The concept of "strives" in the Bible often relates to the idea of struggle, effort, or contention, whether in a physical, spiritual, or moral sense. The term can be found in various contexts throughout Scripture, illustrating both the human condition and the divine expectation for believers.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, striving is frequently associated with conflict and contention among individuals or groups. For example, in Genesis 26:20, the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen, saying, "The water is ours!" So he named the well Esek, because they contended with him. Here, the term "contended" reflects a physical and verbal striving over resources.

Striving is also seen in the context of human interaction with God. In Genesis 32:24-28, Jacob wrestles with a man until daybreak, a mysterious encounter often interpreted as striving with God or an angel. This struggle results in Jacob's name being changed to Israel, meaning "he struggles with God," signifying a transformative encounter through striving.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of striving takes on a more spiritual dimension. Believers are encouraged to strive in their faith and spiritual disciplines. In Luke 13:24, Jesus instructs, "Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able." Here, striving is associated with the effort required to live a life of faith and obedience, emphasizing the seriousness and dedication needed to follow Christ.

The Apostle Paul frequently uses the language of striving to describe the Christian life. In 1 Corinthians 9:25, he writes, "Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one." The metaphor of athletic competition illustrates the disciplined striving necessary for spiritual victory.

Spiritual Warfare and Striving

Striving is also a key concept in the context of spiritual warfare. 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." This passage highlights the spiritual nature of the believer's striving, emphasizing the need for spiritual armor and readiness.

Moral and Ethical Striving

The Bible also speaks to the moral and ethical dimensions of striving. In Proverbs 28:4, it is written, "Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive against them." Here, striving is depicted as a moral duty to uphold righteousness and oppose wickedness.

Divine Striving

While much of the biblical narrative focuses on human striving, there are instances where God Himself is described as striving with humanity. In Genesis 6:3, God declares, "My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days shall be 120 years." This passage reflects God's patience and the limits of His striving with human sinfulness.

Conclusion

The biblical concept of striving encompasses a range of meanings, from physical and interpersonal conflict to spiritual and moral effort. It underscores the active nature of faith and the believer's call to engage in a life of disciplined pursuit of God's will, while also recognizing the divine striving that seeks to guide and transform humanity.3478. Yisrael -- "God strives," another name of Jacob and his desc ...
... Yisrael. 3479 . "God strives," another name of Jacob and his desc. ... Word Origin
from sarah and el Definition "God strives," another name of Jacob and his desc. ...
/hebrew/3478.htm - 6k

Whether There is Delight in Contemplation?
... xiv in Ezech.) that "when the soul strives to contemplate God, it is in a state
of struggle; at one time it almost overcomes, because by understanding and ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether there is delight in.htm

Outward and Inward Morality
... abiding in God's will. Towards this union with God for which it is created
the soul strives perpetually. Fire converts wood into ...
/.../eckhart/meister eckharts sermons/vii outward and inward morality.htm

Thus Far I have Made Answer About My Crimes, and Indeed in Defence ...
... I will now come to his Apology, by which he strives to justify himself to Anastasius,
Bishop of the City of Rome, and, in order to defend himself, constructs a ...
/.../1 thus far i have.htm

One of the Duties of Fortitude is to Keep the Weak from Receiving ...
... Secondly, as it strives after those things which are the highest, and all things
in which one can see anything moral (or as the Greeks call it, prepon,) with ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xxxvi one of the.htm

On the Death of a Believer.
... On the death of a believer. In vain my fancy strives to paint. The moment after
death. ... Her mansion near the throne. Faith strives, but all its efforts fail,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 72 on the death.htm

Toleration
... against modesty, scorn of imbecility against reverence for authority in the same
man's heart, while the mystery of the new world around him strives with the ...
/.../kingsley/discipline and other sermons/sermon xxii toleration.htm

The Twofold Wrestle --God's with Jacob and Jacob's with God
... in unbroken silence, 'a man' wrestles with Jacob, and does not prevail; in the second,
which is represented as an interchange of speech, Jacob strives with the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the twofold wrestlegods with jacob.htm

By what virtues the Ancient Romans Merited that the True God ...
... For glory, honor, and power are desired alike by the good man and by the ignoble;
but the former," he says, "strives onward to them by the true way, whilst the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 12 by what virtues the.htm

Saints, Sages, and Saviors: the Law of Service
... Whoever fights ceaselessly against his own selfishness, and strives to supplant
it with all-embracing love, is a saint, whether he live in a cottage or in the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/allen/the way of peace/saints sages and saviors the.htm

Eighth Tractate. On Free-Will and the Will of the One.
... the Intellectual-Principle. Will strives towards the good which the act
of Intellectual-Principle realizes. Thus that principle ...
/.../plotinus/the six enneads/eighth tractate on free-will and.htm

Strives (4 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Strives (4 Occurrences). 1 Corinthians 9:25 Every man
who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. ...
/s/strives.htm - 7k

Imperishable (11 Occurrences)
... beasts or reptiles. (WEY). 1 Corinthians 9:25 Every man who strives in the
games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do ...
/i/imperishable.htm - 9k

Incorruptible (8 Occurrences)
... things. (WEB ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS). 1 Corinthians 9:25 Every man who strives
in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now ...
/i/incorruptible.htm - 9k

Fashions (10 Occurrences)
... before it. (See NIV). Isaiah 45:9 Woe to him who strives with his Maker-
a clay pot among the clay pots of the earth! Shall the clay ...
/f/fashions.htm - 9k

Training (32 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Training (32 Occurrences). 1 Corinthians 9:25 Every man
who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. ...
/t/training.htm - 15k

Exercises (4 Occurrences)
... patience with them? (WEB). 1 Corinthians 9:25 Every man who strives in the
games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do ...
/e/exercises.htm - 7k

Corruptible (7 Occurrences)
... (Root in WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS). 1 Corinthians 9:25 Every man who
strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. ...
/c/corruptible.htm - 8k

Self-control (14 Occurrences)
... For it's better to marry than to burn. (WEB WEY BBE NAS RSV). 1 Corinthians 9:25
Every man who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. ...
/s/self-control.htm - 11k

Sanctification (13 Occurrences)
... to Christ. The moral imperfections which cling to him he feels to be sins,
which he laments and strives to overcome. Believers find ...
/s/sanctification.htm - 45k

Sarai (13 Occurrences)
... "She that strives," a contentious person, is a name that might be given to a child
at birth (compare Hosea 12:3, 4, of Jacob), or later when the child's ...
/s/sarai.htm - 20k

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