Topical Encyclopedia The term "perverse" in the biblical context often refers to a deliberate and obstinate deviation from what is considered morally right or good. It is a characteristic frequently attributed to the wicked, illustrating their rebellion against God's laws and their inclination towards corruption and immorality.Biblical References: 1. Proverbs 2:12-15 : "Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways, who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perversity of evil, whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways." This passage highlights the perverse nature of the wicked, emphasizing their departure from righteousness and their enjoyment in wrongdoing. 2. Proverbs 6:12-14 : "A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth, winking his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers. With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord." Here, the perverse speech and actions of the wicked are depicted as tools for spreading deceit and discord, further illustrating their corrupt nature. 3. Proverbs 16:28 : "A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip separates close friends." This verse underscores the destructive impact of perversity, as it leads to division and strife among people, disrupting harmony and relationships. 4. Isaiah 19:14 : "The LORD has mixed within her a spirit of confusion; they have made Egypt stagger in all she does, as a drunkard staggers in his vomit." The perverse spirit here is associated with confusion and instability, reflecting the chaos that results from turning away from God's order. 5. Romans 1:28-32 : "Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful; they invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents. They are senseless, faithless, heartless, and merciless." This passage from Romans provides a comprehensive list of the manifestations of a perverse mind, showing how it leads to a wide array of sinful behaviors. Theological Implications: The perverse character of the wicked is a direct affront to the holiness and righteousness of God. It represents a willful rejection of divine truth and an embrace of moral corruption. The Bible consistently warns against such perversity, urging believers to seek wisdom and righteousness instead. The perverse are often depicted as those who not only engage in sin but also take pleasure in leading others astray, further compounding their guilt. Moral and Ethical Considerations: From a moral standpoint, perversity is seen as a fundamental flaw in character that leads to a life of sin and separation from God. It is a condition that requires repentance and transformation through the power of the Holy Spirit. The scriptures call for vigilance against the influence of the perverse, encouraging believers to uphold truth and integrity in all aspects of life. In summary, the character of the wicked as perverse is a recurring theme in the Bible, serving as a cautionary tale of the dangers of straying from God's path. It is a call to pursue righteousness and to guard one's heart against the corrupting influence of sin. Nave's Topical Index Deuteronomy 32:5They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation. Nave's Topical Index Library Reprobation. That Evil Comes of Sloth, and virtue from Diligence, and that ... "They have Corrupted Themselves; their Spot is not the Spot of his ... A Preservative against Unsettled Notions, and Want of Principles ... The Many-Sided Contrast of Wisdom and Folly Of the Five Sacraments, Falsely So Called. Their Spuriousness ... The Eternal Punishment of the Wicked Reconciled with the Goodness ... Sedatus of Tuburbo Said: "Inasmuch as Water... Its Meaning The Knowledge of God Stifled or Corrupted, Ignorantly or ... Resources What does the Bible say about Christian character? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the character of God? | GotQuestions.org How does bad company corrupt good character (1 Corinthians 15:33)? | 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 |