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Extrabiblical Examples of Courage, Compassion, and Forgiveness

Courage, compassion, and forgiveness are virtues exemplified throughout biblical narratives and further illuminated by theological reflection. The Bible presents numerous instances of these qualities, often highlighting their divine origin and human application.

Courage, or boldness, is frequently linked to faith and trust in God [6]. Christ himself is presented as an example of holy boldness [6]. The prophets are also cited as examples of suffering and patience, which implies a form of courage in their steadfastness [2]. This boldness is not a human-generated bravado but is produced by trust in God and the fear of God [6]. It is a characteristic of saints and is something to be prayed for [6]. Ministers, in particular, are exhorted to exhibit boldness in their faithfulness to their people and in their preaching [6].

Compassion is a core attribute of God, who is described as "ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness" [3]. This divine compassion serves as a model for human behavior [8]. Believers are exhorted to show compassion, especially towards the afflicted, the chastened, enemies, the poor, the weak, and fellow saints [8]. The name "Rehum" itself means "merciful" or "compassionate," reflecting the value placed on this quality [7]. The Apostle Paul encourages believers to "be kind and tenderhearted to one another" [4]. John Chrysostom emphasizes that believers should be imitators of God, walking in love and showing kindness and tenderheartedness [16]. one tradition notes that past events, such as God's forgiveness in Christ, provide a powerful and convincing basis for this exhortation [16]. Jesus' ministry is characterized by compassionate forgiveness and sustenance, rather than increasing people's burdens [11].

Forgiveness is presented as a divine attribute and a commanded human response. God's forgiveness is rooted in His mercy, love, goodness, and truth [15, 17]. The unexpected grace and love of God, particularly as manifested in Christ, are seen as melting people into true repentance, which mere legal fear could not achieve [10]. God's long-suffering in sparing sinners, despite their rebellions, is attributed to His everlasting covenant [13].

Christ set an example of forgiveness, even praying for those who crucified him [1]. Believers are commanded to forgive without limit, as Christ forgave them [1, 4]. This forgiveness should be accompanied by forbearance and kindness, and it is a characteristic of saints [1, 4]. The motive for human forgiveness is rooted in God's mercy, our own need for forgiveness, and God's forgiveness of us in Christ [1]. Forgiveness is seen as a glory to saints and is essential for receiving forgiveness from God [1]. Revenge, conversely, is explicitly forbidden, with Christ serving as an example of forbearing revenge [5]. Instead of seeking revenge, believers are encouraged to trust in God, exhibit love, bless those who wrong them, and overcome evil with kindness [5].

The importance of forgiveness is highlighted by John Calvin, who argues that if believers have been injured by fellow members of the Church, they must not be rigid in pardoning the offense [12]. He extends this humanity to all people but emphasizes the stronger obligation within the community of faith, noting that the "bond of religion" should incline individuals to compassion [12]. The "long forbearing" nature of God, or "slowness to anger," is presented as a model for human interaction, suggesting that gentleness and kindness can overcome obstinacy [14]. Josephus also records an appeal to the "goodness" and "excellent nature" of a leader for deliverance from punishment, reflecting an ancient understanding of the power of mercy [9].

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Forgiveness of Injuries — Christ set an example of -- Lu 23:34. Commanded -- Mr 11:25; Ro 12:19. To be unlimited -- Mt 18:22; Lu 17:4. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 7:4. Motives to The mercy of God. -- Lu 6:36. Our need of forgiveness. -- Mr 11:25. God's forgiveness of us. -- Eph 4:32. Christ's forgiveness of us. -- Col 3:13. A glory to saints -- Pr 19:11. Should be accompanied by Forbearance. -- Col 3:13. Kindness. -- Ge 45:5-11; Ro 12:20. Blessing and prayer. -- Mt 5:44. Promises to -- Mt 6:14; Lu 6:37. No forgiveness without -- Mt 6:15; Jas 2:13. Illustrated --”
  2. James “James 5:10 (ASV) — Take, brethren, for an example of suffering and of patience, the prophets who spake in the name of the Lord.”
  3. Nehemiah “and refused to obey, neither were they mindful of your wonders that you did among them, but hardened their neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But you are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and didn’t forsake them. -- Nehemiah 9:17”
  4. Ephesians “Ephesians 4:32 (BSB) — Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Revenge — Forbidden by our Lord -- Le 19:18; Pr 24:17,29; Mt 5:39-41; Ro 12:17,19; 1Th 5:15; 1Pe 3:9. Christ an example of forbearing -- Isa 53:7; 1Pe 2:23. Rebuked by Christ -- Lu 9:54,55. Inconsistent with Christian spirit -- Lu 9:55. Proceeds from a spiteful heart -- Eze 25:15. Instead of taking, we should Trust in God. -- Pr 20:22; Ro 12:16. Exhibit love. -- Le 19:18; Lu 6:35. Give place to wrath. -- Ro 12:19. Exercise forbearance. -- Mt 5:38-41. Bless. -- Ro 12:14. Overcome others by kindness. -- Pr 25:21,22; Ro 12:20. Keep others from taking -- 1Sa 24:10; 25:24”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Boldness, Holy — Christ set an example of -- Joh 7:26. Is through faith in Christ -- Eph 3:12; Heb 10:19. A characteristic of saints -- Pr 28:1. Produced by Trust in God. -- Isa 50:7. The fear of God. -- Ac 4:19; 5:29. Faithfulness to God. -- 1Ti 3:13. Express your trust in God with -- Heb 13:6. Have, in prayer -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16. Saints shall have, in judgment -- 1Jo 4:17. Exhortations to -- Jos 1:7; 2Ch 19:11; Jer 1:8; Eze 3:9. Pray for -- Ac 4:29; Eph 6:19,20. Ministers should exhibit, in Faithfulness to their people. -- 2Co 7:4; 10:1. Preaching. -- Ac 4:31; Ph”
  7. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Rehum — merciful; compassionate”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Communion With God — Christ set an example of -- Lu 19:41,42. Exhortation to -- Ro 12:15; 1Pe 3:8. Exercise towards The afflicted. -- Job 6:14; Heb 13:3. The chastened. -- Isa 22:4; Jer 9:1. Enemies. -- Ps 35:13. The poor. -- Pr 19:17. The weak. -- 2Co 11:29; Ga 6:2. Saints. -- 1Co 12:25,26. Inseparable from love to God -- 1Jo 3:17; Joh 4:20. Motives to The compassion of God. -- Mt 13:27,33. The sense of our infirmities. -- Heb 5:2. The wicked made to feel, for saints -- Ps 106:46. Promise to those who show -- Pr 19:17; Mt 10:42. Illustrated -- Lu 10:33; 15:20. Exemp”
  9. Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 6, section 9: have been very wicked with regard to thee, and on that account deserved punishment; even all of us may justly be punished, although the theft were not committed by all, but only by one of us, and he the youngest also; but yet there remains some hope for us, who otherwise must be under despair on his account, and this from thy goodness, which promises us a deliverance out of our present danger. And now I beg thou wilt not look at us, or at that great crime we have been guilty of, but at thy own excellent nature, and take advice of”
  10. Ezekiel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ezekiel 36:31: remember your . . . evil ways--with shame and loathing. The unexpected grace and love of God, manifested in Christ to Israel, shall melt the people into true repentance, which mere legal fear could not (Eze 16:61, Eze 16:63; Psa 130:4; Zac 12:10; compare Jer 33:8-9).”
  11. Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 12:20: 12:20 Instead of increasing people’s spiritual burden, Jesus offers compassionate forgiveness and sustenance (see 11:28-30; 12:1-14).”
  12. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 2 (Gen 24-50), section 27.13: that if we have been injured by the members of the Church, we must not be too rigid and immovable in pardoning the offense. This humanity indeed is generally enjoined upon us towards all men: but when the bond of religion is superadded, we are harder than iron, if we are not inclined to the exercise of compassion. And we must observe, that they expressly mention the God of Jacob: because the peculiar faith and worship by which they were distinguished from the rest of the nations, ought to unite them with each other in a closer b”
  13. Ezekiel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ezekiel 20:17: Nevertheless--How marvellous that God should spare such sinners! His everlasting covenant explains it, His long-suffering standing out in striking contrast to their rebellions (Psa 78:38; Jer 30:11).”
  14. Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 25:15: Gentleness and kindness overcome the most powerful and obstinate. long forbearing--or, "slowness to anger" (Pro 14:29; Pro 15:18).”
  15. Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 25:11: God's perfections of love, mercy, goodness, and truth are manifested (his name, compare Psa 9:10) in pardoning sin, and the greatness of sin renders pardon more needed.”
  16. CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: Homily XVII. Ephesians iv. 32 and v. 1, 2 “And be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you. Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell.” The events which are past have greater force than those which are yet to come, and appear to be both more wonderful and more convincing. And hence accordingly Paul founds his exhortatio”
  17. Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 36:5: mercy . . . and . . . faithfulness--as mercy and truth (Psa 25:10).”
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