WAR

Two principal Greek words are employed in the N.T. to represent the idea of "fighting" and "war." Polemeo (18 times) means to "fight" or "make war." Strateuomai (7 times) is to "carry out a military engagement, to be a soldier." "War" is used in both literal and figurative senses in the Scriptures. (a) Physical warfare is referred to on occasion (see Mt. 24:6; Lk. 14:31), and is called "carnal" or "of the flesh" (2 Cor. 10:4 ASV). There is no sanction in the N.T. for Christians to be engaged in such conflicts. Opposite admonitions are the rule (Mt. 5:9; 43ff; 26:52; Jn. 18:36; Rom. 12:17ff; 2 Cor. 10:4ff; Eph. 6:12; Heb. 12:14). If the Christian loves his brother (1 Pet. 1:22), his neighbor (Mt. 22:39), and his enemy (Mt. 5:43ff), with whom shall he war? (b) There is a spiritual warfare between the forces of good and evil. Christians are to "war the good warfare" (1 Tim. 1:18; cf. 2 Tim. 4:7), arming themselves with spiritual weapons (Eph. 6:11ff), bringing the "thoughts" of men into captivity (2 Cor. 10:5). (c) There is the internal "war" against sin that rages in every Christian's soul as he attempts to defeat the flesh in deference to spiritual values (Rom. 7:23; Jas. 4:1; 1 Pet. 2:11).