The estimation of a person in the sight of God or other people. Scripture stresses the importance of believers having a good reputation with those outside the faith.
God's defence of his own reputation
God's actions in history to uphold his reputation
Exodus 9:13–16 See also Ezekiel 20:9–10
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, stand before Pharaoh, and tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. Otherwise, I will send all My plagues against you and your officials and your people, so you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth. For by this time I could have stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with a plague to wipe you off the earth. But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power to you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.
God's rebukes his people for failing to uphold his reputation
Malachi 2:2 See also Malachi 1:6–11
If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to honor My name,” says the LORD of Hosts, “I will send a curse among you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already begun to curse them, because you are not taking it to heart.
God's promises to uphold his reputation
Ezekiel 36:22–23 See also Isaiah 42:8
Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: It is not for your sake that I will act, O house of Israel, but for My holy name, which you profaned among the nations to which you went. I will show the holiness of My great name, which has been profaned among the nations— the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when I show My holiness in you before their eyes.
The reputation of believers
Believers must seek a good reputation with God
Acts 24:16 See also 2 Corinthians 5:9–10; 1 Thessalonians 4:1
In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man.
Believers must have a good reputation with outsiders
Acts 5:13–16 See also Acts 2:46–47, Acts 24:16; 1 Timothy 3:7
Although the people regarded them highly, no one else dared to join them. Yet more and more believers were brought to the Lord — large numbers of both men and women. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed.
Believers must not boast to improve their own reputation
2 Corinthians 10:17–18 See also 1 Corinthians 3:5–7; Philippians 3:4–9
Rather, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
Believers must not seek a good reputation through outward show
Matthew 6:16–18 See also Matthew 6:1–8, Matthew 23:2–12
When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Believers may find that serving God leads to a bad reputation with unbelievers
Acts 17:5–8 See also 1 Kings 19:1–5; Luke 23:1–2
The Jews, however, became jealous. So they brought in some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and sent the city into an uproar. They raided Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas, hoping to bring them out to the people. But when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, named Jesus!” On hearing this, the crowd and city officials were greatly disturbed.
Good reputations
Examples of God-fearers with a good reputation
Luke 7:3–5 the centurion; Acts 10:1–4 Cornelius
Examples of believers with a good reputation
Daniel 6:3–5 Daniel; Acts 9:36–39 Dorcas; Acts 16:1–2 Timothy; Acts 22:12–13 Ananias; Romans 1:8 the church at Rome
The blessing of a good reputation
Proverbs 22:1 See also Ecclesiastes 7:1
A good name is more desirable than great riches; favor is better than silver and gold.
Bad repuations
The reputation of sinners is known to God
Genesis 18:20–21 See also Revelation 3:1–2, Revelation 18:4–5
Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great. Because their sin is so grievous, I will go down to see if their actions fully justify the outcry that has reached Me. If not, I will find out.”
Examples of reputed sinners
1 Kings 16:29–33, 1 Kings 21:25–26; 2 Kings 21:16–17
Outward reputation cannot compare with a righteous heart
1 Samuel 16:7 See also 1 Chronicles 29:14–19; Revelation 3:1–3
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.