In the biblical context, the term "opponent" refers to individuals or entities that stand in opposition to God's people, His purposes, or His truth. The concept of opposition is woven throughout the Scriptures, manifesting in various forms, from personal adversaries to spiritual forces.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, opponents often appear as enemies of Israel, the chosen people of God. These adversaries are frequently depicted as nations or individuals who oppose Israel's progress or threaten their existence. For instance, the Philistines are recurrent opponents, as seen in the narrative of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17). Goliath, the Philistine giant, defies the armies of Israel, representing a direct challenge to God's people.

Another significant example is found in the account of Nehemiah, who faced opposition from Sanballat and Tobiah while rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah 4:1-3 describes their mockery and attempts to thwart the work: "Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and mocked the Jews. Before his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, 'What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore the wall for themselves?'"

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of an opponent extends to spiritual realms. The Apostle Paul frequently addresses opposition in his epistles, both from human adversaries and spiritual forces. In Ephesians 6:12 , Paul 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."

Jesus Himself faced numerous opponents during His earthly ministry, including the Pharisees and Sadducees, who challenged His teachings and authority. In Matthew 22:15 , it is recorded, "Then the Pharisees went out and plotted to trap Jesus in His words." These religious leaders often sought to undermine Jesus' mission and discredit His message.

Spiritual Opposition

The Bible also identifies Satan as the ultimate opponent of God and His people. Described as the "adversary" or "accuser," Satan's role is to oppose God's plans and lead people astray. In 1 Peter 5:8 , believers are warned, "Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

Response to Opponents

Scripture provides guidance on how believers should respond to opponents. Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:44 , "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." This radical approach emphasizes love and prayer as powerful responses to opposition.

The Apostle Paul also encourages believers to stand firm in their faith and to be equipped with the armor of God to withstand spiritual opposition (Ephesians 6:13-17). This passage highlights the importance of truth, righteousness, faith, and the Word of God as defenses against spiritual adversaries.

Conclusion

Throughout the Bible, opponents serve as a reminder of the ongoing struggle between good and evil, truth and deception. Believers are called to remain vigilant, relying on God's strength and guidance to overcome opposition, whether it be physical, ideological, or spiritual.1. (n.) One who opposes; an adversary; an antagonist; a foe.

2. (a.) Situated in front; opposite; hence, opposing; adverse; antagonistic.

3. (n.) One who opposes in a disputation, argument, or other verbal controversy; specifically, one who attacks some theirs or proposition, in distinction from the respondent, or defendant, who maintains it.

476. antidikos -- an opponent, adversary
... an opponent, adversary. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: antidikos
Phonetic Spelling: (an-tid'-ee-kos) Short Definition: an opponent, adversary ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/476.htm - 8k

1361. Diotrephes -- "cherished by Zeus," Diotrephes, an opponent ...
... 1360, 1361. Diotrephes. 1362 . "cherished by Zeus," Diotrephes, an opponent
of the apostle John. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Diotrephes ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1361.htm - 6k

500. antichristos -- antichrist, (one who opposes Christ)
... Spelling: (an-tee'-khris-tos) Short Definition: antichrist Definition: antichrist,
either one who puts himself in the place of, or the enemy (opponent) of the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/500.htm - 7k

5211. Humenaios -- Hymenaeus, a heretical teacher at Ephesus
... Hymenaeus. From Humen (the god of weddings); "hymeneal"; Hymeneus, an opponent of
Christianity -- Hymenaeus. (umenaios) -- 2 Occurrences. 5210, 5211. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5211.htm - 6k

865. aphilagathos -- without love of good
... 1 , "not" and 5358 , "a friend, lover of what is good") -- properly, describing
someone who is hostile to the things of God -- ie an active opponent (enemy) of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/865.htm - 7k

436. anthistemi -- to set against, ie withstand
... go). [436 () was a term in classical Greek (used by Thucydides, etc.) meaning
"to strongly resist an opponent" ("take a ").]. Word ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/436.htm - 8k

5227. hupenantios -- set over against, opposite
... adversary, against. From hupo and enantios; under (covertly) contrary to, ie Opposed
or (as noun) an opponent -- adversary, against. see GREEK hupo. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5227.htm - 6k

1727. enantios -- opposite, fig. hostile, opposed
... hostile, opposed NASB Word Usage against (2), before (1), contrary (2), hostile
(2), opponent (1), presence (1), right in front (1), sight (3). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1727.htm - 7k

2314. theomachos -- fighting against God
... to fight against God. From theos and machomai; an opponent of deity -- to fight
against God. see GREEK theos. see GREEK machomai. (theomachoi) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2314.htm - 6k

1654. Geshem -- an opponent of Nehemiah
... 1653, 1654. Geshem or Gashmu. 1655 . an opponent of Nehemiah. Transliteration:
Geshem or Gashmu Phonetic Spelling: (gheh'-shem) Short Definition: Geshem. ...
/hebrew/1654.htm - 6k

3401. yarib -- opponent, adversary
... 3400, 3401. yarib. 3402 . opponent, adversary. Transliteration: yarib
Phonetic Spelling: (yaw-rebe') Short Definition: contend. ...
/hebrew/3401.htm - 6k

7453. rea -- friend, companion, fellow
... friends (18), husband (1), kind (1), lover (1), lovers (1), mate (1), neighbor
(64), neighbor's (23), neighbors (3), neighbors' (1), opponent (1), opponent's ( ...
/hebrew/7453.htm - 6k

6965. qum -- to arise, stand up, stand
... 1), get (8), gets (1), go ahead (1), go ahead and confirm (1), got (2), grown (1),
lift (2), make it good (1), obliging* (1), observed (2), opponent (1), pass ...
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6862. tsar -- narrow, tight
... tsawr}; from tsarar; narrow; (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, ie
Trouble); also a pebble (as in tsor); (transitive) an opponent (as crowding ...
/hebrew/6862.htm - 6k

8618. teqomem -- rise up against
... Word Origin the same as qum, qv. rise up against From quwm; an opponent -- rise
up against. see HEBREW quwm. 8617, 8618. teqomem. 8619 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/8618.htm - 5k

7854. satan -- adversary, also the name of the superhuman ...
... adversary, Satan, withstand. From satan; an opponent; especially (with the article
prefixed) Satan, the arch-enemy of good -- adversary, Satan, withstand. ...
/hebrew/7854.htm - 6k

7009. qim -- adversary
... substance. From quwm; an opponent (as rising against one), ie (collectively) enemies --
substance. see HEBREW quwm. 7008, 7009. qim. 7010 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/7009.htm - 6k

8324. sharar -- enemy
... Word Origin see shorer. enemy A primitive root; to be hostile (only active participle
an opponent) -- enemy. 8323, 8324. sharar. 8325 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/8324.htm - 5k

But, Says My Opponent, it is not for this Reason that we Assign ...
... Book VI. 4 But, says my opponent, it is not for this reason that we assign
temples to? But, says my opponent, it is not for this ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/4 but says my opponent.htm

But You Err, Says My Opponent, and are Mistaken...
... Book VI. 17 But you err, says my opponent, and are mistaken? But you err,
says my opponent, and are mistaken, for we do not consider ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/17 but you err says.htm

But You Err, Says My Opponent, and Fall into Mistakes...
... Book VII. 19 But you err, says my opponent, and fall into mistakes? But
you err, says my opponent, and fall into mistakes; for ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/19 but you err says.htm

You Worship, Says My Opponent, one who was Born a Mere Human Being ...
... Book I. 42 You worship, says my opponent, one who was born a mere human being.?
You worship, says my opponent, one who was born a mere human being. ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/42 you worship says my.htm

Your Narratives, My Opponent Says, are Overrun with Barbarisms and ...
... Book I. 59 Your narratives, my opponent says, are overrun with barbarisms and solecisms? ...
[Note the opponent's witness to the text of the Gospels.]. ...
/.../59 your narratives my opponent.htm

It Rains not from Heaven, My Opponent Says, and we are in Distress ...
... Book I. 9 It rains not from heaven, my opponent says, and we are in distress
from some? It rains not from heaven, my opponent ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/9 it rains not from.htm

You Err, My Opponent Says, and are Deceived; for the Gods are not ...
... Book III. 22 You err, my opponent says, and are deceived; for the gods
are not themselves artificers? You err, my opponent says ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/22 you err my opponent.htm

My Opponent Will Perhaps Meet Me with Many Other Slanderous and ...
... Book I. 43 My opponent will perhaps meet me with many other slanderous
and childish charges which are? My opponent will perhaps ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/43 my opponent will perhaps.htm

But, Says My Opponent, the Deities are not Inimical to You...
... Book I. 36 But, says my opponent, the deities are not inimical to you?
But, says my opponent, the deities are not inimical to ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/36 but says my opponent.htm

But, Says My Opponent, You are Insulting us Without Reason...
... Book VII. 30 But, says my opponent, you are insulting us without reason?
But, says my opponent, you are insulting us without reason ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/30 but says my opponent.htm

Opponent (13 Occurrences)
...Opponent (13 Occurrences). ... (WEY YLT NAS). Luke 18:3 and a widow was in that city,
and she was coming unto him, saying, Do me justice on my opponent, (YLT NAS). ...
/o/opponent.htm - 10k

Opponent's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Opponent's (1 Occurrence). 2 Samuel 2:16 They caught
everyone his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword ...
/o/opponent's.htm - 6k

Adversary (100 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary (Hebrews satan), an opponent or foe (1 Kings 5:4; 11:14,
23, 25; Luke 13:17); one that speaks against another, a complainant (Matthew ...
/a/adversary.htm - 40k

Opponents (11 Occurrences)

/o/opponents.htm - 9k

Antichrist (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. (n.) An enemy or opponent of Christ. Specif.: A great
antagonist, person or power, expected to precede Christ's second coming. Int. ...
/a/antichrist.htm - 26k

Mayest (240 Occurrences)
... Matthew 5:25 Be agreeing with thy opponent quickly, while thou art in the way with
him, that the opponent may not deliver thee to the judge, and the judge may ...
/m/mayest.htm - 36k

Agreeing (3 Occurrences)
... Matthew 5:25 Be agreeing with thy opponent quickly, while thou art in the way with
him, that the opponent may not deliver thee to the judge, and the judge may ...
/a/agreeing.htm - 7k

Court (172 Occurrences)
... Matthew 5:25 Come to terms without delay with your opponent while you are yet with
him on the way to the court; for fear he should obtain judgement from the ...
/c/court.htm - 47k

Yet (1244 Occurrences)
... Matthew 5:25 Come to terms without delay with your opponent while you are yet with
him on the way to the court; for fear he should obtain judgement from the ...
/y/yet.htm - 35k

Who is Satan in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Saint Irenaeus of Lyons? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Haman the Agagite? | GotQuestions.org

Opponent: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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