Contend
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words [1]
"to engage in a contest" (cp. Eng., "athlete"), "to contend in public games," is used in 2—Timothy 2:5 , RV, "contend in the games," for the AV, "strive for the masteries." See Strive.
1—Corinthians 9:25
lit., "to separate throughout or wholly" (dia, "asunder," krino, "to judge," from a root kri---, meaning "separation"), then, to distinguish, decide, signifies, in the Middle Voice, "to separate oneself from, or to contend with," as did the circumcisionists with Peter, Acts 11:2; as did Michael with Satan, Jude 1:9 . See RV marg. of Jude 1:22 , where the thought may be that of differing in opinion. See Differ , Discern , Doubt , Judge , Partial , Stagger , Waver.
signifies "to contend about a thing, as a combatant" (epi, "upon or about," intensive, agon, "a contest"), "to contend earnestly," Jude 1:3 . The word "earnestly" is added to convey the intensive force of the preposition.
King James Dictionary [2]
Contend, L to stretch. Gr., See Tend, Tenet.
1. To strive, or to strive against to struggle in opposition.
Distress not the Moabites, nor contend with them in battle. Deuteronomy 2 .
2. To strive to use earnest efforts to obtain, or to defend and preserve.
You sit above, and see vain men below contend for what you only can bestow.
Ye should earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. Jude 1:3 .
3. To dispute earnestly to strive in debate.
They that were of the circumcision contended with him. Acts 11 . Job 9 .
4. To reprove sharply to chide to strive to convince and reclaim.
Then contended I with the rulers. Nehemiah 13 .
5.To strive in opposition to punish.
The Lord God called to contend by fire. Amos 7 .
6. To quarrel to dispute fiercely to wrangle. The parties contend about trifles.
To contend for, to strive to obtain as, two competitors contend for the prize.
Contend To dispute to contest.
When Carthage shall contend the world with Rome.
This transitive use of contend is not strictly legitimate. The phrase is elliptical, for being understood after contend but it is admissible in poetry.
Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types [3]
Jeremiah 12:5 (b) A remarkable picture which illustrates the conditions of religious professors. If these worldly religionists are made weary by the feeble Christian influences around them here, what will they do when they are really in the presence of the Lord?
"Footmen" represent Christians in this world who have a feeble, halting walk and yet live very much better lives than the ungodly. "Horses" refer to fully developed Christians who live wholly for the Lord.
Christians on earth are the "footmen" and Christians in Heaven are the "horses." If these empty professors cannot endure the presence and the ministry of the Christians who surround them, then how would they ever endure being with GOD, with Christ and with fully developed Christians? (See under "JORDAN").
Judges 1:3 (a) This describes the attitude that believers should take toward unbelievers in regard to the ministry and propagation of the Word of GOD. Believers should stand actively, boldly, and constantly for the "faith of our fathers."
Webster's Dictionary [4]
(1): (v. i.) To strive in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to argue.
(2): (v. t.) To struggle for; to contest.
(3): (v. i.) To struggle or exert one's self to obtain or retain possession of, or to defend.
(4): (v. i.) To strive in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight.
