Lexical Summary antagónizomai: To struggle against, to oppose, to contend Original Word: ἀνταγωνίζομαι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance strive against. From anti and agonizomai; to struggle against (figuratively) ("antagonize") -- strive against. see GREEK anti see GREEK agonizomai NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom anti and agónizomai Definition to struggle against NASB Translation striving (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 464: ἀνταγωνίζομαιἀνταγωνίζομαι; to struggle, fight; πρός τί, against a thing, Hebrews 12:4 (cf. Winers Grammar, § 52, 4, 3). (Xenophon, Plato, Demosthenes, etc.) Topical Lexicon Definition and Core Idea ἀνταγωνίζομαι pictures an intense, face-to-face contest in which one labors to overcome an opposing force. The solitary New Testament appearance in Hebrews 12:4 anchors the verb in the moral arena of resisting sin, yet its imagery reaches beyond that single verse to illuminate broader biblical themes of steadfastness, discipline, and victorious faith. Biblical Context Hebrews 12:4 reminds believers, “In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood”. The verse is set within a larger exhortation that compares the Christian life to a race (Hebrews 12:1-3) and to filial training under a loving Father (Hebrews 12:5-11). By situating the struggle against sin inside these metaphors, the writer reinforces a holistic vision: believers run with perseverance, endure corrective discipline, and actively oppose any entangling sin that threatens progress toward the heavenly goal. Relation to Athletic Imagery Greco-Roman audiences would have recognized ἀνταγωνίζομαι from athletic contests, especially wrestling and pankration, where opponents strove for victory through stamina and strategic resistance. The author of Hebrews harnesses this cultural backdrop to emphasize spiritual endurance. Just as Olympic athletes disciplined body and mind for temporary crowns, Christians discipline heart and conduct for an imperishable reward (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). Spiritual Warfare and Perseverance Although Hebrews 12:4 focuses on resisting sin, the verb resonates with passages that describe the believer’s warfare against spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:10-18), the world’s pressures (Romans 12:2), and the flesh’s desires (Galatians 5:17). The contest is neither passive nor merely defensive; it calls for deliberate counter-action energized by grace. Victory is certain because it rests on Christ’s once-for-all triumph (Colossians 2:15), yet believers participate through vigilant opposition to everything that compromises holiness. Christological Dimensions The immediate context links believers’ struggle to Jesus’ own suffering: “Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:3). Christ’s obedience unto death provides both the model and the enabling power for every subsequent contest. The shedding of His blood sets the ultimate benchmark—one the original recipients had not yet reached, but one that calibrates every lesser resistance and prevents complacency. Pastoral Applications 1. Encouragement amid Persecution: Early Christian communities facing social ostracism or physical danger could read Hebrews 12:4 as a call to sober courage, reminding them that growth often occurs in hardship. Historical Usage in Early Church Early Christian writers, echoing Hebrews, urged believers to “strive lawfully” and “contend” for purity of doctrine and life. The Didache exhorts disciples to “fight” the evil one; Ignatius encourages the Philadelphians to “contend with the power of faith.” Such exhortations show that ἀνταγωνίζομαι framed the church’s self-understanding as a people under training for godliness and witness. Implications for Discipleship and Community • Intentional Training: Discipleship involves structured practices—Scripture intake, prayer, fasting—that condition believers for the long contest. Devotional Reflection The singular New Testament use of ἀνταγωνίζομαι concentrates its force: every believer is called into direct, personal engagement against sin. Yet Hebrews situates that engagement within a grand panorama—surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses,” fixed on Jesus, sustained by paternal discipline, and destined for an unshakeable kingdom. Thus, the command to struggle is simultaneously an invitation to depend on grace, a summons to holy ambition, and a promise of ultimate triumph in Christ. Forms and Transliterations ανταγωνιζομενοι ανταγωνιζόμενοι ἀνταγωνιζόμενοι αντακούσεται αντάρη antagonizomenoi antagonizómenoi antagōnizomenoi antagōnizómenoiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Hebrews 12:4 V-PPM/P-NMPGRK: τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ἀνταγωνιζόμενοι NAS: of shedding blood in your striving against KJV: unto blood, striving against sin. INT: sin wrestling |
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