you rush upon the plunder and do evil in the sight of the LORD?"

Another example is found in the New Testament with Ananias and Sapphira, who acted deceitfully by lying about their offering to the early church. Their actions, described in Acts 5:1-11, resulted in immediate judgment from God, serving as a stern warning to the early Christian community about the seriousness of sin.

Redemption and Restoration

Despite the prevalence of acting badly, the Bible also offers hope for redemption and restoration. Through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, individuals can be forgiven and transformed. The New Testament emphasizes the grace and mercy available through Christ's sacrifice. In 1 John 1:9 , it is written, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Conclusion

While the Bible acknowledges the reality of acting badly, it also provides a path to redemption through repentance and faith. The overarching narrative of Scripture points to the transformative power of God's grace, offering hope and restoration to those who turn away from sin and seek to live according to His will.(adv.) In a bad manner; poorly; not well; unskillfully; imperfectly; unfortunately; grievously; so as to cause harm; disagreeably; seriously.2560. kakos -- badly
... badly. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: kakos Phonetic Spelling: (kak-oce')
Short Definition: badly, evilly Definition: badly, evilly, wrongly. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2560.htm - 6k

2559. kakoo -- to ill-treat
... to ill-treat. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kakoo Phonetic Spelling:
(kak-o'-o) Short Definition: I treat badly Definition: I treat badly, afflict ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2559.htm - 7k

7489a. raa -- to be evil, bad
... ra Definition to be evil, bad NASB Word Usage act so wickedly (1), act wickedly
(1), acted wickedly (1), acted...wickedly (1), afflicted (3), badly (1), bring ...
/hebrew/7489a.htm - 6k

7451a. ra -- bad, evil
... Word Origin from the same as roa Definition bad, evil NASB Word Usage bad (23),
bad* (2), badly (1), deadly (1), defamed* (1), defames* (1), defect* (1 ...
/hebrew/7451a.htm - 6k

3782. kashal -- to stumble, stagger, totter
... downfall (1), fail (1), failed (1), failing (1), fall (4), fall down (1), feeble
(3), feeble* (1), overthrown (1), stumble (26), stumble badly (1), stumbled (12 ...
/hebrew/3782.htm - 6k

3966. meod -- muchness, force, abundance
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition muchness, force, abundance NASB Word
Usage abundantly (1), all (1), almost (1), badly (3), carefully (1), closely (1 ...
/hebrew/3966.htm - 7k

That the Philosophers who Give Good Instructions Live Badly, by ...
... XVI."That the Philosophers Who Give Good Instructions Live Badly, by the Testimony
of Cicero; Therefore We Should Not So Much Devote Ourselves to the Study ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xvi that the philosophers who.htm

Of the Difference Between one who Renounces the World Badly and ...
... Prolegomena. Chapter XV. Of the difference between one who renounces the
world badly and one who does not renounce it at all. Of ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xv of the difference.htm

Teaching Three Things in one Action.
... But there's more here. The humility teaching is out on the surface. There's a bit
under the surface, that they would soon be needing and needing badly. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/teaching three things in one.htm

Debts.
... We are badly and blessedly in debt; badly, for we can never square the account;
blessedly, because we can be constantly paying on account, out to men in Jesus ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks with world winners/debts.htm

The Twenty-Eighth Chapter: Strength against Slander
... The Voice of Christ MY CHILD, do not take it to heart if some people think
badly of you and say unpleasant things about you. You ...
/.../kempis/the imitation of christ/the twenty-eighth chapter strength against.htm

Retribution
... Is it not so in every thing? If a tradesman trades badly, or a farmer farms badly,
there is no need of lawyers to punish him; he will punish himself. ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon vii retribution.htm

Goodness in a Dungeon
... He had wrecked his career by his goodness. 'What a fool!' says the world. 'How badly
managed things are in this life,' say doubters, 'that virtue should not be ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/goodness in a dungeon.htm

The Devil Acknowledges the King.
... They have been badly battered out of all shape by striking on this hard rock. ... Yet
the edge of His sword is badly nicked, and never regains its old edge. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks about jesus/the devil acknowledges the king.htm

On the Public Shows.
... for wickedness,"it seemed good in a few words not now to instruct you, but to admonish
you who are instructed, lest, because the wounds are badly bound up ...
/.../on the public shows.htm

Grace Flooding.
... He has such a crowd now. And the resources are pretty badly strained, judging by
appearances." So the crowd talks. Poor God! ... But men's eyes got badly affected. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/grace flooding.htm

Badly (14 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Badly (14 Occurrences). Mark 12:27 He is not the God of
the dead, but of the living. You are therefore badly mistaken." (WEB NIV). ...
/b/badly.htm - 10k

Quite (55 Occurrences)
... the day. (See NAS). Mark 12:27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the
living. You are therefore badly mistaken." (See RSV). John 1 ...
/q/quite.htm - 22k

Grievously (17 Occurrences)
... dusbastaktos, "grievous to be borne" (Matthew 23:4 Luke 11:46); deinos, "greatly,"
"grievously tormented" (Matthew 8:6); kakos, "badly," "grievously vexed ...
/g/grievously.htm - 14k

Greievousness
... dusbastaktos, "grievous to be borne" (Matthew 23:4 Luke 11:46); deinos, "greatly,"
"grievously tormented" (Matthew 8:6); kakos, "badly," "grievously vexed ...
/g/greievousness.htm - 8k

Grievous (73 Occurrences)
... dusbastaktos, "grievous to be borne" (Matthew 23:4 Luke 11:46); deinos, "greatly,"
"grievously tormented" (Matthew 8:6); kakos, "badly," "grievously vexed ...
/g/grievous.htm - 31k

Ill (137 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) Whatever is contrary to good, in a moral sense; wickedness; depravity; iniquity;
wrong; evil. 7. (adv.) In a ill manner; badly; weakly. Int. ...
/i/ill.htm - 35k

Fray (4 Occurrences)
... or to suffer injury by rubbing, as when the threads of the warp or of the woof wear
off so that the cross threads are loose; to ravel; as, the cloth frays badly...
/f/fray.htm - 8k

Fault (42 Occurrences)
... 9. (vt) To interrupt the continuity of (rock strata) by displacement along a plane
of fracture; -- chiefly used in the pp; as, the coal beds are badly faulted. ...
/f/fault.htm - 23k

Eternity (23 Occurrences)
... The conception of eternity, as without beginning or ending, leaves us with
but a negation badly in need of filling out with reality. ...
/e/eternity.htm - 24k

Evil (1503 Occurrences)
... scrofula. 7. (adv.) In an evil manner; not well; ill; badly; unhappily;
injuriously; unkindly. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. EVIL. ...
/e/evil.htm - 47k

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Badly: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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