Definition and Context:
Resistance, in a biblical context, refers to the act of opposing or withstanding forces, influences, or authorities that are contrary to God's will and purposes. It can manifest in various forms, including spiritual, moral, and physical resistance. The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings on when and how resistance is appropriate for believers.

Biblical Examples of Resistance:

1. Spiritual Resistance:
Believers are called to resist spiritual forces of evil. Ephesians 6:11-13 instructs Christians to "put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes." This passage emphasizes the need for spiritual preparedness and reliance on God's strength to resist temptation and evil.

2. Moral Resistance:
The Bible encourages believers to resist conforming to worldly values that contradict God's commandments. Romans 12:2 advises, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." This resistance involves a commitment to living according to God's standards rather than societal pressures.

3. Physical Resistance:
There are instances in Scripture where physical resistance is demonstrated. In the Old Testament, the Israelites resisted oppressive rulers and nations under God's guidance. For example, the account of the Exodus depicts Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt, resisting Pharaoh's oppressive regime (Exodus 5-14).

4. Civil Disobedience:
Acts 5:29 provides an example of civil disobedience when Peter and the apostles declare, "We must obey God rather than men." This statement was made in response to being ordered by the authorities to stop teaching in the name of Jesus. It highlights the principle that obedience to God takes precedence over human laws when the two are in conflict.

Theological Insights:

· Resisting Sin:
James 4:7 instructs, "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." This verse underscores the importance of submission to God as a foundation for resisting sin and temptation. It assures believers that resistance, when rooted in God's power, is effective.

· The Role of the Holy Spirit:
The Holy Spirit empowers believers to resist sin and live righteously. Galatians 5:16-17 states, "Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh." This passage highlights the internal struggle and the Spirit's role in enabling resistance.

· Perseverance in Resistance:
The Bible encourages perseverance in the face of opposition. Hebrews 12:3-4 reminds believers to "consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." This exhortation points to Jesus as the ultimate example of enduring resistance against sin and hostility.

Practical Application:

· Discernment in Resistance:
Believers are called to exercise discernment in knowing when and how to resist. Not all resistance is justified, and it must align with biblical principles. Prayer, study of Scripture, and seeking godly counsel are essential in making wise decisions about resistance.

· Peaceful Resistance:
While resistance is sometimes necessary, the Bible also advocates for peace and reconciliation. Romans 12:18 advises, "If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone." This balance requires wisdom to know when to stand firm and when to pursue peace.

· Community Support:
Engaging in resistance often requires the support and encouragement of a faith community. Believers are encouraged to bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2) and to stand together in spiritual battles (Ephesians 6:18).

In summary, resistance in the Bible is a multifaceted concept that involves standing against evil, sin, and injustice while being guided by God's Word and Spirit. It requires wisdom, courage, and a commitment to God's truth and righteousness.1. (n.) The quality of not yielding to force or external pressure; that power of a body which acts in opposition to the impulse or pressure of another, or which prevents the effect of another power; as, the resistance of the air to a body passing through it; the resistance of a target to projectiles.

2. (n.) The act of resisting; opposition, passive or active.

3. (n.) A means or method of resisting; that which resists.

4. (n.) A certain hindrance or opposition to the passage of an electrical current or discharge offered by conducting bodies. It bears an inverse relation to the conductivity, -- good conductors having a small resistance, while poor conductors or insulators have a very high resistance. The unit of resistance is the ohm.

498. antitasso -- to range in battle against, to set oneself ...
... Accordingly, 498 () is used in antiquity of resistance, like an army assuming a
specific battle-array position to resist in "full alignment"; to disagree ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/498.htm - 8k

541. apaugasma -- radiance
... His eternal light breaks through all the darkness that keeps someone in spiritual
ignorance (bondage), ie every resistance exerted by sin. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/541.htm - 7k

2480. ischuo -- to be strong, have power
... meton: I prevail. Cognate: 2480 -- properly, embodied strength that "gets
into the fray" (action), ie the resistance. For the believer ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2480.htm - 9k

1128. gumnazo -- to exercise naked, to train
... 1128 () conveys acquiring -- regular exercise with graduated resistance (the physical
element is also included with the spiritual of being in "God's gymnasium ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1128.htm - 7k

4289. prothumos -- willing, ready
... inclined); enthusiastically willing; eager, "ready-to-go"; free, not weighed down
by pre-existing (pre-set) objections or resistance; hence, , spontaneously ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4289.htm - 7k

Non-Resistance
... ST. MATTHEW Chaps. I to VIII NON-RESISTANCE. 'Ye have heard ... For He forbids
not only retaliation but even resistance. It is unfortunate ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/non-resistance.htm

Doctrine of Non-Resistance to Evil by Force must Inevitably be ...
... "THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU." CHAPTER VIII. DOCTRINE OF NON-RESISTANCE TO
EVIL BY FORCE MUST INEVITABLY BE ACCEPTED BY MEN OF THE PRESENT DAY. ...
/.../the kingdom of god is within you/chapter viii doctrine of non-resistance.htm

The Doctrine of Non-Resistance to Evil by Force Has Been Professed ...
... "THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU." CHAPTER I. THE DOCTRINE OF NON-RESISTANCE TO
EVIL BY FORCE HAS BEEN PROFESSED BY A MINORITY OF MEN FROM THE VERY FOUNDATION ...
/.../tolstoy/the kingdom of god is within you/chapter i the doctrine of.htm

Criticisms of the Doctrine of Non-Resistance to Evil by Force on ...
... "THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU." CHAPTER II. CRITICISMS OF THE DOCTRINE OF
NON-RESISTANCE TO EVIL BY FORCE ON THE PART OF BELIEVERS AND OF UNBELIEVERS. ...
/.../tolstoy/the kingdom of god is within you/chapter ii criticisms of the.htm

He Prohibited the Christians from the Markets and from the ...
... Resistance of Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and Apolinarius to this Decree.
They rapidly translate the Scripture into Greek Modes of Expression. ...
/.../chapter xviii he prohibited the christians.htm

The Servant's Inflexible Resolve
... Here all is energy and determination, resistance and martial vigour. ... The same Will
which is all submission to God is all resistance in the face of hostile men. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the servants inflexible resolve.htm

Fifth Tractate. Problems of the Soul (3). [Also Entitled "On Sight ...
... Those who make vision depend upon resistance are obliged to postulate an
intervening substance. The champions of the image, with ...
/.../plotinus/the six enneads/fifth tractate problems of the.htm

Exile: Appeals for a Phinehas, and a Jehu: 1554
... In his wanderings his heart burned within him many a time, and he abruptly
departed from his theory of passive resistance. Now he ...
/.../lang/john knox and the reformation/chapter v exile appeals for.htm

Whether the Movement of the Saints Will be Instantaneous?
... that there is no movement through a vacuum, because it would follow that something
moves instantaneously, since a vacuum offers no resistance whatever to a ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the movement of the.htm

Progress under Obedience. Her Inability to Resist the Graces of ...
... was. I was so careful about this resistance, that it was a pain to me. ... matters.
He said that further resistance would be a mistake. ...
/.../teresa/the life of st teresa of jesus/chapter xxiv progress under obedience.htm

Resistance (1 Occurrence)
... that power of a body which acts in opposition to the impulse or pressure of another,
or which prevents the effect of another power; as, the resistance of the ...
/r/resistance.htm - 7k

Kick (8 Occurrences)
... Hence, figuratively: To show ugly resistance, opposition, or hostility; to
spurn. 3. (vi) To recoil; -- said of a musket, cannon, etc. ...
/k/kick.htm - 10k

Immanuel (3 Occurrences)
... a bold and ambitious usurper, and Rezin, king of Syria, formed an alliance, the
dual object of which was, first, to organize a resistance against Assyria, and ...
/i/immanuel.htm - 16k

Fly (33 Occurrences)
... 19. (vi) Two or more vanes set on a revolving axis, to act as a fanner, or to equalize
or impede the motion of machinery by the resistance of the air, as in ...
/f/fly.htm - 26k

Rebellion (51 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The act of rebelling; open and avowed renunciation of the authority of the
government to which one owes obedience, and resistance to its officers and ...
/r/rebellion.htm - 22k

Arm (110 Occurrences)
... 17. (vt) Fig.: To furnish with means of defense; to prepare for resistance;
to fortify, in a moral sense. 18. (vi) To provide one's ...
/a/arm.htm - 42k

Stand (542 Occurrences)
... 8. (n.) To maintain an invincible or permanent attitude; to be fixed, steady,
or firm; to take a position in resistance or opposition. ...
/s/stand.htm - 39k

Arrest (22 Occurrences)
... being Jews, might again be fascinated by the strange influence which Jesus exercised
over His countrymen, or that His followers might offer resistance. ...
/a/arrest.htm - 45k

Maccabaeus
... to the Jewish tradition, Chasidim (see HASIDAEANS), as they were called, resisted
this tendency, and in the end were driven to armed resistance against the ...
/m/maccabaeus.htm - 17k

Trial (45 Occurrences)
... being Jews, might again be fascinated by the strange influence which Jesus exercised
over His countrymen, or that His followers might offer resistance. ...
/t/trial.htm - 52k

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