Contentious
There is much written about the contentious spirit.
We find the word contention translated from the the Greek word eris [1] appearing also as strife and debate. It appears nine times[2] in the New Testament. It is a noun talking about contention, strife, and wrangling. It is almost always associated with causing trouble and division.
Of course Jesus caused trouble but he was always trying to bring people together in righteousness. There will always be debate but the manner of that debate will likely cause division more than the topic itself.
Where there is disagreement among people they should try to work out the difference rather than creating factions of supporters and promoting debates which divide the people.
Being a debater is often a habit and if we are not careful we may fall back into that habit like an addiction. So there are things we can do to avoid that unfruitful debate.
New Testament
- Acts 15:39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
- Romans 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
- 1 Corinthians 1:10 ¶ Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and [that] there be no divisions among you; but [that] ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
- 1 Corinthians 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. 17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 19 For there must be also heresies[3] among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
- Philippians 1:16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
- 1 Thessalonians 2:2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
The Old Testament
We see the word contention first in the Old Testament in Proverbs translated from the Hebrew word matstsah:
- Proverbs 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention[4]: but with the well advised is wisdom.
The Hebrew word matstsah is also translated strife and debate.[5] The second time is also in Proverbs but it is from a different Hebrew word riyb:
- Proverbs 17:14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention[6], before it be meddled with.
- Proverbs 18:6 A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
- Proverbs 18:18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
The fourth time is also in Proverbs but again it is another different Hebrew word midyan:
- Proverbs 18:19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions[7] are like the bars of a castle.
- Proverbs 19:13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
- Proverbs 21:19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
- Proverbs 22:10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
- Proverbs 23:29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
- Proverbs 26:21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
Finally we see in Jeremiah another Hebrew word madown used to produce contention:
- Jeremiah 15:10 Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention[8] to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me.
- Proverbs 27:15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
- Habakkuk 1:3 Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.
Footnotes
- ↑ 2054 ~ἔρις~ eris \@er’-is\@ of uncertain affinity; ; n f AV-strife 4, debate 2, contention 2, variance 1; 9 1) contention, strife, wrangling
- ↑ Romans 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate <2054>, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Romans 13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife <2054> and envying.
1 Corinthians 1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions <2054> among you.
1 Corinthians 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife <2054>, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
- 2 Corinthians 12:20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates <2054>, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
- Galatians 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance <2054>, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
- Philippians 1:15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife <2054>; and some also of good will:
- 1 Timothy 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife <2054>, railings, evil surmisings,
- Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions <2054>, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
- ↑ 139 ~αἵρεσις~ hairesis \@hah’-ee-res-is\@ from 138; n f AV-sect 5, heresy 4; 9
- 1) act of taking, capture: e.g. storming a city
- 2) choosing, choice
- 3) that which is chosen
- 4) a body of men following their own tenets (sect or party)
- 4a) of the Sadducees
- 4b) of the Pharisees
- 4c) of the Christians
- 5) dissensions arising from diversity of opinions and aims For Synonyms see entry 5916
- ↑ 04683 ^הצמ^ matstsah \@mats-tsaw’\@ from 05327; n f; AV-contention 1, strife 1, debate 1; 3 1) strife, contention
- ↑ : : Proverbs 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention <04683>: but with the well advised is wisdom.
- Proverbs 17:19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife <04683>: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
- Isaiah 58:4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate <04683>, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.
- ↑ 07379 ^ביר^ riyb \@reeb\@ or ^בר^ rib \@reeb\@ from 07378; n m; AV-cause 24, strife 16, controversy 13, contention 2, misc 7; 62
- 1) strife, controversy, dispute
- 1a) strife, quarrel
- 1b) dispute, controversy, case at law
- 1) strife, controversy, dispute
- ↑ 04079 ^ןידמ^ midyan \@mid-yawn’\@ or (plural) ^םינידמ^ a variation for 04066; n m; AV-contention 7, brawling 2; 9 1) strife, contention
- ↑ 04066 ^ןודמ^ madown \@maw-dohn’\@ from 01777; n m; AV-strife 7, contention 3, discord 1, variant 7; 18
- 1) strife, contention
- 1a) strife, contention
- 1b) object of contention
- 1) strife, contention