What does the Bible say about character assassination?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible condemns malicious slander and calls God’s people to speak truthfully, humbly, and lovingly, trusting Him to judge false accusations. Believers should keep a clear conscience and gentle conduct so that those who malign them may be put to shame, as 1 Peter 3:16 teaches. Jesus blesses those reviled falsely for His sake in Matthew 5:11, and Isaiah 53 shows that Christ Himself endured unjust accusation. Psalm 11 reminds us that the Lord sees the wicked and upholds the righteous. When sin is real, Galatians 6:1 calls for careful restoration, not public humiliation. James 5:16 encourages honest confession and prayer, while Revelation 21:8 warns that deceit remains under God’s judgment.
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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- 1 Peter 3:16
having a good conscience; that, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good manner of life in Christ.
- Psalms 11:1-7
[1] > In Yahweh, I take refuge. How can you say to my soul, "Flee as a bird to your mountain!" [2] For, behold, the wicked bend their bows. They set their arrows on the strings, That they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart. [3] If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do? [4] Yahweh is in his holy temple. Yahweh is on his throne in heaven. His eyes observe. His eyes examine the children of men. [5] Yahweh examines the righteous, But the wicked and him who loves violence his soul hates. [6] On the wicked he will rain blazing coals; Fire, sulfur, and scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. [7] For Yahweh is righteous. He loves righteousness. The upright shall see his face.
- Revelation 21:8
But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."
- James 5:16
Confess your offenses to one another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effective, earnest prayer of a righteous man is powerfully effective.
- 2 Corinthians 11:20
For you bear with a man, if he brings you into bondage, if he devours you, if he takes you captive, if he exalts himself, if he strikes you on the face.
- Galatians 6:1
Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also aren't tempted.
- Matthew 23:1-3
[1] Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples, [2] saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees sat on Moses' seat. [3] All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but don't do their works; for they say, and don't do.
- Isaiah 53:1-12
[1] Who has believed our message? and to whom has the arm of Yahweh been revealed? [2] For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he has no form nor comeliness; and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. [3] He was despised, and rejected by men; a man of suffering, and acquainted with disease: and as one from whom men hide their face he was despised; and we didn't respect him. [4] Surely he has borne our sickness, and carried our suffering; yet we considered him plagued, struck by God, and afflicted. [5] But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed. [6] All we like sheep have gone astray; everyone has turned to his own way; and Yahweh has laid on him the iniquity of us all. [7] He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he didn't open his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is mute, so he didn't open his mouth. [8] By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who [among them] considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living for the disobedience of my people to whom the stroke [was due]? [9] They made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. [10] Yet it pleased Yahweh to bruise him; he has put him to grief: when you shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Yahweh shall prosper in his hand. [11] He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: by the knowledge of himself shall my righteous servant justify many; and he shall bear their iniquities. [12] Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul to death, and was numbered with the transgressors: yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
- Matthew 5:11
"Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
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