Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, opposition refers to resistance or hostility encountered by individuals or groups, often in the pursuit of God's will or righteousness. This theme is prevalent throughout Scripture, manifesting in various forms, from personal adversities to large-scale conflicts.
Old Testament Instances1.
Cain and Abel: The first recorded instance of opposition is found in
Genesis 4, where Cain opposes Abel out of jealousy, leading to the first murder. This act of opposition is rooted in Cain's rejection of God's favor towards Abel's offering.
2.
Moses and Pharaoh: In Exodus, Moses faces opposition from Pharaoh, who refuses to let the Israelites go. This resistance is a significant theme in the narrative of the Exodus, highlighting the struggle between God's will and human obstinacy.
Exodus 5:2 records Pharaoh's defiance: "But Pharaoh replied, 'Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.'"
3.
Prophets and Kings: The prophets often faced opposition from the kings and people of Israel and Judah. For example, Elijah confronted King Ahab and the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18), while Jeremiah faced persecution for his prophecies of Jerusalem's destruction (Jeremiah 38).
New Testament Instances1.
Jesus Christ: Jesus faced significant opposition from the religious leaders of His time, including the Pharisees and Sadducees. This opposition culminated in His crucifixion.
John 11:53 notes, "So from that day on they plotted to kill Him."
2.
The Apostles: The early church encountered opposition from both Jewish and Roman authorities. The apostles were often imprisoned, beaten, and threatened for preaching the gospel.
Acts 5:40-41 describes one such instance: "They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name."
3.
Paul the Apostle: Paul experienced opposition throughout his ministry, from both Jews and Gentiles. In
2 Corinthians 11:24-26 , he recounts his sufferings: "Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea; in my frequent journeys, I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles..."
Theological ImplicationsOpposition in the Bible often serves to test and strengthen the faith of God's people. It is seen as a tool used by God to refine and purify His followers, as well as a means to demonstrate His power and faithfulness.
James 1:2-4 encourages believers to view trials as opportunities for growth: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
Spiritual WarfareThe concept of spiritual warfare is closely linked to opposition.
Ephesians 6:12 reminds believers that their struggle is not merely against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world's darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Response to OppositionThe biblical response to opposition is often characterized by faith, perseverance, and reliance on God's strength. Believers are encouraged to stand firm, as seen in
Ephesians 6:13 : "Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand."
Throughout Scripture, opposition is portrayed as an inevitable part of the believer's journey, yet it is also an opportunity to witness God's sovereignty and grace.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The act of opposing; an attempt to check, restrain, or defeat; resistance.
2. (n.) The state of being placed over against; situation so as to front something else.
3. (n.) Repugnance; contrariety of sentiment, interest, or purpose; antipathy.
4. (n.) That which opposes; an obstacle; specifically, the aggregate of persons or things opposing; hence, in politics and parliamentary practice, the party opposed to the party in power.
5. (n.) The situation of a heavenly body with respect to another when in the part of the heavens directly opposite to it; especially, the position of a planet or satellite when its longitude differs from that of the sun 180; -- signified by the symbol /; as, / / /, opposition of Jupiter to the sun.
6. (n.) The relation between two propositions when, having the same subject and predicate, they differ in quantity, or in quality, or in both; or between two propositions which have the same matter but a different form.
Greek
477. antithesis --opposition...opposition. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: antithesis Phonetic
Spelling: (an-tith'-es-is) Short Definition:
opposition Definition: a proposition
...475. antidiatithemi -- to oppose, set oneself inopposition
... to oppose, set oneself inopposition. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
antidiatithemi Phonetic Spelling: (an-tee-dee-at-eeth'-em-ahee) Short Definition:...
483. antilego -- to speak against, hence to contradict, oppose
... oppose. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: antilego Phonetic Spelling:
(an-til'-eg-o) Short Definition: I speak or say inopposition, contradict Definition...
474. antiballo -- to throw in turn, exchange
... turn, exchange. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: antiballo Phonetic Spelling:
(an-tee-bal'-lo) Short Definition: I throw at inopposition, exchange words...
471. anteipon -- to speak against
... to speak against. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: anteipon Phonetic Spelling:
(an-tep'-o) Short Definition: I speak or say inopposition, I contradict...
3710. orgizo -- to make angry
... angry. Cognate: 3710 -- be angry, as expressing a "fixed anger" (settled
opposition). 3710 ("to show settled-opposition") is when...
2596. kata -- down, against, according to
... In composition it retains many of these applications, and frequently denotes
opposition, distribution, or intensity. (kath) -- 61 Occurrences....
2189. echthra -- yesterday
... See 2190 (). enmity, hatred. Feminine of echthros; hostility; by implication,
a reason foropposition -- enmity, hatred. see GREEK echthros....
480. antikeimai -- to lie opposite, ie oppose, withstand
... and keimai Definition to lie opposite, ie oppose, withstand NASB Word Usage adversaries
(1), contrary (1), enemy (1), opponents (3), opposes (1),opposition (1...
73. agon -- a gathering, contest, struggle
... Word Origin from ago Definition a gathering, contest, struggle NASB Word Usage
conflict (1), fight (2),opposition (1), race (1), struggle (1)....
Strong's Hebrew
8569. tenuah --opposition... 8568, 8569. tenuah. 8570 .
opposition. Transliteration: tenuah Phonetic
Spelling: (ten-oo-aw') Short Definition:
opposition. Word
...7147. qeri --opposition, contrariness
... 7146, 7147. qeri. 7148 .opposition, contrariness. Transliteration: qeri
Phonetic Spelling: (ker-ee') Short Definition: hostility....
8409. tigrah -- contention, strife, hostility
... 8408, 8409. tigrah. 8410 . contention, strife, hostility. Transliteration:
tigrah Phonetic Spelling: (tig-raw') Short Definition:opposition....
2617. checed -- goodness, kindness
... From chacad; kindness; by implication (towards God) piety: rarely (byopposition)
reproof, or (subject.) Beauty -- favour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly...
7855. sitnah -- accusation
... 1). accusation. From satan;opposition (by letter) -- accusation. see HEBREW
satan. 7854, 7855. sitnah. 7856 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
On Fasting. InOpposition to the Psychics
On Fasting. InOpposition to the Psychics. <. On Fasting. In
Opposition to the Psychics Tertullian. Translated by Rev....
InOpposition to those of the School of Epicurus who Deny The
... II."From the Books on Nature. I. InOpposition to Those of the School
of Epicurus Who Deny the. Existence of a Providence, and...
Opposition to Jesus.
... CHAPTER XX.OPPOSITION TO JESUS. During the first period of his career, it
does not appear that Jesus met with any seriousopposition....
The Anathemas of Cyril inOpposition to Nestorius.
... The Anathemas of Cyril inOpposition to Nestorius. (Mansi T. IV.
p.1067-1082, Migne Cat.76, col.391. The anathemas of Nestorius...
InOpposition to the Reminiscence of Plato and Pythagoras....
... Book XII. Chapter 15."InOpposition to the Reminiscence of Plato and
Pythagoras. Pythagoras the Samian. Of the Difference Between...
Opposition to Messiah Ruinous
... Sermon XXXVOpposition to Messiah Ruinous.Opposition to Messiah Ruinous
Psalm 2:9. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou...
Opposition to Messiah in Vain
... Sermon XXXIVOpposition to Messiah in Vain.Opposition to Messiah in Vain
Psalm 2:4. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the...
Opposition to Messiah Unreasonable
... Sermon XXXIIIOpposition to Messiah Unreasonable.Opposition to Messiah Unreasonable...
implies that theiropposition would be both groundless and ineffectual....
InOpposition to Plato, the Soul was Created and Originated at...
... Chapter IV."InOpposition to Plato, the Soul Was Created and Originated at
Birth. After settling the origin of the soul, its condition...
InOpposition to those who Foolishly Imagine that Christ Converted...
... the harmony of the gospels.Book I. Chapter XI."InOpposition to Those Who Foolishly
Imagine that Christ Converted the People to Himself by Magical Arts. 17....
Thesaurus
Opposition (22 Occurrences)... the position of a planet or satellite when its longitude differs from that of the
sun 180; -- signified by the symbol /; as, / / /,
opposition of Jupiter to
...Object (76 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To set before or against; to bring intoopposition; to oppose.... 3. (vi) To
makeopposition in words or argument; -- usually followed by to....
Oppose (29 Occurrences)
... exhibit. 2. (n.) To put inopposition, with a view to counterbalance or
countervail; to set against; to offer antagonistically. 3...
Resistance (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (n.) The quality of not yielding to force or external pressure; that power of
a body which acts inopposition to the impulse or pressure of another, or...
Defiance (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The act of defying, putting inopposition, or
provoking to combat; a challenge; a provocation; a summons to combat....
Walked (178 Occurrences)
... people; (YLT). Leviticus 26:23 And if by these ye are not instructed by Me,
and have walked with Me 'in'opposition, (YLT). Leviticus 26...
Body (562 Occurrences)
... i: I. PHILOLOGICAL: Generally speaking, the Old Testament language employs no fixed
term for the human body as an entire organism in exactopposition to "soul...
Godless (31 Occurrences)
... of the word is that of pollution and profanity; a condition of not merely being
without God but assuming an attitude of open and blatantopposition toward God....
War (529 Occurrences)
... war. 7. (n.) a state ofopposition or contest; an act ofopposition; an
inimical contest, act, or action; enmity; hostility. 8. (vi...
Traverse (5 Occurrences)
... 14. (v.) To lay in a cross direction; to cross. 15. (v.) To cross by way ofopposition;
to thwart with obstacles; to obstruct; to bring to naught. 16....
Resources
Was the Apostle Paul actually a false prophet? | GotQuestions.orgWho was John of Damascus? | GotQuestions.orgSummary of the Book of Haggai - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.orgOpposition: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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