The term "combated" refers to the act of engaging in conflict or struggle, often with the intent to overcome an adversary or challenge. In the biblical context, combat can be both physical and spiritual, reflecting the broader themes of warfare, resistance, and perseverance found throughout Scripture.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, physical combat is a recurring theme, often depicted in the narratives of Israel's battles against surrounding nations. These conflicts are frequently portrayed as divinely sanctioned, with God Himself leading or empowering the Israelites to victory. For example, in the Book of Joshua, the Israelites are commanded to combat the inhabitants of Canaan to take possession of the Promised Land. Joshua 10:42 states, "Joshua conquered all these kings and their lands in one campaign, because the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel."

The concept of combat also extends to personal struggles and moral challenges. The account of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 illustrates both physical and spiritual combat. David's victory over Goliath is not merely a triumph of arms but a demonstration of faith in God's power to deliver His people. David declares in 1 Samuel 17:47 , "And all those assembled here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give all of you into our hands."

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the focus shifts from physical combat to spiritual warfare. Believers are called to combat spiritual forces of evil and to stand firm in their faith. Ephesians 6:12 emphasizes this spiritual struggle: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

The Apostle Paul frequently uses the metaphor of combat to describe the Christian life. In 2 Timothy 4:7 , Paul reflects on his own life, saying, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." This passage highlights the perseverance and dedication required in the spiritual combat of the Christian journey.

Spiritual Armor and Warfare

The New Testament provides believers with guidance on how to combat spiritual adversaries. Ephesians 6:13-17 describes the "armor of God," which includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. This passage underscores the importance of being spiritually equipped to withstand the challenges and temptations of life.

Resistance to Temptation

Combating temptation is another significant aspect of spiritual warfare. Jesus Himself exemplified this during His temptation in the wilderness, as recorded in Matthew 4:1-11. Jesus resisted the devil's temptations by quoting Scripture, demonstrating the power of God's Word in combating evil.

Conclusion

The biblical concept of combat encompasses both physical and spiritual dimensions, reflecting the ongoing struggle between good and evil. Believers are called to engage in this combat with faith, relying on God's strength and the spiritual resources He provides.(imp. & p. p.) of Combat.

Excursus C.
... 8); and on the general absence of personal reference to opponents, while
yet a definite and extant system seems to be combated. ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/excursus c.htm

It Will be Attempted to Give a Complete List of his Writings In
... The persons combated are not the Macedonians, who only formed a party on this question
at a later date, and whose position was not quite that combated in these ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/section 1 it will be.htm

I Remember Indeed that one of These People, when He was Convicted ...
... the strength of a single paragraph, that a writer had given his adherence to a heresy
which in the thousand or so other paragraphs of his work he had combated? ...
/.../20 i remember indeed that.htm

Jesus and the Syro-Phoenician Woman
... Now this was exactly the error of the Jews which Jesus had encountered and combated,
alike when He resisted the attempt to make Him King, in His reply to the ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxxiii jesus and the.htm

Editorial Note
... yet we may now be almost certain that he was a Christian, and an orthodox Christian,
for if it is true that he wrote those works, he combated Arianism during ...
/.../boethius/the consolation of philosophy/editorial note.htm

Why was Evolution the Method Chosen?
... The evils of the world are combated by his remedies; its passions are stayed, its
wrongs redressed, its energies for good or evil directed by his hand. ...
/.../drummond/the lowell lectures on the ascent of man/iii why was evolution the.htm

All Mankind Guilty; Or, Every Man Knows More than He Practises.
... generals. The conversation had taken a skeptical direction, and most of the
party had combated the doctrine of the Divine existence. ...
/.../shedd/sermons to the natural man/all mankind guilty or every.htm

Author's Introduction,
... almost permanent war against the empire, which had just reached the highest degree
of administrative perfection, and, governed by philosophers, combated in the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/renan/the life of jesus/authors introduction.htm

The Death of Saint George.
... So, taking leave of all present, he rode forward with as noble a spirit as
he did in Africa, when he combated the mighty green dragon. ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter twenty one the death.htm

Of the Agreement of the Evangelists Matthew and Luke in the ...
... us, than the gathering into His fold not only of the spectators of these foolish
shows, but even some of the actors in them; for He hath combated [1688] unto ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon i of the agreement.htm

Combated (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Combated (1 Occurrence). 2 Timothy 4:7 I have combated
the good combat, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (DBY). ...
/c/combated.htm - 6k

Combating (3 Occurrences)

/c/combating.htm - 7k

Combatants (1 Occurrence)

/c/combatants.htm - 6k

Combat (5 Occurrences)
... flesh; (DBY). 2 Timothy 4:7 I have combated the good combat, I have finished
the race, I have kept the faith. (Root in DBY). 2 Chronicles ...
/c/combat.htm - 8k

Paul (207 Occurrences)
... He finds no room for the heresy here combated, or for the details in Paul's
life, or for the linguistic peculiarities in Paul's style. ...
/p/paul.htm - 101k

Alexandria (4 Occurrences)
... For several centuries after the school disbanded its tenets were combated by the
"school of Antioch," but by the 8th century the Alexandrian theology was ...
/a/alexandria.htm - 31k

Apostle (25 Occurrences)
... He finds no room for the heresy here combated, or for the details in Paul's
life, or for the linguistic peculiarities in Paul's style. ...
/a/apostle.htm - 87k

Combated: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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