Strife.

From: The New Topical Textbook By: Reuben Archer Torrey

• 2 min. read • grade level: 13

Christ, an example of avoiding. Isa. 42:2²He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. (Isaiah 42:2), with Matt. 12:15-19¹⁵But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; ¹⁶And charged them that they should not make him known: ¹⁷That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, ¹⁸Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles. ¹⁹He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. (Matthew 12:15‑19). Luke 9:52-56⁵²And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. ⁵³And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. ⁵⁴And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? ⁵⁵But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. ⁵⁶For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village. (Luke 9:52‑56). 1 Peter 2:23²³Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: (1 Peter 2:23).

Forbidden. Prov. 3:30³⁰Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm. (Proverbs 3:30). Prov. 25:8⁸Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbor hath put thee to shame. (Proverbs 25:8).

A work of the flesh. Gal. 5:20²⁰Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, (Galatians 5:20).

An evidence of a carnal spirit. 1 Cor. 3:3³For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? (1 Corinthians 3:3).

Existed in primitive church. 1 Cor. 1:11¹¹For 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 1:11).

EXCITED BY

Hatred. Prov. 10:12¹²Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. (Proverbs 10:12).

Pride. Prov. 13:10¹⁰Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom. (Proverbs 13:10). Prov. 28:25²⁵He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat. (Proverbs 28:25).

Wrath. Prov. 15:18¹⁸A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. (Proverbs 15:18). Prov. 30:33³³Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife. (Proverbs 30:33).

Frowardness. Prov. 16:28²⁸A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. (Proverbs 16:28).

A contentious disposition. Prov. 26:21²¹As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. (Proverbs 26:21).

Tale-bearing. Prov. 26:20²⁰Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. (Proverbs 26:20).

Drunkenness. Prov. 23:29, 30²⁹Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? ³⁰They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. (Proverbs 23:29‑30).

Lusts. James 4:1¹From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? (James 4:1).

Curious questions. 1 Tim. 6:4⁴He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, (1 Timothy 6:4). 2 Tim. 2:23²³But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. (2 Timothy 2:23).

Scorning. Prov. 22:10¹⁰Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease. (Proverbs 22:10).

Difficulty of stopping, a reason for avoiding it. Prov. 17:14¹⁴The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. (Proverbs 17:14).

Shameful in saints. 2 Cor. 12:20²⁰For 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, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: (2 Corinthians 12:20). James 3:14¹⁴But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. (James 3:14).

SAINTS SHOULD

Avoid. Gen. 13:8⁸And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. (Genesis 13:8). Eph. 4:3³Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3).

Avoid questions that lead to. 2 Tim. 2:14¹⁴Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. (2 Timothy 2:14).

Not walk in. Rom. 13:13¹³Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. (Romans 13:13).

Not act from. Phi. 2:3.

Do all things without. Phi. 2:14.

Submit to wrong rather than engage in. Prov. 20:22²²Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee. (Proverbs 20:22). Matt. 5:39, 40³⁹But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. ⁴⁰And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. (Matthew 5:39‑40). 1 Cor. 6:7⁷Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? (1 Corinthians 6:7).

Seek God's protection from. Psa. 35:1¹<<A Psalm of David.>> Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. (Psalm 35:1). Jer. 18:19¹⁹Give heed to me, O Lord, and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me. (Jeremiah 18:19).

Praise God for protection from. 2 Sam. 22:44⁴⁴Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me. (2 Samuel 22:44). Psa. 18:43⁴³Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me. (Psalm 18:43).

Saints kept from tongues of. Psa. 31:20²⁰Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. (Psalm 31:20).

MINISTERS SHOULD

Avoid. 1 Tim. 3:3³Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; (1 Timothy 3:3). 2 Tim. 2:24²⁴And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, (2 Timothy 2:24).

Avoid questions that lead to. 2 Tim. 2:23²³But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. (2 Timothy 2:23). Titus 3:9⁹But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. (Titus 3:9).

Not preach through. Phi. 1:15, 16.

Warn against. 1 Cor. 1:10¹⁰Now 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. (1 Corinthians 1:10). 2 Tim. 2:14¹⁴Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. (2 Timothy 2:14).

Reprove. 1 Cor. 1:11, 12¹¹For 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. ¹²Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:11‑12). 1 Cor. 3:3³For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? (1 Corinthians 3:3). 1 Cor. 11:17, 18¹⁷Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. ¹⁸For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. (1 Corinthians 11:17‑18).

Appeased by slowness to anger. Prov. 15:18¹⁸A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. (Proverbs 15:18).

It is honorable to cease from. Prov. 20:3³It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. (Proverbs 20:3).

Hypocrites make religion a pretense for. Isa. 58:4⁴Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, 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. (Isaiah 58:4).

Fools engage in. Prov. 18:6⁶A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. (Proverbs 18:6).

Evidences a love of transgression. Prov. 17:19¹⁹He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. (Proverbs 17:19).

LEADS TO

Blasphemy. Lev. 24:10, 11¹⁰And the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel: and this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp; ¹¹And the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the Lord, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan:) (Leviticus 24:10‑11).

Injustice. Hab. 1:3, 4³Why dost thou show me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. ⁴Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. (Habakkuk 1:3‑4).

Confusion and every evil work. James 3:16¹⁶For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. (James 3:16).

Violence. Ex. 21:18, 22¹⁸And if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed: (Exodus 21:18)
²²If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. (Exodus 21:22).

Mutual destruction. Gal. 5:15¹⁵But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. (Galatians 5:15).

Temporal blessings embittered by Prov. 17:1¹Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. (Proverbs 17:1).

Excludes from heaven. Gal. 5:20 21.

Promoters of, should be expelled. Prov. 22:10¹⁰Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease. (Proverbs 22:10).

Punishment for. Psa. 55:9⁹Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city. (Psalm 55:9).

Strength and violence of—Illustrated. Prov. 17:14¹⁴The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. (Proverbs 17:14). Prov. 18:19¹⁹A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle. (Proverbs 18:19).

Danger of joining in—Illustrated. Prov. 26:17¹⁷He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears. (Proverbs 26:17).

Exemplified. Herdmen of Abram and of Lot, Gen. 13:7⁷And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. (Genesis 13:7). Herdmen of Gerar and of Isaac, Gen. 26:20²⁰And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. (Genesis 26:20). Laban and Jacob, Gen. 31:36³⁶And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me? (Genesis 31:36). Two Hebrews, Ex. 2:13¹³And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? (Exodus 2:13). Israelites, Deut. 1:12¹²How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife? (Deuteronomy 1:12). Judah and Israel, 2 Sam. 19:41-43⁴¹And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan? ⁴²And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's cost? or hath he given us any gift? ⁴³And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel. (2 Samuel 19:41‑43). Disciples, Luke 22:24²⁴And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. (Luke 22:24). Judaizing Teachers, Acts 15:2²When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. (Acts 15:2). Paul and Barnabas, Acts 15:39³⁹And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; (Acts 15:39). Pharisees and Sadducees, Acts 23:7⁷And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. (Acts 23:7). Corinthians, 1 Cor. 1:11¹¹For 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 1:11). 1 Cor. 6:6⁶But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. (1 Corinthians 6:6).

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The New Topical Textbook

• Strangers in Israel.

• Strife.

• Temple, the Second.

• Theocracy, the, or Immediate Government by God.

• Threshing.

• Time.

• Tithe.