WAR

The New Testament uses two principal Greek words to represent the idea of "fighting" and "war." Polemeo (18 times) means to "fight" or "make war." Strateuomai (7 times) means to "carry out a military engagement, to be a soldier."

The Scriptures use war in both literal and figurative senses.

Physical warfare appears occasionally (see Matthew 24:6; Luke 14:31) and is called "carnal" or "of the flesh" (2 Corinthians 10:4 ASV). The New Testament sanctions no such conflicts for Christians. Opposite admonitions are the rule (Matthew 5:9; 43ff; 26:52; John 18:36; Romans 12:17ff; 2 Corinthians 10:4ff; Ephesians 6:12; Hebrews 12:14). If the Christian loves his brother (1 Peter 1:22), his neighbor (Matthew 22:39), and his enemy (Matthew 5:43ff), with whom shall he war?

Spiritual warfare rages between the forces of good and evil. Christians are to "war the good warfare" (1 Timothy 1:18; cf. 2 Timothy 4:7), arming themselves with spiritual weapons (Ephesians 6:11ff), bringing the "thoughts" of men into captivity (2 Corinthians 10:5).

An internal war against sin rages in every Christian's soul as he attempts to defeat the flesh in deference to spiritual values (Romans 7:23; James 4:1; 1 Peter 2:11).