Bible Dictionary
VIOLENCE, VIOLENT
Violence means forceful or oppressive action, often involving harm or seizure. The difficult phrase about the kingdom of heaven being “taken by violence” has received several interpretations, and its precise meaning is uncertain.
Definition
Violence is forceful, oppressive, or harmful action, including seizure or suppression. Violent describes what is done with force or exceptional intensity. In one important Gospel passage, the precise sense is uncertain.
Biblical Usage
The Bible uses violence chiefly for forceful or oppressive action. The saying about the kingdom of heaven being taken or pressing violently has been understood in several ways, including forceful advance, suppression, or the vigorous response of those seeking the kingdom.
Historical Background
The difficult wording in Matthew and Luke permits either a middle sense, such as presses violently or storms, or a passive sense, such as is forced. The identity and character of the violent persons are also disputed in the supplied material.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>vi'-o-lens; vi'-o-lent: Chiefly for gazal, qamac; bia, and their derivatives. Difficulty is offered only by the very obscure passage Mt 11:12 parallel Lu 16:16. Both Matthew and Luke contain the verb biazetai, but this form maybe either a middle, "presses violently," "storms," or a passive, "is forced." Matthew, in addition, contains the adjective biastai, but whether this is a term of praise, "heroic enthusiasts," or of blame, "hot-headed revolutionaries," is again a problem. Nor can it be determined whether the words "from the days of John the Baptist until now" are meant to include or exclude the work of the Baptist himself. The difference in wording in Matthew and Luke further complicates the problem, and, in consequence, scholars are widely at variance as to the proper interpretation. "The Baptist has fanned a new Messianic storm of ill-advised insurrection," "the Pharisees have shamefully used forcible suppression of God's teachers," "the Kingdom of God comes like a storm and is received by those who have used drastic self-discipline," are instances of the differing explanations proposed.</p><p>Burton Scott Easton</p>