Lexical Summary strateia: warfare, military service, campaign Original Word: στρατεία Strong's Exhaustive Concordance warfare. From strateuomai; military service, i.e. (figuratively) the apostolic career (as one of hardship and danger) -- warfare. see GREEK strateuomai NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom strateuó Definition a campaign, expedition, hence warfare NASB Translation fight (1), warfare (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4752: στρατείαστρατεία, στρατείας, ἡ (στρατεύω), an expedition, campaign; military service, warfare: Paul likens his contest with the difficulties that oppose him in the discharge of his apostolic duties to a warfare, 2 Corinthians 10:4 (where Tdf. στρατιᾶς, see his note); 1 Timothy 1:18. ((Herodotus, Xenophon, others.)) Topical Lexicon Literary context Paul chooses the term when addressing two distinct audiences. In 1 Timothy 1:18 he urges a young pastor to “fight the good fight” so that the congregation remains grounded in truth. In 2 Corinthians 10:4 he reassures a skeptical church that apostolic authority does not depend on worldly power: “The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” Both settings portray Christian ministry as an organized campaign conducted under Christ’s command. Historical background First-century readers lived under Rome’s constant military presence. στρατεία evoked compulsory service, strategic planning, and total allegiance to a commanding officer. Soldiers endured hardship, received specialized training, and sought victory for the glory of emperor and empire. Paul appropriates the imagery, transferring every element—from discipline to objective—to life in Christ’s kingdom. Theological themes 1. Spiritual conflict behind visible reality. Fleshly means are inadequate because the true battle is “against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil” (compare Ephesians 6:12). Ministry application • Personal discipline: Scripture intake, prayer, holiness, and fellowship parallel a soldier’s training regimen (1 Corinthians 9:26-27). Intercanonical resonances Old Testament battles foreshadow New Covenant engagement. Israel’s victories occurred “not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6), prefiguring the spiritual nature of the Church’s warfare. The decisive theme, “The battle belongs to the LORD” (1 Samuel 17:47), now unfolds on the plane of minds, hearts, and eternal destinies. Church tradition and later usage Early fathers spoke of the “militia Christi,” urging believers to adopt soldierly virtues. Medieval liturgy contrasted the “church militant” with the “church triumphant,” capturing the already-not-yet dimension implicit in στρατεία. Reformers reapplied the metaphor to doctrinal reformation; modern missions continue the line, viewing unreached peoples as territory to be peacefully but decisively liberated by the gospel. Reflection and exhortation The two brief appearances of στρατεία encapsulate a perennial summons: enlist under Christ, embrace disciplined devotion, employ heaven-supplied weapons, guard the purity of the gospel, and press forward until every thought, culture, and kingdom bows to the Victor who has already “disarmed the powers and authorities” (Colossians 2:15). Forms and Transliterations στρατειαν στρατείαν στρατειας στρατείας strateian strateían strateias strateíasLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Corinthians 10:4 N-GFSGRK: ὅπλα τῆς στρατείας ἡμῶν οὐ NAS: for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, KJV: of our warfare [are] not INT: weapons of the warfare of us [are] not 1 Timothy 1:18 N-AFS Strong's Greek 4752 |
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