Ill-treatment, as understood within the biblical context, refers to the unjust or harsh treatment of individuals, often involving oppression, abuse, or persecution. The Bible addresses the issue of ill-treatment in various contexts, emphasizing the moral and spiritual implications of such behavior.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, ill-treatment is often associated with the oppression of the vulnerable, including widows, orphans, and foreigners. The Law of Moses explicitly commands the Israelites to treat these groups with justice and compassion. Exodus 22:21-22 states, "You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt. You must not mistreat any widow or orphan." This command underscores the importance of empathy and justice, rooted in the Israelites' own experience of oppression in Egypt.

The prophets frequently condemned the ill-treatment of the poor and marginalized. Isaiah 10:1-2 warns, "Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of justice and withhold the rights of the oppressed of My people, to make widows their prey and rob the fatherless." Such passages highlight God's concern for justice and His condemnation of those who exploit others.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ exemplifies the proper response to ill-treatment through His teachings and actions. He calls His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:44). This radical approach to ill-treatment emphasizes forgiveness and love over retaliation.

The Apostle Paul also addresses the issue of ill-treatment, particularly in the context of persecution faced by early Christians. In Romans 12:14 , Paul instructs, "Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse." This teaching aligns with the broader Christian ethic of responding to evil with good, as further elaborated in Romans 12:17-21.

Examples of Ill-treatment

Several biblical figures experienced ill-treatment, serving as examples of faith and endurance. Joseph, sold into slavery by his brothers and later imprisoned unjustly in Egypt, remained faithful to God and ultimately rose to a position of power (Genesis 37-50). His account illustrates how God can use ill-treatment for a greater purpose.

Similarly, the Apostle Paul endured numerous hardships, including beatings, imprisonment, and shipwrecks, for the sake of the Gospel (2 Corinthians 11:23-27). Despite these trials, Paul maintained his commitment to Christ and encouraged others to do the same.

Moral and Spiritual Implications

The Bible consistently teaches that ill-treatment is contrary to God's will and character. Believers are called to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8). This involves standing against oppression and advocating for the rights of the vulnerable.

Furthermore, the biblical response to personal ill-treatment involves forgiveness and love, reflecting the character of Christ. By following His example, believers demonstrate the transformative power of the Gospel in their lives and bear witness to God's justice and mercy in a fallen world.2561. kakosis -- ill-treatment
... ill-treatment. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: kakosis Phonetic
Spelling: (kak'-o-sis) Short Definition: affliction, ill-treatment Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2561.htm - 6k

4778. sugkakoucheomai -- to endure adversity with (pass.)
... pass.). Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sugkakoucheomai Phonetic Spelling:
(soong-kak-oo-kheh'-o) Short Definition: I suffer ill-treatment with Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4778.htm - 6k

2559. kakoo -- to ill-treat
... afflict, embitter, make angry. Cognate: 2559 -- to inflict (ill-treatment,
vexation); to harm, injure. See 2556 (). Word Origin from ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2559.htm - 7k

4777. sugkakopatheo -- to bear evil treatment along with
... comrade). 4777 ("suffer together") refers to sharing another's ill treatment
and that go with it. It is only used in 2 Tim 1:8. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4777.htm - 7k

3958. pascho -- to suffer, to be acted on
... pas'-kho) Short Definition: I am acted upon, suffer Definition: I am acted upon
in a certain way, either good or bad; I experience ill treatment, suffer. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3958.htm - 9k

Letter Lii. From Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrus, to Leo. (See Vol. Iii ...
... III. He complains of Dioscorus' ill-treatment of himself. ... IV. This ill-treatment
has come after 20 years' good work in his diocese of Cyrus. ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/letter lii from theodoret bishop.htm

Jesus Confined in the Subterranean Prison.
... but tied him to a pillar which stood in the centre, and would not allow him to lean
upon it, although he was so exhausted from ill treatment, the weight of his ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xii jesus confined in.htm

Letter i. Behavior and Manners.
... Selfishness was the main cause of her ill-treatment of her brothers and sisters,
as it was of her indolence, and her indifference to the performance of her ...
/.../letter i behavior and manners.htm

Whether the Old Law Set Forth Suitable Precepts About the Members ...
... Reply to Objection 3: With regard to the ill-treatment of servants, the Law seems
to have taken into consideration whether it was certain or not: since if it ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the old law set.htm

Refutation of the Jews
... have strayed like sheep, man has strayed from his path, and the Lord has given Him
up for our sins; and He Himself did not open His mouth at the ill-treatment. ...
/.../athanasius/on the incarnation of the word/chapter 6 refutation of the.htm

The Meaning of Faith
... Through faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's
daughter, choosing rather to share ill treatment with God's people than to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the meaning of faith.htm

To Olympias. Why do You Lament? Why do You Belabour Yourself...
... of victory were woven for me, inasmuch as all were proclaiming and publishing my
praises, and expressing wonder and astonishment at the ill-treatment to which ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/chrysostom/on the priesthood/to olympias why do you.htm

part vii.
... 61. Ill-treatment of the poor. But ... 1715] . 62. Ill-treatment of the poor.
Who was not struck with astonishment at these proceedings? ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/part vii.htm

The Consensus of Zurich. AD 1549.
... II. pp. 125 sqq. Calvin complained on his deathbed of the ill-treatment he had
repeatedly received from the government of Berne. [900] Opera, Vol. VII. pp. ...
/.../ 59 the consensus of.htm

A New Venture
... He returned home to face bitter persecution for refusing to pay the temple taxes;
it was understood that no robbery of his crops, or ill-treatment of his person ...
/.../cable/the fulfilment of a dream of pastor hsis/chapter iii a new venture.htm

Ill-treatment (4 Occurrences)
Ill-treatment. Ill-treated, Ill-treatment. Illuminate .
Multi-Version Concordance Ill-treatment (4 Occurrences). Acts ...
/i/ill-treatment.htm - 7k

Treatment (6 Occurrences)
... Acts 7:34 I have surely seen the illtreatment of my people which is in Egypt, and
I have heard their groan, and have come down to take them out of it; and now ...
/t/treatment.htm - 8k

Suffering (104 Occurrences)
... common phrases are "to suffer affliction" (1 Thessalonians 3:4 Hebrews 11:25, the
Revised Version (British and American) "share ill-treatment"), "to suffer ...
/s/suffering.htm - 40k

Illuminate (1 Occurrence)

/i/illuminate.htm - 7k

Ill-treated (7 Occurrences)
Ill-treated. Illtreated, Ill-treated. Ill-treatment . Multi-Version Concordance ...
Illtreated, Ill-treated. Ill-treatment . Reference Bible.
/i/ill-treated.htm - 8k

Fleeting (9 Occurrences)
... Fleeting (9 Occurrences). Hebrews 11:25 choosing rather to share illtreatment with
God's people, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time; (See RSV). ...
/f/fleeting.htm - 8k

Endured (22 Occurrences)
... 2:14 For you, brethren, followed the example of the Churches of God in Christ Jesus
which are in Judaea; seeing that you endured the same ill-treatment at the ...
/e/endured.htm - 12k

Enjoy (68 Occurrences)
... Hebrews 11:25 choosing rather to share illtreatment with God's people, than to
enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time; (WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV). ...
/e/enjoy.htm - 26k

Mistreated (14 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). Hebrews 11:25 choosing rather to share illtreatment with God's people,
than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time; (See NIV). ...
/m/mistreated.htm - 10k

Pleasures (18 Occurrences)
... Hebrews 11:25 choosing rather to share illtreatment with God's people, than to
enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time; (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV). ...
/p/pleasures.htm - 11k

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