Definition and Nature:
Conflict, in the biblical context, refers to a state of opposition, struggle, or discord between individuals, groups, or spiritual entities. It can manifest in various forms, including physical battles, interpersonal disputes, and spiritual warfare. The Bible presents conflict as a consequence of human sinfulness and the fallen nature of the world, yet it also offers guidance on resolving and overcoming such discord.

Biblical Instances of Conflict:

1. Cain and Abel: The first recorded conflict in the Bible is between Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam and Eve. Driven by jealousy and anger, Cain murders Abel, illustrating the destructive power of sin (Genesis 4:8: "Cain said to his brother Abel, 'Let us go out to the field.' And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.").

2. Jacob and Esau: The conflict between Jacob and Esau, twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah, highlights issues of deception and rivalry. Jacob's acquisition of Esau's birthright and blessing leads to years of estrangement and hostility (Genesis 27:41: "Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau said in his heart, 'The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.'").

3. David and Saul: King Saul's jealousy and fear of David's rising popularity result in a prolonged conflict, with Saul seeking to kill David. This narrative underscores the destructive nature of envy and the importance of trusting in God's plan (1 Samuel 18:29: "Saul was still more afraid of David, so he became David’s enemy continually.").

4. Israel and Surrounding Nations: The history of Israel is marked by numerous conflicts with surrounding nations, often as a result of disobedience to God. These conflicts serve as both judgment and a means of divine deliverance, as seen in the accounts of the Judges and the battles led by King David.

5. Jesus and Religious Leaders: Jesus frequently encountered conflict with the religious leaders of His time, who opposed His teachings and authority. This opposition ultimately led to His crucifixion, fulfilling God's redemptive plan (Matthew 23:27: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity.").

Spiritual Conflict:

1. Spiritual Warfare: The New Testament emphasizes the reality of spiritual conflict, where believers are called to stand against the forces of evil. Ephesians 6:12 states, "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."

2. Armor of God: Believers are instructed to put on the full armor of God to withstand spiritual attacks, highlighting the importance of faith, righteousness, and the Word of God as defensive and offensive tools (Ephesians 6:13-17).

Resolution and Reconciliation:

1. Peacemaking: The Bible encourages believers to pursue peace and reconciliation. Jesus teaches, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9). Paul echoes this sentiment in Romans 12:18 : "If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone."

2. Forgiveness: Forgiveness is a central theme in resolving conflict. Jesus instructs His followers to forgive others as they have been forgiven by God (Matthew 6:14-15: "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.").

3. Church Discipline: In cases of persistent conflict within the church, the Bible outlines a process for addressing grievances, emphasizing restoration and unity (Matthew 18:15-17).

Eternal Perspective:

The ultimate resolution of all conflict is found in the eschatological hope of the new creation, where God will establish perfect peace and justice. Revelation 21:4 promises, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away."Matthew 5:25
Agree with your adversary quickly, whiles you are in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison.
Topicalbible.org

Proverbs 25:8-10
Go not forth hastily to strive, lest you know not what to do in the end thereof, when your neighbor has put you to shame.
Topicalbible.org

James 4:1-2
From where come wars and fights among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
Topicalbible.org

Exodus 20:13
You shall not kill.
Topicalbible.org

1. (n.) A striking or dashing together; violent collision; as, a conflict of elements or waves.

2. (n.) A strife for the mastery; hostile contest; battle; struggle; fighting.

3. (v. i.) To strike or dash together; to meet in violent collision; to collide.

4. (v. i.) To maintain a conflict; to contend; to engage in strife or opposition; to struggle.

5. (v. i.) To be in opposition; to be contradictory.

CONFLICT

kon'-flikt (agon, "contest," "fight"): In Philippians 1:30, "having the same c. which ye saw in me," and Colossians 2:1 the King James Version; 1 Thessalonians 2:2 (the King James Version "contention"); athlesis (literally, "combat in the public games"), in Hebrews 10:32 (the King James Version "fight").

See also AGONY.

73. agon -- a gathering, contest, struggle
... Word Origin from ago Definition a gathering, contest, struggle NASB Word Usage
conflict (1), fight (2), opposition (1), race (1), struggle (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/73.htm - 7k

3823. pale -- wrestling, generally fight
... pale Phonetic Spelling: (pal'-ay) Short Definition: a wrestling, struggle Definition:
wrestling, a wrestling bout; hence: a struggle, fight, conflict, contest. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3823.htm - 6k

1259. diallasso -- change, exchange
... 1259 (from 1223 , "thoroughly," intensifying 236 , "experience ") -- properly, to
(reach ), ie where people in conflict come together (used only in Mt 5:24). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1259.htm - 7k

477. antithesis -- opposition
... opposition. From a compound of anti and tithemi; opposition, ie A conflict
(of theories) -- opposition. see GREEK anti. see GREEK tithemi. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/477.htm - 6k

119. athlesis -- a contest
... Word Origin from athleo Definition a contest NASB Word Usage conflict (1). fight.
From athleo; a struggle (figuratively) -- fight. see GREEK athleo. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/119.htm - 6k

3163. mache -- a fight
... Feminine Transliteration: mache Phonetic Spelling: (makh'-ay) Short Definition:
strife, contention, quarrel Definition: (earlier: a battle, conflict, hence) in ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3163.htm - 6k

75. agonizomai -- to contend for a prize, struggle
... Cognate: 75 (from 73 , "conflict/struggle," the root of the English term, "") -
properly, to , like engaged in an intense athletic contest or warfare (Souter ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/75.htm - 7k

1624. garah -- to stir up (strife), engage in strife
... root Definition to stir up (strife), engage in strife NASB Word Usage contend (1),
engaged in conflict (1), mobilize (2), provoke (5), stirs (3), strive (1 ...
/hebrew/1624.htm - 6k

6635. tsaba -- army, war, warfare
... Word Origin from tsaba Definition army, war, warfare NASB Word Usage armies (23),
army (79), army* (1), battle (1), combat (1), conflict (1), forced to labor (1 ...
/hebrew/6635.htm - 6k

Conflict.
... CONFLICT. CONFLICT. 10,9,10,9. "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and
why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God; for I ...
//christianbookshelf.org/borthwick/hymns from the land of luther/conflict.htm

A Prehistoric Conflict.
... Prayer the Deciding Factor in a Spirit Conflict A Prehistoric Conflict.
In its simplest meaning prayer has to do with a conflict. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on prayer/a prehistoric conflict.htm

The Final Conflict.
... EXPOSITION OF THE APOCALYPSE. The Final Conflict. "And ... 27. As thus predicted,
in this final conflict the nations are smitten, 19:15. ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the final conflict.htm

Conflict.
... CHAPTER XIV. CONFLICT. ... After him conflict and endurance are more prominent
in the history of believers than assurance of the future. ...
/.../the expositors bible the epistle to the hebrews/chapter xiv conflict.htm

The Conflict with Evil.
... XV. THE CONFLICT WITH EVIL. "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver
us from evil.""Matthew 6:13. It is good for us sometimes ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/percival/sermons at rugby/xv the conflict with evil.htm

The Impending Conflict.
... THE IMPENDING CONFLICT. ... The last great conflict between truth and error is but the
final struggle of the long-standing controversy concerning the law of God. ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /36 the impending conflict.htm

Days of Conflict
... The DESIRE of AGES Chapter 9 Days of Conflict. From its earliest years the Jewish
child was surrounded with the requirements of the rabbis. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 9 days of conflict.htm

The Puritan Conflict.
... VII. THE WESTMINSTER STANDARDS. 92. The Puritan Conflict. Literature. 1. Sources.
1. The Parliamentary Acts, the Minutes and Standards ...
/.../ 92 the puritan conflict.htm

Charity and Conflict.
... CHAPTER V. CHARITY AND CONFLICT. ... Another characteristic of this Divine Charity
is, that it OFTEN INVOLVES CONFLICT. It was so with our Lord. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/booth/godliness/chapter v charity and conflict.htm

The Conflict Between Capital and Labor.
... Chapter Six The Signs of the Redeemer's Return 7. The conflict between
Capital and Labor. "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl ...
/.../pink/the redeemers return/7 the conflict between capital.htm

Conflict (18 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A striking or dashing together; violent collision;
as, a conflict of elements or waves. ... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CONFLICT. ...
/c/conflict.htm - 13k

Agony (20 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 9:25; Colossians 1:29; 4:12; 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7, where
the words "striveth," "labour," "conflict," "fight," are the renderings of the ...
/a/agony.htm - 18k

Temptation (22 Occurrences)
... Radical critics agree that, if such a period of meditation and conflict
were not recorded, it would have to be assumed. By this ...
/t/temptation.htm - 30k

Gideon (45 Occurrences)
... telling and interpretation of a dream which greatly encouraged him and led him to
strike an immediate blow (Judges 7:9). Again we find a conflict of statement ...
/g/gideon.htm - 36k

Joram (26 Occurrences)
... 2. The Moabite War: Immediately upon his accession, Jehoram came into conflict with
Mesha, king of Moab (2 Kings 3:4). The account of the conflict is of ...
/j/joram.htm - 27k

Fight (265 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To carry on, or wage, as a conflict, or battle; to win or gain by
struggle, as one's way; to sustain by fighting, as a cause. ...
/f/fight.htm - 38k

Engaged (31 Occurrences)
... Luke 11:18 And if Satan really has engaged in fierce conflict with himself, how
shall his kingdom stand?--because you say that I expel demons by the power of ...
/e/engaged.htm - 15k

Engage (20 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To employ the attention and efforts of; to occupy; to engross; to draw on.
5. (vt) To enter into contest with; to encounter; to bring to conflict. ...
/e/engage.htm - 14k

Meet (281 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To come in collision with; to confront in conflict; to encounter hostilely;
as, they met the enemy and defeated them; the ship met opposing winds and ...
/m/meet.htm - 41k

Contest (7 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) Earnest struggle for superiority, victory, defense, etc.; competition;
emulation; strife in arms; conflict; combat; encounter. ...
/c/contest.htm - 9k

How should conflict in the church be handled? | GotQuestions.org

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Conflict: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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