In the context of the Bible, the concept of acting "insultingly" is often associated with behaviors that show contempt, disrespect, or scorn towards others, and ultimately towards God. The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings that address the nature and consequences of such behavior.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, acting insultingly is frequently linked with pride and rebellion against God. For instance, in 2 Kings 19:22, the prophet Isaiah speaks against the Assyrian king Sennacherib, saying, "Whom have you taunted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel!" . This passage highlights how insulting behavior is not only directed towards people but is ultimately an affront to God Himself.

The Psalms also address the issue of insult and scorn. Psalm 123:3-4 pleads for God's mercy in the face of contempt: "Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy, for we have endured much contempt. We have endured much scorn from the arrogant, much contempt from the proud" . Here, the psalmist acknowledges the pain caused by insulting behavior and seeks divine intervention.

New Testament Teachings

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ addresses the issue of insult and contempt in His teachings. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus expands the understanding of the commandment against murder to include anger and insult: "But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell" (Matthew 5:22). Here, Jesus emphasizes the seriousness of insulting others, equating it with severe moral consequences.

The Apostle Paul also addresses the issue of insult in his epistles. In Romans 12:14, he instructs believers, "Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse" . This teaching encourages Christians to respond to insults and persecution with kindness and blessing, rather than retaliation.

Practical Implications for Believers

The biblical teachings on insultingly behavior call believers to a higher standard of conduct. Christians are encouraged to reflect the character of Christ in their interactions, avoiding contempt and scorn. Ephesians 4:29 advises, "Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen" . This verse underscores the importance of using words to edify rather than to insult.

Furthermore, believers are reminded of the power of the tongue in James 3:9-10: "With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!" . This passage highlights the inconsistency of using the same tongue to both praise God and insult others, urging Christians to align their speech with their faith.

Conclusion

The Bible consistently teaches that insulting behavior is contrary to the character of God and the teachings of Christ. Believers are called to respond to insults with grace and to use their words to build up rather than tear down. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Christians can overcome the temptation to act insultingly and instead reflect the love and humility of Jesus in their interactions with others.3058. loidoreo -- to abuse, revile
... Verb Transliteration: loidoreo Phonetic Spelling: (loy-dor-eh'-o) Short Definition:
I revile, abuse Definition: I revile a person to his face, abuse insultingly ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3058.htm - 7k

A Royal-Hearted Exile
... A few of the Egyptian Bishops who were present loudly protested against such
behavior, but their protests were insultingly set aside. ...
/.../forbes/saint athanasius/chapter 6 a royal-hearted exile.htm

All Association with Idols is to be Avoided.
... worship; although the Israelites, by the perverseness of their temper, "worshipped
the creature instead of the Creator," [3048] and acted insultingly to their ...
/.../constitutions of the holy apostles/sec ii all association with idols.htm

The Sin of Unbelief
... and yet, in the face of all this accumulated evidence, in the teeth of all these
credentials of the prophet's mission, he yet doubted, and insultingly told him ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the sin of unbelief.htm

But Here Stupidity Has Proceeded to Such a Length as to Give a ...
... yet to assign to them any other prayer than that of longing for the arrival of the
kingdom of God, is to think of them stupidly, carnally, and even insultingly ...
/.../of prayer--a perpetual exercise of faith/chapter 22 but here stupidity.htm

Now Daia, in Gratifying his Libidinous Desires, Made his Own Will ...
... and banished her and her mother Prisca: but he appointed no particular place for
her residence while in banishment; and hence he insultingly expelled her from ...
/.../of the manner in which the persecutors died/chap xxxix now daia in.htm

The True Gnostic Exercises Patience and Self-Restraint.
... pleasure. Whence the tragedians, jeering, exclaimed insultingly against him:".
"But thou, when on her breast thou lookedst, thy sword. ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xx the true gnostic exercises.htm

Of the Oracle Found Inscribed an a Stone, when the Walls of ...
... XXVI. viii. 2 seq.) says, From the walls of Chalcedon they uttered reproaches
to him and insultingly reviled him as Sabaiarius. For ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of scholasticus/chapter viii of the oracle found.htm

Ignorant Then How this Thy Image Should Subsist, I Should have ...
... Ignorant then how this Thy image should subsist, I should have knocked and proposed
the doubt, how it was to be believed, not insultingly opposed it, as if ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter iv ignorant then how.htm

He Recognises the Falsity of his Own Opinions, and Commits to ...
... I knew not how this image of Thine should subsist, I should have knocked and propounded
the doubt how it was to be believed, and not have insultingly opposed it ...
/.../the confessions and letters of st/chapter iv he recognises the falsity.htm

Concerning the War in which Radagaisus, King of the Goths, a ...
... How insultingly they would have boasted, saying that Radagaisus had conquered, that
he had been able to achieve such great things, because he propitiated and ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 23 concerning the war in.htm

Insultingly (1 Occurrence)
...Insultingly (1 Occurrence). Luke 23:39 Now one of the malefactors who had been hanged
spoke insultingly to him, saying, Art not thou the Christ? ...
/i/insultingly.htm - 6k

Insulting (10 Occurrences)

/i/insulting.htm - 9k

Insults (34 Occurrences)

/i/insults.htm - 15k

Nabal (18 Occurrences)
... that Nabal was about to shear his sheep, he sent ten of his young men to ask
"whatsoever cometh unto thy hand for thy servants." Nabal insultingly resented the ...
/n/nabal.htm - 16k

Abigal (1 Occurrence)
... and men. But Nabal, who was a churlish fellow, answered the messengers
insultingly and sent them away empty-handed. David, angered ...
/a/abigal.htm - 10k

Abigail (18 Occurrences)
... and men. But Nabal, who was a churlish fellow, answered the messengers
insultingly and sent them away empty-handed. David, angered ...
/a/abigail.htm - 17k

Amaziah (41 Occurrences)
... Here he was followed and killed; his body being insultingly carried to Jerusalem
on horses, and not conveyed in a litter or coffin (2 Kings 14:19, 20 2 ...
/a/amaziah.htm - 30k

Spoke (799 Occurrences)
... Luke 23:39 Now one of the malefactors who had been hanged spoke insultingly to him,
saying, Art not thou the Christ? save thyself and us. (DBY). ...
/s/spoke.htm - 33k

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