The term "waged" in the context of the Bible often refers to the act of engaging in conflict or battle. It is used to describe both physical and spiritual warfare, reflecting the struggles faced by individuals and nations in their pursuit of righteousness and obedience to God.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, warfare was a common aspect of life for the Israelites. Battles were often waged under divine instruction, as God commanded His people to conquer the Promised Land and defend it against surrounding nations. For example, in the book of Joshua, the Israelites waged war against the inhabitants of Canaan as part of God's promise to give them the land. Joshua 11:18 states, "Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long period of time."

The concept of waging war also extends to the spiritual realm. In the Psalms, David frequently speaks of God as a warrior who fights on behalf of His people. Psalm 144:1 declares, "Blessed be the LORD, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle."

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the focus shifts from physical battles to spiritual warfare. The Apostle Paul frequently uses military imagery to describe the Christian life as a battle against spiritual forces. In 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 , Paul writes, "For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds."

Ephesians 6:12 further emphasizes this spiritual struggle: "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." Believers are called to put on the full armor of God to stand firm against these spiritual adversaries.

Theological Implications

The concept of waging war in the Bible underscores the reality of conflict in the life of faith. It highlights the necessity of reliance on God's strength and guidance in overcoming both physical and spiritual challenges. The battles waged by the Israelites serve as historical examples of God's faithfulness and the importance of obedience to His commands.

In the spiritual realm, Christians are reminded that their true battle is not against other people but against spiritual forces that oppose God's kingdom. The call to wage spiritual warfare is a call to live a life of prayer, faith, and righteousness, relying on the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome evil.

Practical Application

Believers today are encouraged to recognize the spiritual battles they face and to engage in them with the weapons God provides. This includes prayer, the Word of God, faith, and righteousness. By understanding the nature of the warfare waged in the Bible, Christians can be better equipped to stand firm in their faith and advance the kingdom of God in their lives and communities.(imp. & p. p.) of Wage.4170. polemeo -- to make war
... Word Origin from polemos Definition to make war NASB Word Usage make war (1),
quarrel (1), wage war (2), waged (1), wages war (1), waging (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4170.htm - 6k6213a. asah -- do, make
... show (1), take action (6), thoroughly deal (1), treat (3), tried (1), trim (1),
trimmed (1), truly practice (1), use (1), used (4), wage (2), waged (2), work ...
/hebrew/6213a.htm - 8k

How the War was Waged against the Ammonites and Happily Concluded.
... Years. From The Death Of Saul To The Death Of David. CHAPTER 6. How The War
Was Waged Against The Ammonites And Happily Concluded. 1 ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 6 how the war.htm

Of the Wickedness of the War Waged by the Romans against the ...
... Book III. Chapter 14."Of the Wickedness of the War Waged by the Romans Against
the Albans, and of the Victories Won by the Lust of Power. ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 14 of the wickedness of.htm

That There is a Strong Conflict to be Waged against the Devil, and ...
... Third Book. 117. That there is a strong conflict to be waged against the devil,
and that therefore we ought to stand bravely, that we may be able to conquer. ...
/.../cyprian/three books of testimonies against the jews/117 that there is a.htm

The Durations and Issues of War Depend on the Will of God.
... [226] The first Punic war was terminated after having been waged for
three-and-twenty years. The Mithridatic war was waged for forty years. ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 22 the durations and issues.htm

Letter clxxxix. (AD 418. )
... For, when faith is pledged, it is to be kept even with the enemy against whom the
war is waged, how much more with the friend for whom the battle is fought! ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter clxxxix a d 418.htm

The Evil one Said, "I Fear Him, Even Jesus, Lest He Destroy My ...
... One! 2. I matched my speed with the swift, and I outstripped them: I waged
war; the tumult of multitudes was armour to me. In the ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn xli the evil one.htm

Jehovah Nissi
... looked into an enemy's eyes for the first time"the elevating and bracing thought
that they were God's soldiers, and that the warfare which they waged was not ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/jehovah nissi.htm

Relations with Nestorius and to Nestorianism.
... and a letter was despatched in their common name to Nestorius, exhorting him to
accept the term theotokos, round which the whole war waged; pointing out the ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/iii relations with nestorius and to.htm

That God Foreknew that the First Man Would Sin, and that He at the ...
... commending concord. For not even lions or dragons have ever waged with their
kind such wars as men have waged with one another. [566 ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 22 that god foreknew that.htm

Whether it is Always Sinful to Wage War?
... I answer that, In order for a war to be just, three things are necessary. First,
the authority of the sovereign by whose command the war is to be waged. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is always sinful.htm

Waged (6 Occurrences)
... (imp. & pp) of Wage. Multi-Version Concordance Waged (6 Occurrences). Revelation
12:7 There was war in the sky. Michael and his angels made war on the dragon. ...
/w/waged.htm - 8k

Illyricum (1 Occurrence)
... 3. Relation to Rome: The Romans waged two Illyrian wars: in 229-228 BC and in 219
BC, but no province was formed until 167, when, after the fall of the ...
/i/illyricum.htm - 13k

Antiochus
... He waged war on Eumenes of Pergamum, but without success. ... Later he waged war with
the Parthians and was slain in battle (1 Maccabees 15:2-9, 28-31). JE Harry. ...
/a/antiochus.htm - 17k

Wage (39 Occurrences)

/w/wage.htm - 18k

Jaw-bone (3 Occurrences)
... as in the Revised Version, "God clave the hollow place that is in Lehi," etc., Lehi
(qv) being the name of the hill where this conflict was waged, possibly so ...
/j/jaw-bone.htm - 7k

Jawbone (3 Occurrences)
... as in the Revised Version, "God clave the hollow place that is in Lehi," etc., Lehi
(qv) being the name of the hill where this conflict was waged, possibly so ...
/j/jawbone.htm - 10k

Game (11 Occurrences)
... for a stake or prize; to use cards, dice, billiards, or other instruments, according
to certain rules, with a view to win money or other thing waged upon the ...
/g/game.htm - 10k

Wager (2 Occurrences)

/w/wager.htm - 7k

Immanuel (3 Occurrences)
... To this end they waged war against Judah, advancing as far as Jerusalem itself,
but without complete success (Isaiah 7:1). Ahaz, a weak king, and now panic ...
/i/immanuel.htm - 16k

Dora
... towns and it would seem that the Sidonians seized it to obtain its rich supplies
of shell-fish, and this probably caused the war of retaliation waged by the ...
/d/dora.htm - 9k

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