S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

Flattery can be defined as "the act of giving excessive compliments, generally for the purpose of ingratiating oneself with the subject." The difference between flattery and a compliment is the ben...

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October 03 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

Flattery is mentioned in the Bible in the following verses:

Proverbs 7:21-23:
With her many persuasions she entices him;
With her flattering lips she seduces him.
Suddenly he follows her
As an ox goes to the slaughter,
Or as one in fetters to the discipline of a fool,
Until an arrow pierces through his liver;
As a bird hastens to the snare,
So he does not know that it will cost him his life.

Proverbs 27:6:
Faithful are the wounds of a friend,

Daniel 6:21:
Then Daniel spoke to the king, “O king, live forever!”

Daniel 11:34:
Now when they fall they will be granted a little help, and many will join with them in hypocrisy.

Here is an instance of flattery by the Tyrians --
Acts 12:22:
The people kept crying out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!”

MSG: The people played their part to the hilt and shouted flatteries: "The voice of God! The voice of God!" --https://classic.net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Act&chapter=12#22

Tertullus flatters Felix, Acts 24:2-4: After Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying to the governor, "Since we have through you attained much peace, and since by your providence reforms are being carried out for this nation, we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness. But, that I may not weary you any further, I beg you to grant us, by your kindness, a brief hearing.”

Acts 24:10: 
And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense.”

Before Agrippa, Acts 26:2, 3. This is one of the last instance of flattery I’ll cite:

It's an instance of flattery before Herod Agrippa ii:
Acts 26:2-3:
"In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today; especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently."

Paul's goal here was not to defend himself per se but to convert Herod. This is the flattery he used when he said, "you are an expert in all customs and questions...with the Jews." See Acts 26:28-29-- 
28 "And Agrippa said unto Paul, 'With but little persuasion thou wouldest fain make me a Christian.' 29 And Paul said, 'I would to God, that whether with little or with much, not thou only, but also all that hear me this day, might become such as I am, except these bonds.'" 
—MacArthur

Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Flattery
https://www.openbible.info/topics/flattery
https://classic.net.bible.org/dictionary.php?word=Flattery

Jude 1:16: These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage. (ESV) -- A verse listed in my Logos Bible Software under Topic Guide


I'd like to conclude with a verse from Proverbs 28:23 --
The Message
23 In the end, serious reprimand is appreciated
far more than bootlicking flattery.

February 02 2023 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report