In the context of the Bible, the term "harmful" refers to actions, behaviors, or influences that cause damage, injury, or moral corruption. The Scriptures provide numerous examples and teachings that warn against harmful practices and encourage believers to pursue righteousness and holiness.

Old Testament References

The Old Testament frequently addresses the concept of harmfulness, particularly in relation to sin and disobedience to God's commandments. In Genesis 6:11-12, the earth is described as being "corrupt before God" and "filled with violence," indicating the harmful nature of humanity's actions that led to the judgment of the flood. The Proverbs offer wisdom on avoiding harmful behavior, such as in Proverbs 6:16-19, which lists things the Lord hates, including "hands that shed innocent blood" and "a heart that devises wicked schemes."

New Testament Teachings

The New Testament continues to address harmfulness, particularly in the context of moral and spiritual conduct. In Galatians 5:19-21, the Apostle Paul warns against the "acts of the flesh," which include "hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy," all of which are harmful to the individual and the community. Believers are encouraged to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, which stands in contrast to these harmful behaviors.

Jesus' Teachings

Jesus Christ emphasized the importance of avoiding harmful actions and attitudes. In the Sermon on the Mount, He taught about the dangers of anger and the need for reconciliation (Matthew 5:21-24). Jesus also warned against the harmful effects of leading others into sin, stating in Matthew 18:6, "But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea."

Spiritual Warfare

The Bible also speaks of spiritual forces that are harmful to believers. Ephesians 6:12 reminds Christians that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world's darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Believers are instructed to put on the full armor of God to stand against these harmful spiritual influences.

Practical Application

The Scriptures encourage believers to be vigilant against harmful influences and to seek God's wisdom and guidance. James 1:5 advises, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." Additionally, Philippians 4:8 urges believers to focus on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable, steering clear of harmful thoughts and actions.

Conclusion

While the Bible acknowledges the presence of harmful influences in the world, it consistently calls believers to a higher standard of living, one that reflects the character of God and promotes the well-being of others. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Christians are equipped to overcome harmful behaviors and to live lives that honor God.(a.) Full of harm; injurious; hurtful; mischievous.824. atopos -- out of place, strange
... prefix) and topos Definition out of place, strange NASB Word Usage perverse
(1), unusual (1), wrong (2). amiss, harmful, unreasonable. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/824.htm - 7k

172. akakos -- guileless
... 172 (an adjective, derived from 1 "not" and 2556 , "malignant") -- properly, harmful,
describing someone innocent, down to their very intentions (motives), ie ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/172.htm - 7k

983. blaberos -- hurtful
... Word Origin from blapto Definition hurtful NASB Word Usage harmful (1). hurtful.
From blapto; injurious -- hurtful. see GREEK blapto. (blaberas) -- 1 Occurrence ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/983.htm - 6k

7451a. ra -- bad, evil
... 1), evil (124), evil man (3), evil men (4), evil things (4), evildoer (1), evildoers*
(1), evils (1), great (1), grievous (4), harm* (1), harmful (3), man (1 ...
/hebrew/7451a.htm - 6k

7451b. ra -- evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity
... as roa Definition evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity NASB Word Usage adversity
(7), calamity (4), disaster (2), evil (94), harm (2), harmful (1), hurt (1 ...
/hebrew/7451b.htm - 5k

Whether Sorrow is More Harmful to the Body than the Other Passions ...
... OF THE EFFECTS OF PAIN OR SORROW (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether sorrow is more
harmful to the body than the other passions of the soul? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether sorrow is more harmful.htm

How the Weak are Harmful and Cannot Bear Wrongs.
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter XXIV. How the weak are harmful
and cannot bear wrongs. We must note too the fact that the ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter xxiv how the weak.htm

Whether Corporeal Creatures are from God?
... it is said (Gn.1:31): "God saw all things that He had made, and they were very good."
But corporeal creatures are evil, since we find them harmful in many ways ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether corporeal creatures are from.htm

Marriage Good: Celibacy Preferable.
... A thing is not "good" merely because it is not "evil," nor is it "evil" merely because
it is not "harmful." [366] Further: that which is fully "good" excels on ...
/.../tertullian/to his wife/chapter iii marriage good celibacy preferable.htm

At the Dedication of a Church
... Therefore the man who says that ten chances of evil would not be more harmful than
one; that is, that the secret love and friendship of ten men would be no ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/tauler/the inner way/sermon xxxvi at the dedication.htm

Whether Drink is the Matter of Sobriety?
... Such matter is the drinking of intoxicants, because the measured use thereof is
most profitable, while immoderate excess therein is most harmful, since it ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether drink is the matter.htm

Whether the Sensitive Appetite is Divided into the Irascible and ...
... But suitable and harmful are contraries. Since, then, the concupiscible power
regards what is suitable, while the irascible is concerned ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the sensitive appetite is.htm

A Second Discouragement in Prayer Opposite to Perseverance, to Wit ...
... Sec. Sec. 4, 5. Distractions about objects to which we bear an inordinate affection
are most harmful. Sec. 6. A remedy against them. Sec. Sec. ...
/.../chapter vi a second discouragement.htm

Finis Coronat Opus
... this in the midst of the rush and pressure of daily duty; and it is not altogether
wholesome to think much about it; but it is still more harmful to put it out ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/finis coronat opus.htm

Psalm CXL.
... following some other habit, they are luxurious, drunkards, given to pleasure....
Wicked then is every unrighteous man, who must needs be harmful, whether he be ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxl.htm

Harmful (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Full of harm; injurious; hurtful; mischievous.
Multi-Version Concordance Harmful (8 Occurrences). ...
/h/harmful.htm - 8k

Quit (12 Occurrences)
... 3. (imp. & pp) of Quit. 4. (v.) To set at rest; to free, as from anything
harmful or oppressive; to relieve; to clear; to liberate. ...
/q/quit.htm - 13k

Vice (2 Occurrences)
... single respect, or in general, from a right standard, implying a defect of natural
character, or the result of training and habits; a harmful custom; immorality ...
/v/vice.htm - 8k

Noxious (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (a.) Hurtful; harmful; baneful; pernicious; injurious; destructive; unwholesome;
insalubrious; as, noxious air, food, or climate; pernicious; corrupting to ...
/n/noxious.htm - 7k

Noisome (7 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Noxious; harmful; dangerous; as, a noisome odor; hurtful; mischievous;
unwholesome; insalubrious; destructive; as, noisome effluvia. ...
/n/noisome.htm - 9k

Ugly (7 Occurrences)
... Revelation 16:2 The first went, and poured out his bowl into the earth, and it became
a harmful and evil sore on the people who had the mark of the beast, and ...
/u/ugly.htm - 8k

Lewd (37 Occurrences)
... 5, translated in the American Standard Revised Version "vile." The Greek word elsewhere
is translated "bad," "evil," "grievous," "harmful," "malicious," "wicked ...
/l/lewd.htm - 20k

Loathsome (20 Occurrences)
... Revelation 16:2 The first went, and poured out his bowl into the earth, and it became
a harmful and evil sore on the people who had the mark of the beast, and ...
/l/loathsome.htm - 12k

Lewdness (68 Occurrences)
... 5, translated in the American Standard Revised Version "vile." The Greek word elsewhere
is translated "bad," "evil," "grievous," "harmful," "malicious," "wicked ...
/l/lewdness.htm - 29k

Lusts (28 Occurrences)
... 1 Timothy 6:9 But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation and
a snare and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and ...
/l/lusts.htm - 14k

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