The Wolf of the Wicked
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The term "Wolf of the Wicked" is not a direct biblical phrase but rather a thematic concept derived from various scriptural references to wolves and their symbolic representation of danger, deceit, and destruction. In the Bible, wolves are often used metaphorically to describe individuals or groups that pose a threat to the faithful, embodying characteristics of cunning and predation.

Biblical Symbolism of Wolves

Wolves are frequently mentioned in the Bible as symbols of peril and treachery. In the Old Testament, the prophet Ezekiel warns of false prophets who are likened to ravenous wolves: "Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain" (Ezekiel 22:27). This imagery underscores the destructive nature of those who exploit and deceive others for personal gain.

In the New Testament, Jesus Himself uses the metaphor of wolves to caution His followers against false teachers and prophets. In the Gospel of Matthew, He warns, "Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves" (Matthew 7:15). This passage highlights the deceptive appearance of such individuals, who outwardly seem harmless but harbor malicious intent.

The Wolf as a Metaphor for Wickedness

The "Wolf of the Wicked" can be understood as a representation of those who embody wickedness and seek to lead others astray. The Apostle Paul, in his farewell address to the Ephesian elders, echoes this warning: "I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock" (Acts 20:29). Here, Paul emphasizes the imminent threat posed by those who would infiltrate the Christian community to corrupt and destroy it from within.

The wolf's predatory nature is further illustrated in the prophetic writings of the Old Testament, where the wolf is often juxtaposed with the lamb, symbolizing peace and innocence. The prophet Isaiah envisions a future time of harmony and divine justice: "The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat" (Isaiah 11:6). This imagery serves as a powerful contrast to the current state of wickedness and violence, offering hope for eventual redemption and peace.

Spiritual Vigilance Against the Wolf

The biblical exhortation to remain vigilant against the "Wolf of the Wicked" is a call to spiritual discernment and steadfastness. Believers are encouraged to be watchful and discerning, recognizing the subtle and often disguised threats posed by those who would lead them away from the truth of the Gospel. The Apostle Peter advises, "Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). While the imagery here is of a lion, the underlying message of vigilance against spiritual predators remains consistent.

In summary, the concept of the "Wolf of the Wicked" serves as a potent reminder of the ongoing spiritual battle faced by believers. It underscores the need for discernment, faithfulness, and reliance on God's truth to withstand the deceptive and destructive forces that seek to undermine the Christian faith.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Matthew 10:16
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the middle of wolves: be you therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 10:3
Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
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

The Wicked Man's Life, Funeral, and Epitaph
... For one who was a wicked man, a man who made a pretension of ... of his saints." But
the gilded hypocrite, the varnished deceiver, the well accoutred wolf in sheeps ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the wicked mans life funeral.htm

For which Reason, Whatever Else There May be in the Writings of ...
... you will find that not only in the law, but also in the prophets, these animals
are employed as examples of all that is most wicked; and that a wolf or a fox ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xciii for which reason.htm

Who are Christ's Lambs.
... by the Spirit of the Lord coming into his heart, he is only a wolf, after all ... they
are ravening wolves." By "wolves" he means men and women with wicked hearts. ...
/.../orr/food for the lambs or helps for young christians/who are christs lambs.htm

Varying Doctrine Concerning the Gods.
... and monstrous"to those at least who have any judgment"that he who was once a man
shall afterwards be a wolf, or a dog ... 'Tis not, as vain and wicked men have ...
/.../theophilus to autolycus/chapter vii varying doctrine concerning the.htm

Of Christ Descending from Heaven to the General Judgment, and of ...
... The beasts shall lay aside their ferocity and become mild, the wolf shall roam ... and
the cities shall be overthrown, and He shall rain upon the wicked fire with ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap lxxii of christ descending from.htm

The Seventh Season,
... corruption of man, that one is become as a wolf or a tiger to another. And as men
are naturally cruel and oppressive one to another, so the wicked conspire to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/flavel/on keeping the heart/vii the seventh season.htm

John Chapter xviii. 1-12.
... for Jesus oft-times resorted thither with His disciples." There, accordingly, the
wolf, clad in ... in His own goodness making a good use of the wicked, and doing ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate cxii john chapter xviii.htm

The Tenth Chapter of the Gospel of John. Of the Shepherd, and the ...
... are ravening wolves." [4115] If the hireling observe anyone indulging in wicked
talking, or in ... he sees the man perishing in his sin, sees the wolf following him ...
/.../sermon lxxxvii the tenth chapter.htm

Peter of Chelcic, 1419-1450.
... "The whole value of noble birth," he said, "is founded on a wicked invention of
the ... If a man could only buy a coat of arms"a stag, a gate, a wolf's head, or ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter iv peter of chelcic.htm

Resources
Why do many Christians reject the theory of evolution? | GotQuestions.org

How should we understand the Lion and the Lamb passage? | GotQuestions.org

Why was a father's blessing so highly valued in the Old Testament? | GotQuestions.org

Wolf: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

The Wolf of False Teachers

The Wolf of Fierce Enemies

The Wolf of the Devil

The Wolf of the Tribe of Benjamin

The Wolf of the Wicked

The Wolf of Wicked Rulers

The Wolf: (Taming of) the Change Effected by Conversion

The Wolf: Destructive to Flocks of Sheep

The Wolf: Particularly Fierce in the Evening when It Seeks Its Prey

The Wolf: Rapacious Nature of

Wolf

Wolf of the Enemies of the Righteous

Wolf of the Reconciling Power of the Gospel

Wolf: Ravenous

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The Wolf of the Tribe of Benjamin
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