Topical Bible: Striving

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Definition and Context
Striving, in a biblical context, refers to the act of making great efforts to achieve or obtain something, often involving struggle or contention. It can be both a physical and spiritual endeavor, reflecting the human condition in its pursuit of righteousness, holiness, and the fulfillment of God's will. The concept of striving is woven throughout Scripture, illustrating the tension between human effort and divine grace.

Old Testament References
In the Old Testament, striving often appears in the context of conflict and contention. For example, in Genesis 6:3, God declares, "My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days shall be 120 years." Here, striving is associated with God's patience and the eventual judgment upon human sinfulness.

The Psalms frequently depict striving as a struggle against enemies or personal sin. Psalm 35:1 pleads, "Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me." This verse highlights the psalmist's reliance on God to strive on his behalf against adversaries.

New Testament References
In the New Testament, striving takes on a more spiritual dimension. Jesus speaks of striving in the context of entering the kingdom of God. In Luke 13:24, He instructs, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able." This striving is not about earning salvation through works but about the earnest pursuit of a life aligned with God's will.

The Apostle Paul frequently uses the metaphor of athletic striving to describe the Christian life. In 1 Corinthians 9:25, he writes, "Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable." Here, striving is depicted as disciplined effort in the pursuit of eternal rewards.

Paul also emphasizes the importance of striving in prayer and spiritual warfare. In Colossians 4:12, he commends Epaphras, who is "always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand mature and fully assured in the full will of God." This striving in prayer is a vital aspect of the believer's spiritual life, reflecting a deep commitment to intercession and spiritual growth.

Theological Implications
Striving in the Christian life is not about self-reliance but about cooperating with God's grace. Philippians 2:12-13 captures this balance: "Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence but now even more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose." This passage underscores that while believers are called to strive, it is ultimately God who empowers and enables them to fulfill His purposes.

Practical Application
Believers are encouraged to strive for holiness, peace, and the advancement of God's kingdom. Hebrews 12:14 exhorts, "Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord." This striving involves a commitment to live in harmony with others and to grow in personal sanctification.

In summary, striving in the biblical sense is a dynamic interplay between human effort and divine empowerment. It calls believers to a life of active pursuit of God's will, characterized by prayer, discipline, and reliance on the Holy Spirit.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Strive.

2. (a. & n.) from Strive.

Greek

3163. mache -- a fight
... fighting, strive, striving. From machomai; a battle, ie (figuratively) controversy --
fighting, strive, striving. see GREEK machomai. (machai) -- 2 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3163.htm - 6k

75. agonizomai -- to contend for a prize, struggle
... Verb Transliteration: agonizomai Phonetic Spelling: (ag-o-nid'-zom-ahee) Short
Definition: I strive, contend Definition: I am struggling, striving (as in an ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/75.htm - 7k

2212. zeteo -- to seek
... 1), inquire (1), looking (11), made efforts (1), search (4), searched (1), seek
(36), seek after (1), seeking (35), seeks (9), sought (4), striving (1), tried ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2212.htm - 9k

464. antagonizomai -- to struggle against
... contend. Word Origin from anti and agonizomai Definition to struggle against
NASB Word Usage striving (1). strive against. From ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/464.htm - 6k

4866. sunathleo -- to strive with
... Word Origin from sun and athleo Definition to strive with NASB Word Usage
shared...struggle (1), striving together (1). labor with, strive together for. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4866.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

7469. reuth -- longing, striving
... 7468, 7469. reuth. 7470 . longing, striving. Transliteration: reuth Phonetic
Spelling: (reh-ooth') Short Definition: striving. Word ...
/hebrew/7469.htm - 6k

7475. rayon -- longing, striving
... 7474, 7475. rayon. 7476 . longing, striving. Transliteration: rayon Phonetic
Spelling: (rah-yone') Short Definition: striving. Word ...
/hebrew/7475.htm - 6k

Library

That Sin is not the Striving for an Evil Nature, but the Desertion ...
... Concerning the Nature of Good, Against the Manich??ans. Chapter 34. "That Sin is
Not the Striving for an Evil Nature, But the Desertion of a Better. ...
/.../chapter 34 name sin is.htm

The Spirit not Striving Always.
... XVI. THE SPIRIT NOT STRIVING ALWAYS. "And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always
strive with man."-Gen. ... II. What is not intended by the Spirit's striving; ...
/.../finney/sermons on gospel themes/xvi the spirit not striving.htm

Thoughts Upon Striving to Enter at the Strait Gate.
... Thoughts upon Striving to enter at the strait Gate. AS certainly as we are
here now, it is not long but we shall all be in another ...
/.../private thoughts upon a christian life/thoughts upon striving to enter.htm

For I was in Such Wise Striving to Find Out the Rest...
... Book VII Chapter IV For I was in such wise striving to find out the rest?
For I was in such wise striving to find out the rest ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter iv for i was.htm

According to the Working of his Power
... we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man, that we may present every
man perfect in Christ Jesus; whereunto I also labour, striving according to His ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/murray/working for god/xxv according to the working.htm

Colossians iv. 12, 13
... Homily XII. Colossians iv. 12, 13. Colossians iv.12, 13 "Epaphras, who is one of
you, a servant of Christ Jesus, saluteth you, always striving for you in his ...
/.../homily xii colossians iv 12.htm

The God of Peace
... a strife in prayer, a surrounding the throne together, besieging God's mercy seat,
a crying out before God, until it actually amounts to a striving together in ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the god of peace.htm

Hebrews xii. 6-Apr
... middletown, Homily XXIX. Hebrews xii. 4-6. Hebrews xii.4-6 "Ye have not
yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xxix hebrews xii 6-apr.htm

Interpretation of the Details in the Narrative. Application ...
... that, because of the prayer of Jesus to the Father for the disciples, they suffered
nothing when sea and wave and contrary wind were striving against them. ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/6 interpretation of the details.htm

That in Our Spiritual Contest we Ought to Draw an Example from the ...
... of the world's contest, so that finally by a comparison with these, we may be able
to know what the blessed Apostle meant to teach to us who are striving in a ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xii that in our.htm

Thesaurus

Striving (33 Occurrences)
...Striving (33 Occurrences). ... John 6:52 The Jews, therefore, were striving with one
another, saying, 'How is this one able to give us 'his' flesh to eat?' (YLT). ...
/s/striving.htm - 16k

Word-striving (1 Occurrence)
Word-striving. Word's, Word-striving. Wore . Multi-Version
Concordance Word-striving (1 Occurrence). 1 Timothy 6:4 he ...
/w/word-striving.htm - 6k

Maintain (50 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 4:2 with all lowliness of mind and unselfishness, and with patience, bearing
with one another lovingly, and earnestly striving to maintain, (WEY). ...
/m/maintain.htm - 21k

Prize (13 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) That which may be won by chance, as in a lottery. 5. (n.) Anything worth
striving for; a valuable possession held or in prospect. ...
/p/prize.htm - 13k

Agony (20 Occurrences)
... The verb from which the noun "agony" is derived is used to denote an earnest endeavour
or striving, as "Strive [agonize] to enter" (Luke 13:24); "Then would my ...
/a/agony.htm - 18k

Struggling (3 Occurrences)
... Struggling (3 Occurrences). Colossians 1:29 for which also I labour, striving according
to his working that is working in me in power. (See NIV). ...
/s/struggling.htm - 7k

Strife (71 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The act of striving; earnest endeavor.
2. (n.) Exertion or contention for superiority; contest ...
/s/strife.htm - 27k

Wore (19 Occurrences)

/w/wore.htm - 11k

Striveth (7 Occurrences)

/s/striveth.htm - 8k

Tried (96 Occurrences)
... Acts 7:26 On the succeeding day, also, he shewed himself to them as they are striving,
and urged them to peace, saying, Men, brethren are ye, wherefore do ye ...
/t/tried.htm - 33k

Resources

What does it mean to contend for the faith? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about attitude? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about perfectionism? | GotQuestions.org

Striving: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Striving (33 Occurrences)

Luke 13:24
Be striving to go in through the straight gate, because many, I say to you, will seek to go in, and shall not be able;
(YLT)

John 6:52
The Jews, therefore, were striving with one another, saying, 'How is this one able to give us 'his' flesh to eat?'
(YLT)

Acts 7:26
On the succeeding day, also, he shewed himself to them as they are striving, and urged them to peace, saying, Men, brethren are ye, wherefore do ye injustice to one another?
(YLT)

Acts 23:9
And there came a great cry, and the scribes of the Pharisees' part having arisen, were striving, saying, 'No evil do we find in this man; and if a spirit spake to him, or a messenger, we may not fight against God;'
(YLT)

Romans 2:7
to those on the one hand who, by lives of persistent right-doing, are striving for glory, honour and immortality, the Life of the Ages;
(WEY)

1 Corinthians 9:25
and every one who is striving, is in all things temperate; these, indeed, then, that a corruptible crown they may receive, but we an incorruptible;
(YLT)

Galatians 1:10
For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn't be a servant of Christ.
(WEB ASV NAS)

Ephesians 4:2
with all lowliness of mind and unselfishness, and with patience, bearing with one another lovingly, and earnestly striving to maintain,
(WEY)

Philippians 1:27
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the Good News of Christ, that, whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your state, that you stand firm in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the Good News;
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Philippians 3:12
I do not say that I have already won the race or have already reached perfection. But I am pressing on, striving to lay hold of the prize for which also Christ has laid hold of me.
(WEY)

Colossians 1:29
for which I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Colossians 4:12
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
(WEB ASV YLT)

1 Thessalonians 2:2
but, having suffered before and been insulted, even as ye know, in Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the glad tidings of God with much earnest striving.
(DBY)

1 Timothy 6:12
be striving the good strife of the faith, be laying hold on the life age-during, to which also thou wast called, and didst profess the right profession before many witnesses.
(YLT)

Hebrews 12:4
You have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin;
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT NAS)

James 2:1
My brethren, you must not make distinctions between one man and another while you are striving to maintain faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our glory.
(WEY)

Exodus 2:13
And he went out the second day, and, behold, two men of the Hebrews were striving together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?
(See JPS ASV YLT)

Exodus 17:7
And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the striving of the children of Israel, and because they tempted Jehovah, saying, Is Jehovah among us, or not?
(See JPS ASV)

Numbers 26:9
and the sons of Eliab 'are' Nemuel and Dathan and Abiram; this 'is that' Dathan and Abiram, called ones of the company, who have striven against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, in their striving against Jehovah,
(YLT)

Psalms 39:10
Turn aside from off me Thy stroke, From the striving of Thy hand I have been consumed.
(YLT)

Psalms 46:10
"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth."
(See NAS)

Psalms 60:1
To the Overseer. -- 'Concerning the Lily of Testimony,' a secret treasure of David, to teach, in his striving with Aram-Naharaim, and with Aram-Zobah, and Joab turneth back and smiteth Edom in the valley of Salt -- twelve thousand. O God, Thou hadst cast us off, Thou hadst broken us -- hadst been angry! -- Thou dost turn back to us.
(YLT)

Ecclesiastes 1:14
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
(See JPS ASV NAS RSV)

Ecclesiastes 1:17
And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.
(See JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV)

Ecclesiastes 2:11
Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
(See JPS ASV NAS RSV)

Ecclesiastes 2:17
So I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and a striving after wind.
(See JPS ASV NAS RSV)

Ecclesiastes 2:22
For what has a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, in which he labors under the sun?
(WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS NIV)

Ecclesiastes 4:4
Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man's neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
(WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV)

Ecclesiastes 4:6
Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and striving after wind.
(See JPS ASV NAS RSV)

Ecclesiastes 4:16
There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
(See JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV)

Ecclesiastes 6:9
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
(See JPS ASV NAS RSV)

Isaiah 45:9
Wo 'to' him who is striving with his Former, (A potsherd with potsherds of the ground!) Doth clay say to its Framer, 'What dost thou?' And thy work, 'He hath no hands?'
(YLT)

Hosea 4:4
Only, let no one strive, nor reprove a man, And thy people 'are' as those striving with a priest.
(YLT)

Subtopics

Striving

Striving for Perfection

Related Terms

Word-striving (1 Occurrence)

Maintain (50 Occurrences)

Prize (13 Occurrences)

Agony (20 Occurrences)

Struggling (3 Occurrences)

Strife (71 Occurrences)

Wore (19 Occurrences)