Dispute (hostility) (485) antilogia

Hostility (485) (antilogia from antilego = contradict in turn from anti = against + lego speak) literally a word spoken against or speaking against and so talking back, face to face, in opposition against (a dispute involving opposite opinions). Our English word dispute describes a disagreement, a quarrel, an argument or a verbal controversy. Antilogia can also mean defiance against authority (with special emphasis on verbal defiance -- see examples below of this use in the Septuagint) or rebellion as by Korah in Jude 1:11. Antilogia describes contradiction or controversy with the added sense that strife is involved. Strife means bitter sometimes violent conflict or dissension. The English word hostility pictures enmity (deep-seated dislike or ill will or a manifestation of such feeling) or antagonism. Vincent writes that antilogia describes "the practice of gainsaying" where "Gainsay is a literal translation, being compounded of the Anglo-Saxon gegn, which reappears in the German gegen, against, and say." In our English dictionaries gainsay means to deny, contradict or speak against. Paul explaining how it he ended up in Rome in prison declared that... (just as the Romans were willing to release Paul) the Jews objected (antilego - root verb of antilogia) (and) I was forced to appeal to Caesar; not that I had any accusation against my nation. (Acts 28:19) Antilogia is used 4 times in the NT.. Hebrews 6:16 (note) For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute. Hebrews 7:7 (note) But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. (Comment: Here the sense of antilogia is that of beyond all doubt or denial or controversy. And so the writer is asserting a principle which no one thinks of questioning [or disputing] -- it is the less who is blessed, and the greater who blesses) Hebrews 12:3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart. Jude 1:11 Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. There are 19 uses of antilogia in the Septuagint (LXX) (Ex. 18:16; Num. 20:13; 27:14; Deut. 1:12; 17:8; 19:17; 21:5; 25:1; 32:51; 33:8; 2 Sam. 15:4; Ps. 18:43; 31:20; 55:9; 80:6; 81:7; 106:32; Prov. 17:11; 18:18; Heb. 6:16; 7:7; 12:3; Jude 1:11) and here is a representative use... Numbers 20:13 Those were the waters of Meribah (Hebrew means place of strife or contention; LXX = antilogia = dispute), because the sons of Israel contended with the LORD, and He proved Himself holy among them. Deuteronomy 1:12 'How can I alone bear the load and burden of you and your strife (Hebrew = rib = strife, controversy, quarrel; LXX = antilogia)? Psalm 31:20 (Spurgeon's note) Thou dost hide them in the secret place of Thy presence from the conspiracies of man; Thou dost keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife (Hebrew = rib = strife, controversy, quarrel; LXX = antilogia) of tongues. Psalm 80:6 (Spurgeon's note) Thou dost make us an object of contention (Hebrew = madown = strife, contention; LXX = antilogia) to our neighbors; And our enemies laugh among themselves. Sinners (268)(hamartolos) describes those devoted to sin and thus whose behavior does not measure up to standard moral expectations. They are those who miss the mark set by God's holiness. Here is a powerful illustration of the call to endure... Sir Winston Churchill was invited back to his alma mater, Harrow, to address the students near the end of his storied life of public service, which included guiding Britain through her darkest and finest hours. When the five-foot, five-inch bulldog of a man took the platform, everyone waited breathlessly upon his words—and they would never forget what they heard: “Young gentlemen, never give up. Never give up. Never give up! Never! Never! Never!” With that Churchill sat down. That's what the writer of Hebrews is calling for an endurance from his readers such as Jesus manifested. They are to diligently live out their faith. Are you about to give up beloved? Don't do it! Never give up! Never! Never! Never! Consider Jesus and remember that He Who promised is faithful to fulfill His promise that He would never, ever, no never leave you nor forsake you (see note Hebrews 13:5). The Christian life is not a sprint, but a marathon. Over the years we have been repeatedly saddened by acquaintances who did not persevere and who dropped by the wayside of this world. SO THAT YOU MAY NOT GROW WEARY AND LOSE HEART: hina me kamete (2PAAS) tais psuchais humon ekluomenoi (PPPMPN): (Heb 12:5; Dt 20:3; Pr 24:10; Isa 40:30,31; 50:4; 1Cor 15:58; 2Cor 4:1,16; Gal 6:9; 2Thes 3:13) The truth in this passage is vitally important to "assimilate" for as John Stott reminds us... The Christian's chief occupational hazards are depression and discouragement. Remember too as someone once said that our disappointments are God's appointments and that the obstacles in our path may well be unrecognized opportunities. The difficulties we encounter for the sake of Christ have the potential to make us either better or bitter. The truth similar to that which the writer is emphasizing here in Heb 12:3,4 is found in the OT, in a very interesting context, the giving of God's "laws regarding warfare"(!) (Do we not grow weary when the spiritual warfare seems to never dissipate in regard to time and/or intensity? I do!)... He shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, you are approaching the battle against your enemies today. Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, or panic, or tremble before them (Dt 20:3) (Why should they or we not grow faint of heart when we see the enemy coming at us, time and time again? Read the next verse -- May God's Spirit allow our head and heart to lay hold of the truth in this passage for our good and His glory! Amen) for the LORD (Jehovah) your God is the one who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.' (Dt 20:4) Writing to Israel but applicable in principle to the saints of all ages Isaiah declares... Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the LORD (Jehovah) will gain new strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become weary. (Isaiah 40:30, 31-see in depth exposition) As John Calvin once said "Distrust is cured by meditating upon the promises of God." And as Puritan writier Thomas Watson reminds us "The promises are not made to strong faith but to true." Writing to the saints at Corinth Paul has records a great truth which can sustain and undergird our "weak" hearts when we are in the throes of "spiritual weariness"... Therefore we do not lose heart, (Why not? What truth can counter and even reverse the temptation when we feel like "throwing in the proverbial towel"?) but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2Cor 4:16, 17,18) And in Galatians Paul gives us present motivation in light of the sure hope of future rewards exhorting us to... ...not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. (Gal 6:9, cf similar exhortation in 2Th 3:13) So that (2443) (hina) introduces a purpose clause, the purpose of the encouragement to think about Jesus' suffering. Spurgeon comments... It has not come to that yet with any of you who are now here; you have not shed your blood for Christ yet, for these are not martyr days, so can you be wearied and faint? If you run with the footmen, and they weary you how will you contend with horses? We ought to be ashamed of ourselves if we grow weary in a race that is so easy compared with that of the men and women who laid down their lives for Christ’s sake. Think how he wrestled, think how he ran; and let your consideration of him nerve you for your struggle, and brace up every muscle of your spirit so that you will be determined that, as he won, so Will you by the divine help of him who is “the Author and Finisher of our faith.” Westcott observes that... At this point the image is changed. The thought is no longer of effort but of endurance; of the assault of a powerful adversary which must be met, and not of a struggle voluntarily sought. (Ibid)

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Dispute (hostility) (485) antilogia

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