In the biblical context, "combats" refer to physical battles, spiritual struggles, and moral conflicts encountered by individuals and nations. The Bible presents combats as both literal and metaphorical, illustrating the ongoing struggle between good and evil, faith and doubt, and obedience and rebellion.

Physical Battles

The Old Testament is replete with accounts of physical battles, often involving the Israelites as they sought to claim and defend the Promised Land. These combats were not merely territorial disputes but were seen as divinely ordained missions. For instance, the Battle of Jericho is a notable example where the Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, conquered the city through divine intervention (Joshua 6:1-27). The fall of Jericho demonstrated God's power and faithfulness to His promises.

Another significant combat is the battle between David and Goliath. This encounter is emblematic of faith triumphing over seemingly insurmountable odds. David, a young shepherd, faced the Philistine giant Goliath with nothing but a sling and his faith in God. David declared, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied" (1 Samuel 17:45). David's victory underscored the theme that God empowers those who trust in Him.

Spiritual Struggles

The New Testament shifts the focus from physical to spiritual combats. The Apostle Paul frequently uses the metaphor of warfare to describe the Christian life. In Ephesians 6:12, he writes, "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" . Paul exhorts believers to put on the "full armor of God" to stand firm against these spiritual adversaries (Ephesians 6:13-17).

The concept of spiritual combat is further illustrated in the temptation of Jesus. In the wilderness, Jesus faced Satan's temptations, combating them with Scripture and unwavering obedience to God (Matthew 4:1-11). This account highlights the importance of spiritual preparedness and reliance on God's Word in overcoming evil.

Moral Conflicts

Throughout the Bible, individuals face moral combats, where they must choose between following God's commandments or succumbing to sin. The account of Joseph is a prime example. Despite being sold into slavery and later imprisoned, Joseph consistently chose righteousness over sin, exemplified in his refusal to yield to Potiphar's wife's advances (Genesis 39:7-12). Joseph's integrity and faithfulness ultimately led to his rise to power in Egypt and the preservation of his family.

Similarly, the Book of Daniel recounts the moral combats faced by Daniel and his friends in Babylon. Despite pressure to conform to pagan practices, they remained steadfast in their devotion to God, resulting in divine protection and favor (Daniel 1:8-20; 3:16-28; 6:10-23).

Conclusion

The theme of combats in the Bible serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle between good and evil, both in the physical and spiritual realms. Believers are called to engage in these combats with faith, righteousness, and reliance on God's strength, assured of victory through Christ.

In Fulfilment of Our Plan, Let us Now Go on to Consider the ...
... Chapter XI. In fulfilment of our plan, let us now go on to consider the combats.?
In fulfilment of our plan, let us now go on to consider the combats. ...
/.../tertullian/the shows or de spectaculis/chapter xi in fulfilment of.htm

Prohibition of Sacrifices, of Mystic Rites, Combats of Gladiators ...
... Book IV. Chapter XXV."Prohibition of Sacrifices, of Mystic Rites, Combats
of Gladiators, also the Licentious Worship of the Nile. ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter xxv prohibition of sacrifices of.htm

Thus was all the Earth Afflicted; and from East to West...
... nine times exposed to racks and diversified torments, nine times by a glorious
profession of your faith you foiled the adversary; in nine combats you subdued ...
/.../of the manner in which the persecutors died/chap xvi thus was all.htm

Life of Antony.
... Sec. Sec. 8-10. His life in the tombs, and combats with demons there. Sec. 11. He
goes to the desert and overcomes temptations on the way. Sec. Sec. 12, 13. ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/life of antony.htm

Whether this Sacrament Should be Given to All?
... are to conquer. Confirmation arms and strengthens those to whom the struggles
and combats of this world are reserved. And he who ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether this sacrament should be.htm

Letter xvii. --Remorse and Rebellion.
... them we must be well persuaded that these rebellions, and this extreme sensitiveness
are sent to us by God to be the ground of our combats and victories; and ...
/.../abandonment to divine providence/letter xvii remorse and rebellion.htm

Character and Condition of the Churches to whom the Epistle was ...
... It does not appear indeed, in the Epistle of James, that he combats this tendency
in precisely these forms, as is the case in Paul's writings. ...
/.../the epistle of james practically explained/ 4 character and condition.htm

A Strong Resolution Necessary in the Beginning. ...
... many risings and fallings; sometimes light, and sometimes darkness; sometimes calmness
of passions, and presently after, it may be, fiercer combats than before ...
/.../chapter iv a strong resolution.htm

The Calm Before the Storm
... There were trials and combats ahead before which, if Athanasius had seen
them, even his bold and undaunted spirit might have quailed. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/forbes/saint athanasius/chapter 4 the calm before.htm

The Fift Part.
... Cowards and cravens, stand and look who goes first: souldiers of courage will cast
lots for the onset and fore-rank, for desperat services, and single combats. ...
/.../ward/a coal from the altar to kindle the holy fire of zeale/the fift part.htm

Combats (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Combats (1 Occurrence). 2 Corinthians 7:5 For
indeed, when we came into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest ...
/c/combats.htm - 6k

Goliath (6 Occurrences)
... The story of his encounter with David is graphic, and the boasts of the two champions
were perfectly in keeping with single combats in the Orient. ...
/g/goliath.htm - 12k

Marshal (2 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) The chief officer of arms, whose duty it was, in ancient times, to regulate
combats in the lists. 6. (n.) The highest military officer. ...
/m/marshal.htm - 9k

Combating (3 Occurrences)

/c/combating.htm - 7k

Combed (1 Occurrence)

/c/combed.htm - 6k

Champion (7 Occurrences)
... Goliath between the two camps. Single combats of this kind at the head of
armies were common in ancient times. In ver. 51 this word is ...
/c/champion.htm - 9k

Nightmonster
... As ripe a scholar as Perowne ("Proverbs," Cambridge Bible) combats the idea of vampire,
and Kellogg ("Leviticus," Expositor's Bible, in the place cited.) has ...
/n/nightmonster.htm - 17k

Night-monster
... As ripe a scholar as Perowne ("Proverbs," Cambridge Bible) combats the idea of vampire,
and Kellogg ("Leviticus," Expositor's Bible, in the place cited.) has ...
/n/night-monster.htm - 17k

Micah (54 Occurrences)
... 4. Contents of the Prophecies: Micah combats in his discourses, as does Isaiah,
the heathenish abuses which had found their way into the cult, not only in ...
/m/micah.htm - 38k

Epistles (2 Occurrences)
... The writer so constantly lifts up against the error he combats, the simple, sublime
and satisfying facts and principles of the Christian revelation, so lifts ...
/e/epistles.htm - 80k

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