Topical Bible: The Wolf: Rapacious Nature of

◄ The Wolf: Rapacious Nature of ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

The wolf, a creature often mentioned in the Bible, symbolizes a rapacious and destructive nature. Its presence in Scripture is frequently associated with danger, deceit, and the threat posed to the vulnerable, particularly within the context of spiritual and communal life.

Biblical References and Symbolism

In the Bible, the wolf is depicted as a predator, a creature that preys upon the weak and unsuspecting. This imagery is used to convey the threat posed by false prophets, deceitful leaders, and those who would lead the faithful astray. The wolf's rapacious nature is highlighted in several key passages:

1. Ezekiel 22:27 : "Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain." Here, the wolf symbolizes corrupt leaders who exploit their positions for personal gain, preying upon the people they are meant to protect.

2. Matthew 7:15 : "Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." Jesus warns His followers of those who disguise their true intentions, appearing harmless while harboring destructive motives. The wolf in sheep's clothing is a powerful metaphor for deceit and hidden danger.

3. Acts 20:29 : "I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock." The Apostle Paul cautions the early church about the inevitable arrival of false teachers who will infiltrate the community, seeking to devour and scatter the faithful.

The Wolf and the Flock

The imagery of the wolf is often juxtaposed with that of the flock, representing the community of believers. The wolf's presence signifies a threat to the unity and safety of the flock, necessitating vigilance and discernment among the faithful. Shepherds, or spiritual leaders, are tasked with protecting the flock from such dangers, as seen in John 10:12 : "The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock."

Moral and Spiritual Lessons

The wolf's rapacious nature serves as a cautionary symbol in the Bible, urging believers to be wary of those who would exploit or deceive them. It underscores the importance of discernment, integrity, and the need for strong, faithful leadership within the community. The wolf's presence is a reminder of the spiritual warfare that believers face and the necessity of remaining steadfast in faith and truth.

Conclusion

The wolf, as depicted in Scripture, embodies the dangers of deceit, exploitation, and spiritual predation. Its rapacious nature serves as a warning to the faithful to remain vigilant and discerning, safeguarding the integrity and unity of the community against those who would seek to harm it.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 49:27
Benjamin shall shred as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Whether any Demons are Naturally Wicked?
... Objection 3: Further, some irrational animals have wicked dispositions by nature:
thus the fox is naturally sly, and the wolf naturally rapacious; yet they are ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether any demons are naturally.htm

Zwingli's Distinctive Doctrines.
... It is contrary to the nature of faith (I mean the holy and true faith), because
faith embraces love, fear ... Thus the young wolf is a rapacious animal before ...
/.../ 52 zwinglis distinctive doctrines.htm

After Eutropius Having Been Found Outside the Church had Been ...
... For if thou art inside the fold the wolf does not enter: but if ... Art thou a rapacious
man ... For it is not the nature of their circumstances, but the disposition of ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily ii after eutropius having.htm

2 Cor. Iii. 1
... mentioned the difference arising from the nature of the ... hath no care for virtue,
but is rapacious and transgresseth ... when thou ravenest like the wolf, when thou ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily vi 2 cor iii.htm

Concerning the Unity of God . On the Article, I Believe in one God ...
... more prodigal, and cat, and dog, and wolf [857] were ... man is saved: blind the grasping
and rapacious thought of ... Not that the sun's nature is to blind, but that ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture vi concerning the unity.htm

part ii
... grace bestowed upon me, as though it were a new spiritual nature, pure, good ... eternal
King, whilst Satan's kingdom shall soon pass away, being rapacious and false ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part ii.htm