Controversy

Controversy

kon´tro - vẽr - si ( ריב , rı̄bh , "strife," "contention"; ὁμολογουμένως , homologouménōs , "confessedly," "without controversy"): Used frequently of disputes among men (as  Deuteronomy 17:8 ) and then transferred to the justice of God as directed against the sins of men. Thus we read of Yahweh's controversy with the nations ( Jeremiah 25:31 ); with the inhabitants of the land ( Hosea 4:1 ); with His people ( Micah 6:2 ). "Without controversy" ( 1 Timothy 3:16 ), a positive rather than a negative expression, "by common consent," or better, "as unanimously confessed," introducing a quotation from a hymn or rhythmical confession of the early church.