{
  "id": "dict_003456",
  "term": "malice",
  "slug": "malice",
  "letter": "M",
  "entry_type": "theological_term",
  "entry_family": "theological_term",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "Malice is a sinful attitude of ill will, spite, or desire to harm another person. Scripture treats it as part of the old way of life believers must put away.",
  "simple_one_line": "",
  "tooltip_text": "",
  "aliases": [],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [],
  "see_also": [],
  "lede_intro": "",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [],
  "description_academic_short": "In Scripture, malice refers to evil intent, hostility, or a settled desire to injure others in thought, speech, or action. It is condemned as inconsistent with holy living and Christian love. Believers are told to lay aside malice and instead show kindness, forgiveness, and brotherly love.",
  "description_academic_full": "Malice in the Bible is a morally corrupt disposition of the heart that includes ill will, spite, resentment, or a desire to harm others. It may show itself openly through slander, cruelty, and revenge, or more subtly through bitterness and hostile motives. Scripture consistently condemns malice as sin and contrasts it with the character God calls His people to display, such as love, compassion, gentleness, and forgiveness. In the New Testament especially, Christians are exhorted to put away malice as part of abandoning the old life and to pursue conduct shaped by Christlike love and purity.",
  "background_biblical_context": "",
  "background_historical_context": "",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "",
  "key_texts_primary": [],
  "key_texts_secondary": [],
  "original_language_note": "",
  "theological_significance": "",
  "philosophical_explanation": "",
  "interpretive_cautions": "",
  "major_views_note": "",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "",
  "practical_significance": "",
  "meta_description": "Malice is a sinful attitude of ill will, spite, or desire to harm another person. Scripture treats it as part of the old way of life believers must put away.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/malice/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/malice.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}