5379. philoneikia

Lexicon

philoneikia: Strife, contentiousness, rivalry

Original Word: φιλονεικία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: philoneikia
Pronunciation: fee-lo-nay-KEE-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (fil-on-i-kee'-ah)
Definition: Strife, contentiousness, rivalry
Meaning: love of dispute, contention.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

strife.

From philoneikos; quarrelsomeness, i.e. A dispute -- strife.

see GREEK philoneikos

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from philoneikos
Definition
love of strife
NASB Translation
dispute (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 5379: φιλονεικία

φιλονεικία, φιλονεικίας, ἡ (φιλόνεικος, which see), love of strife, eagerness to contend (Plato, Plutarch, Lucian, others; 4 Macc. 1:26); contention: Luke 22:24. (2 Macc. 4:4; Thucydides 8, 76; Josephus, Antiquities 7, 8, 4; Antoninus 3, 4; in a good sense, emulation, Xenophon, Plato, Demosthenes, Plutarch, others.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from φίλος (philos, meaning "friend" or "loving") and νείκος (neikos, meaning "strife" or "quarrel").

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for φιλονεικία, similar concepts can be found in Hebrew words related to strife and contention, such as:
• מַדּוֹן (madon) • Strife, contention (Strong's Hebrew 4066)
• רִיב (rib) • Dispute, controversy (Strong's Hebrew 7379)

These Hebrew terms, like φιλονεικία, convey the idea of conflict and discord, which are addressed throughout the biblical narrative as behaviors to be avoided in favor of peace and reconciliation.

Usage: The word φιλονεικία is used in the New Testament to describe a disposition that is contrary to the Christian virtues of peace and unity. It is often associated with selfish ambition and divisiveness.

Context: In the New Testament, φιλονεικία is used to highlight the dangers of a contentious spirit within the Christian community. This term appears in contexts where the apostolic writers warn against behaviors that disrupt harmony and fellowship among believers. The Apostle Paul, in particular, addresses the issue of φιλονεικία in his epistles, urging the early church to avoid such attitudes that lead to division and conflict.

For instance, in Philippians 2:3, Paul exhorts the believers: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves." Here, φιλονεικία is implied in the warning against selfish ambition, which is a root cause of strife and discord. The apostolic teaching consistently emphasizes the importance of unity, humility, and love as foundational to the Christian life, contrasting sharply with the destructive nature of φιλονεικία.

The presence of φιλονεικία within a community can lead to factions and disputes, undermining the witness of the church. Therefore, the New Testament encourages believers to cultivate a spirit of peace and cooperation, reflecting the character of Christ, who is the ultimate example of humility and selflessness.

Forms and Transliterations

φιλονεικια φιλονεικία philoneikia philoneikía

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 22:24 N-NFS
GRK: δὲ καὶ φιλονεικία ἐν αὐτοῖς
NAS: also a dispute among
KJV: there was also a strife among them,
INT: moreover also a dispute among them

Strong's Greek 5379
1 Occurrence

φιλονεικία — 1 Occ.