Table of Contents
What is Strife?
Strife is selfish effort or contention due to selfish ambition and pride.
Quick Facts On The Meaning of Strife:
Strife Meaning Cont'd:
- A good strife definition is selfish ambition driven by hatred, pride and violent dissension.
- In Scripture strife is associated with hatred, anger, contention, and sharp disagreement.
- Strife will not exist in a humble person who trusts in the Lord but you will find it in a prideful person who wants to get his own way.
- Strife can also be defined as bickering, discord, antagonism, or quarreling.
Church Fathers on Strife, Division, and Discord
| Church Father | Quote | Theological Emphasis |
|---|---|---|
| Clement of Rome 1 Clement c. 96 AD | “Why are there strifes and angry outbursts and dissensions and schisms among you? Have we not one God and one Christ and one Spirit of grace?” | Strife within the Church is a denial of unity in Christ; a call to reconciliation and peace. |
| Ignatius of Antioch Letter to the Philadelphians c. 110 AD | “Do nothing in strife, but in love and unity with your bishop and presbyters.” | Obedience and love overcome divisive strife; unity with Church authority is key. |
| Polycarp of Smyrna Letter to the Philippians, Ch. 2 c. 135 AD | “Let us forsake the vain talk and the false teachings... and let us return to the word delivered to us from the beginning, being temperate, and forsaking all unrighteous wrath and strife.” | Strife is linked to false teaching and unrighteous behavior; return to apostolic truth. |
| Irenaeus of Lyons Against Heresies, IV.33.7 c. 180 AD | “Those who bring about strife and divisions are perverting the faith... for the true Church is marked by unity and peace.” | Division is opposed to the faith; unity is a mark of the true Church. |
| Tertullian On Patience c. 200 AD | “Wrath leads to strife, and strife to division... but patience quenches the flame of anger.” | Patience as the antidote to strife and the key to Christian virtue. |
| Cyprian of Carthage On the Unity of the Church, Ch. 27 c. 251 AD | “What raging madness to rend the Church, to cut the one body of Christ! He who makes a schism is an antichrist and an enemy of the Lord.” | Strife and schism are not just errors—they are spiritual rebellions. |
| Origen Homilies on Joshua, Homily 15 c. 245 AD | “Strife within the camp weakens the people of God more than the assault of enemies without.” | Internal disunity is more dangerous than external threats. |
| Athanasius Festal Letter 5 c. 333 AD | “Strife is foreign to those who have received the peace of Christ.” | Strife is unnatural for Christians and opposes the gift of Christ’s peace. |
| Basil the Great Letter 203 c. 375 AD | “Let us not give place to strife, which has already destroyed so many churches... but let us seek peace and the things that make for peace.” | A plea for reconciliation and unity, especially amid doctrinal conflict. |
| Gregory of Nyssa Against Eunomius, Book 1 c. 380 AD | “Every heresy begins with strife and pride.” | Pride and self-will are the roots of division and doctrinal strife. |
| John Chrysostom Homily on Philippians 2:1–2 c. 390 AD | “Strife springs from empty glory; humility is the path to unity.” | Humility is the antidote to ambition and strife. |
| Ambrose of Milan On the Duties of the Clergy, Book 1.30 c. 391 AD | “Where there is strife, there is pride. Let the servant of Christ flee from contentions.” | Strife flows from pride; peace should mark Christian character. |
| Jerome Letter 22 to Eustochium c. 384 AD | “Let us not tear apart the seamless garment of Christ with strife and discord.” | A reference to schism as the tearing of Christ's unity. |
| Augustine of Hippo Sermon 96.3 c. 410 AD | “In essentials, unity; in doubtful matters, liberty; in all things, charity. For where there is strife, love is absent.” | Charity overcomes strife, even in differences. |
| Augustine of Hippo City of God, XIX.12 c. 426 AD | “The earthly city is full of strife, driven by pride and self-love. But the city of God is built on peace and love.” | Strife belongs to the fallen world; peace marks the heavenly city. |
| Leo the Great Sermon 8, On Unity c. 450 AD | “The bond of unity is shattered by the tongue of strife.” | Speech can be a powerful agent of division. |
| Gregory the Great Pastoral Rule, Part II, Ch. 4 c. 590 AD | “The pastor must be vigilant that no strife arises among the flock, for such contentions can quickly devour what has been built.” | Leaders must guard against strife as it can destroy spiritual progress. |
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Strife Synonyms
- conflict
- friction
- discord
- disagreement
- dissension
- variance
- dispute
- argument
- quarreling
- wrangling
- bickering
- controversy
- contention
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Scripture Passages that Define What Strife and Conflict Mean Biblically
2 Timothy 2:23-25 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
- Proverbs 17:14 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
- Proverbs 28:25 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
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- Proverbs 22:10 He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.
- Proverbs 15:18 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
- James 4:1 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
Proverbs 16:28 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
- Proverbs 20:3 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
- Proverbs 29:22 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
- Proverbs 26:20 An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
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What does strife mean in the Bible? It means selfish ambition and vain glory in most instances.
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