What does the Bible say about reproach and contempt?

Reproach and contempt are terms that describe the scorn and derision that believers may face from the world due to their faith in God and adherence to His commandments. Psalm 119:22 highlights the psalmist's plea to God to remove reproach and contempt that he faces for following God's testimonies. This reproach often comes from a world that does not understand or accept the gospel, which Paul notes in 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, where the message of the cross is perceived as foolishness by those who are perishing. Believers are called to stand firm in the truth of their faith, even when facing societal contempt, and to find comfort in the fact that Christ bore ultimate reproach on our behalf, as described in Isaiah 53.