Contentious

There is much written about the contentious spirit.

The New Testament

We find the word contention translated from the the Greek word eris appearing also as strife and debate. It appears nine times in the New Testament. It is a noun talking about contention, strife, and wrangling. It is almost always associated with causing trouble. 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.

The Old Testament

Proverbs 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

Proverbs 17:14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, 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.

Proverbs 18:19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions 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.

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.

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 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.