Topical Encyclopedia The Bible frequently addresses the character of the wicked, often highlighting their ignorance of God as a defining trait. This ignorance is not merely a lack of knowledge but a willful disregard for the divine, leading to a life that is contrary to God's will and purposes.Ignorance as a Deliberate Choice The wicked are often depicted as choosing ignorance over the knowledge of God. In Romans 1:21, the Apostle Paul writes, "For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened." This passage suggests that the wicked have an awareness of God but choose not to honor Him, resulting in a darkened understanding. Consequences of Ignorance The ignorance of God leads to a life of moral and spiritual decay. Hosea 4:6 states, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you as My priests." Here, the lack of knowledge is directly linked to destruction, emphasizing the severe consequences of ignoring God. Rejection of God's Wisdom The wicked are often portrayed as rejecting the wisdom that comes from God. Proverbs 1:7 declares, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." This verse contrasts the righteous, who seek God's wisdom, with the wicked, who despise it, further illustrating their ignorance. Spiritual Blindness The ignorance of the wicked is also described as spiritual blindness. In 2 Corinthians 4:4, Paul explains, "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." This blindness prevents the wicked from recognizing the truth of the gospel and the glory of Christ. Refusal to Seek God The wicked's ignorance is compounded by their refusal to seek God. Psalm 10:4 states, "In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God." This verse highlights the prideful nature of the wicked, who deliberately exclude God from their thoughts and lives. Moral Corruption The ignorance of God leads to moral corruption, as seen in Ephesians 4:18-19: "They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity, with a craving for more." This passage links ignorance with a hardened heart and a life given over to impurity. Lack of Fear of God A lack of fear of God is a hallmark of the wicked's ignorance. Romans 3:18 succinctly states, "There is no fear of God before their eyes." This absence of reverence for God leads to a life that is unrestrained by divine moral standards. Summary The character of the wicked, as portrayed in the Bible, is marked by a deliberate ignorance of God. This ignorance is not simply a lack of information but a conscious choice to reject God's knowledge, wisdom, and presence. The consequences are severe, leading to spiritual blindness, moral corruption, and ultimately, destruction. The wicked's refusal to seek God and their lack of fear of Him further illustrate their profound ignorance, setting them in stark contrast to those who seek and honor the Lord. Nave's Topical Index Hosea 4:1Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel: for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. Nave's Topical Index 2 Thessalonians 1:8 Library On the Character and Teaching of the Bishop. Of the Crimes of the Wicked, and the Torture Inflicted on the ... The Character of Its Teachings Evidences the Divine Authorship of ... God Produced the Wicked One, but not Evil. Appendix. Of the Loosing of the Devil, and of the Second and Greatest ... Blessing and Cursing The Knowledge of God Stifled or Corrupted, Ignorantly or ... The Future State a Self-Conscious State. Peter Worships one God. Resources The Character of God ' Article Index | GotQuestions.orgSinful Character Traits ' Article Index | GotQuestions.org Christian Character ' Article Index | GotQuestions.org Character: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Character of Saints: Attentive to Christ's Voice Character of Saints: Blameless and Harmless Character of Saints: Fearing God Character of Saints: Following Christ Character of Saints: Guileless Character of Saints: Hungering After Righteousness Character of Saints: Hungering for Righteousness Character of Saints: Led by the Spirit Character of Saints: Loathing Themselves Character of Saints: New Creatures Character of Saints: Poor in Spirit Character of Saints: Pure in Heart Character of Saints: Righteous Character of Saints: Steadfast Character of Saints: Taught by God Character of Saints: Taught of God Character of Saints: Undefiled Character of Saints: Zealous of Good Works Character of the Wicked: Abominable Character of the Wicked: Alienated from God Character of the Wicked: Blasphemous Character of the Wicked: Blinded Character of the Wicked: Boastful Character of the Wicked: Conspiring Against God's People Character of the Wicked: Conspiring Against Saints Character of the Wicked: Corrupt Character of the Wicked: Covetous Character of the Wicked: Deceitful Character of the Wicked: Delighting in the Iniquity of Others Character of the Wicked: Despising Saints Character of the Wicked: Despising the Works of the Faithful Character of the Wicked: Destructive Character of the Wicked: Disobedient Character of the Wicked: Enticing to Evil Character of the Wicked: Envious Character of the Wicked: Evildoers Character of the Wicked: Fearful Character of the Wicked: Fierce Character of the Wicked: Foolish Character of the Wicked: Forgetting God Character of the Wicked: Fraudulent Character of the Wicked: Froward Character of the Wicked: Glorying in Their Shame Character of the Wicked: Hard-Hearted Character of the Wicked: Hating the Light Character of the Wicked: Heady and High-Minded Character of the Wicked: Hostile to God Character of the Wicked: Hypocritical Character of the Wicked: Ignorant of God Character of the Wicked: Impudent Character of the Wicked: Incontinent Character of the Wicked: Infidel Character of the Wicked: Loathsome Character of the Wicked: Lovers of Pleasure More than of God Character of the Wicked: Lovers of Pleasure, not of God Character of the Wicked: Lying Character of the Wicked: Mischievous Character of the Wicked: Murderous Character of the Wicked: Persecuting Character of the Wicked: Perverse Character of the Wicked: Prayerless Character of the Wicked: Proud Character of the Wicked: Rebellious Character of the Wicked: Rejoicing in the Affliction of Saints Character of the Wicked: Reprobate Character of the Wicked: Selfish Character of the Wicked: Sensual Character of the Wicked: Sold Under Sin Character of the Wicked: Stiff-Hearted Character of the Wicked: Stiff-Necked Character of the Wicked: Uncircumcised in Heart Character of the Wicked: Unclean Character of the Wicked: Ungodly Character of the Wicked: Unholy Character of the Wicked: Unjust Character of the Wicked: Unmerciful Character of the Wicked: Unprofitable Character of the Wicked: Unruly Character of the Wicked: Unthankful Character of the Wicked: Untoward Character of the Wicked: Unwise Character: Defamation of, Punished Character: Firmness: Joseph in Resisting Potiphar's Wife Character: Instability: Israelites Character: Instability: Pharaoh Character: Instability: Reuben Character: Instability: Solomon Character: Revealed in Countenance Physiognomy: (External Aspect)): Character Revealed In Related Terms |
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