Works of the Flesh: Strife

Let us continue our study and turn our attention to the work of the flesh deemed as "strife" by Paul in Galatians 5:19-20:

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties...

The word translated as "strife" is the Greek word eris, defined by Thayer as "contention, strife, wrangling;" the Greeks even gave this name to one of their goddesses, Eris, who was known for causing controversy and dissension.

This word is also used to denote "strife" (Romans 13:13, 1 Corinthians 3:3, Philippians 1:15, 1 Timothy 6:3-4) and as "contentions" in 1 Corinthians 1:11. The term may also be found referring to the strife of the Gentiles in their depravity (Romans 1:29), concerning the Corinthians again in 2 Corinthians 12:20, and referring to the result of discussion of various Jewish traditions in Titus 3:9. We may see from these passages and those quoted above that "strife" is a characteristic that is of a carnal, or earthly, mind, not of soberness, and a mark for one who teaches falsely or preaches Christ from impure motives. So the Scriptures have described the term; we may see in English that it might be defined by the following three concepts in Webster's:

1. Exertion or contention for superiority; contest of emulation, either by intellectual or physical efforts.
2. Contention in anger or enmity; contest; struggle for victory; quarrel or war.
3. Opposition; contrariety; contrast.

We may see from these definitions that a main characteristic of strife is the desire for superiority and the willingness to fight for that superiority. How can this type of attitude be reconciled in a Christian who ought to heed his Lord in John 13:12-17 and Luke 18:14? The Christian ought to be a person known for a humble attitude, counting everyone else more worthy than himself; the idea of fighting for superiority would be foreign to such a one. Yet even in the first century there were persons causing this type of strife, as we might see in Diotrephes in 3 John 1:9-10:

I wrote somewhat unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Therefore, if I come, I will bring to remembrance his works which he doeth, prating against us with wicked words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and them that would he forbiddeth and casteth them out of the church.

We may also receive an indication from Paul's statements in 2 Corinthians 3:1 and 2 Corinthians 11-13 that those who were causing strife in Corinth were doing so by attempting to show their own superiority over the person and message of Paul. This type of conceit and arrogance is a mark for a false teacher, as Paul explained above in 1 Timothy 6:3-4, and members of the Lord's church would be well-served to note when some among them begin to act in this manner so that the Gospel might remain pure with them.

Nevertheless, we see from the definitions provided that a person causing strife does not necessarily need to be vying for superiority. They may simply be causing strife because they do not know better or because they enjoy doing it. We see in Romans 14 that strife was caused in the church at Rome because the brethren there did not recognize the concept of liberty in the eating of meat. We have seen above from Romans 1 and other passages that there are some people who, because of the depravity of their mind, enjoy causing contentions and strife. This is a strong indicator of a carnal mind, and the Christian must avoid these types of people so as to not cast their pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6).

We may look around us in the world today and see plenty of contentions and strife, yet let us strive to avoid strife as much as we are able. The Christian is to be a humble person, known for a desire for being peaceable. While the preaching of the Gospel will inevitably lead to some arguments, the Christian is called to handle this with dignity and respect and not allow himself to be brought down to ad hominem and derogatory arguments. There is no need for strife to ever be caused by a Christian, especially not within the household of faith. Please examine the Scriptures and message provided here and then examine your own practices: could you be a person known for causing strife? Possibly with unbelievers? Or with those within the faith? Think about these things and work diligently to be a person of humility and peace, not of contention and strife.

Let us always remember that strife is carnal, and we have a higher calling. We must act accordingly.

Ethan R. Longhenry
evangelist@norwalkchurch.org

The church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio

Thank you for reading the electronic version of our bulletin, Good News for Norwalk. If you live in Norwalk or happen to be traveling in the Norwalk area, we would certainly love to have you visit one of our assemblies!

Our location:

386 North Edgewood Drive (just off US 250 just north of Norwalk's city limits)
Norwalk, Ohio 44857

Our assemblies:

Sunday morning assembly: 10:30am
Sunday evening assembly: 6:00pm

Our Bible studies:

Sunday morning Bible study: 9:30am
Wednesday evening Bible study: 7:00pm

For More Information

If you have any questions or comments about anything you have read here, or desire more information, please contact our evangelist, Ethan Longhenry, at evangelist@norwalkchurch.org.

Please click here to return to the 2007 archive of Good News for Norwalk, or click here to return to the main page of Good News for Norwalk. Thanks!