Topical Encyclopedia
The term "contended" in the Bible often refers to the act of striving, struggling, or disputing, whether in a physical, verbal, or spiritual sense. It is a concept that appears in various contexts throughout the Scriptures, illustrating both human and divine interactions.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "contend" is "riyb," which can mean to strive or dispute. One notable instance is found in
Genesis 26:20, where the herdsmen of Gerar contended with Isaac's herdsmen over water rights: "But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen and said, 'The water is ours!' So he named the well Esek, because they contended with him" . This passage highlights the everyday disputes that could arise over resources, reflecting the broader human condition of conflict and competition.
Another significant use of the term is in the context of divine contention. In
Isaiah 49:25, God declares His intention to contend with those who oppose His people: "For I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children" . Here, the term underscores God's protective and redemptive role, assuring His people of His active involvement in their struggles.
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the Greek word "epagonizomai" is used, which conveys the idea of earnestly contending or striving.
Jude 1:3 exhorts believers to "contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints" . This passage emphasizes the importance of defending the core tenets of the Christian faith against false teachings and moral decay.
The Apostle Paul also uses the concept of contention in a positive light, as seen in
1 Corinthians 9:25, where he compares the Christian life to an athlete's disciplined striving: "Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable" . Here, contention is associated with the pursuit of spiritual goals and the discipline required to achieve them.
Spiritual and Theological ImplicationsTheologically, the concept of contending is significant in understanding the Christian life as a spiritual battle.
Ephesians 6:12 reminds believers that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" . This passage calls Christians to recognize the spiritual dimension of their struggles and to rely on God's strength and armor in their contention against evil.
Moreover, the idea of contending is closely linked to perseverance and faithfulness. The believer is called to contend not only against external opposition but also against internal struggles such as doubt, sin, and temptation. The act of contending, therefore, becomes a means of spiritual growth and maturity, as believers learn to rely on God's grace and truth.
Historical and Cultural ContextIn the ancient Near Eastern context, contention often arose over issues such as land, water, and inheritance, reflecting the agrarian and tribal nature of the societies. These disputes were sometimes resolved through negotiation, legal proceedings, or divine intervention, as seen in various biblical narratives.
In the early Christian context, contention also took the form of defending the faith against heresies and external persecution. The early church fathers and councils often engaged in theological contention to preserve the integrity of Christian doctrine.
ConclusionThe concept of contending in the Bible encompasses a range of human experiences and divine interactions, from everyday disputes to spiritual battles. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle between good and evil and the believer's call to stand firm in faith, relying on God's strength and guidance.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
imp. & p. p.) of Contend.
Strong's Hebrew
5327b. natsah -- to struggle... 5327a, 5327b. natsah. 5327c . to struggle. Transliteration: natsah Short
Definition:
contended. Word Origin a prim. root Definition
...8280. sarah -- to persist, exert oneself, persevere
... sarah. 8281 . to persist, exert oneself, persevere. Transliteration: sarah Phonetic
Spelling: (saw-raw') Short Definition:contended. Word Origin a prim....
6229. asaq -- to contend
... asaq. 6230 . to contend. Transliteration: asaq Phonetic Spelling: (aw-sak) Short
Definition:contended.... root Definition to contend NASB Word Usagecontended (1...
4695. matstsuth -- strife, contention
... Word Origin from natsah Definition strife, contention NASB Word Usage quarrel (1).
quarrel. From natsah; a quarrel -- thatcontended. see HEBREW natsah....
7378. rib -- to strive, contend
... root Definition to strive, contend NASB Word Usage argue (2), complain (2), contend
(22),contended (9), contends (1), dispute (1), ever strive (1), filed (1...
Library
Epistle Lxiv. To Rogatianus, Concerning the Deacon whoContended...
... Epistle LXIV. To Rogatianus, Concerning the Deacon WhoContended Against
the Bishop. Argument."Cyprian Warns the Bishop Rogatianus...
Whether Contention is a Mortal Sin?
... Objection 4: Further, Job seems to havecontended with God, according to Job
39:32: "Shall he that contendeth with God be so easily silenced?" And yet Job was...
Acts x. 44, 46
... And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcisioncontended
with him, saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat...
For those who First, when the Persecution Waxed Warm...
... within, and, as it were by some inward voice, impelled to war down and subdue the
adversary who was exulting; for this they earnestlycontended, that he might...
The Heresiarchs of that Age.
... those days. In the guise of a philosopher [1085] he preached the divine
word, andcontended for the faith in his writings. He wrote...
That, in the Resurrection, the Substance of Our Bodies, However...
... flesh as food,"an extremity not unknown, as both ancient history and the unhappy
experience of our own days have taught us,"can it becontended, with any...
Whether Christ was a Man During the Three Days of his Death?
... However, some writers havecontended that Christ was a man during those three days,
uttering words which are indeed erroneous, yet without intent of error in...
Whether the Angels Exist in any Great Number?
... Platocontended that the separate substances are the species of sensible things;
as if we were to maintain that human nature is a separate substance of itself...
The Ceremonies and Discipline Op the Church as Illustrated by...
... The rite for which theycontended had been practised in the Church of Jerusalem
since its very establishment; the ministers by whom they had been taught had...
Extracts No. Iii.
... But when you havecontended successfully for this (which by no means has any power
to refute his argument) you seem not to realize that there must be as great...
Thesaurus
Contended (24 Occurrences)...Contended (24 Occurrences). John 6:52 The Jews therefore
contended with one another,
saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" (WEB DBY WBS).
...Reprimanded (5 Occurrences)
... Nehemiah 13:11 Thencontended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God
forsaken? I gathered them together, and set them in their place. (See NAS)....
Remonstrated (6 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Nehemiah 13:11 Thencontended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house
of God forsaken? I gathered them together, and set them in their place....
Argued (20 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). Acts 23:9 A great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees
part stood up, andcontended, saying, "We find no evil in this man....
Contend (56 Occurrences)
... (WBS). 2 Timothy 2:5 And if also a man contend in the games, he is not crowded,
except he havecontended lawfully.... With his hands hecontended for himself....
Circumcision (98 Occurrences)
... But Paul would by no means consent to the demand that Titus should be circumcised
(Galatians 2:3-5). The great point for which hecontended was the free...
Nobles (71 Occurrences)
... Nehemiah 5:7 Then I consulted with myself, andcontended with the nobles and the
rulers, and said to them, You exact usury, everyone of his brother....
Summoned (103 Occurrences)
... This is that Dathan and Abiram, summoned of the assembly, whocontended against
Moses and against Aaron in the band of Korah, when theycontended against...
Jonah (30 Occurrences)
... book. Keil, Pusey, Delitzsch, Orelli, J. Kennedy and others havecontended
for the historical character of the narrative. A few...
Flame (61 Occurrences)
... It has beencontended, not without plausibility, that for Jesus Himself the source
of the title may have been the employment of it in the voice from heaven at...
Resources
Who were Euodia and Syntyche in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgHow has Greek philosophy influenced Christianity? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the beliefs of Jesus only / oneness Pentecostals? | GotQuestions.orgContended: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
