Bible Dictionaries
Fight

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

akin to ago, "to lead," primarily "a gathering," then, "a place of assembly," and hence, "a contest, conflict," is translated "fight" in 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7 . See CONFLICT.

is translated "fight" in Hebrews 10:32 , AV. See CONFLICT.

Note: In Hebrews 11:34 , polemos, "war," is translated "fight," AV (RV, "war"); it is misrendered "battle" in the AV of 1 Corinthians 14:8; Revelation 9:7,9; 16:14; 20:8 .

from A, No. 1, denotes (a) "to contend" in the public games, 1 Corinthians 9:25 ("striveth in the games," RV); (b) "to fight, engage in conflict," John 18:36; (c) metaphorically, "to contend" perseveringly against opposition and temptation, 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7 (cp. A, No. 1; in regard to the meaning there, the evidence of Koine inscriptions is against the idea of games-contests); to strive as in a contest for a prize, straining every nerve to attain to the object, Luke 13:24; to put forth every effort, involving toil, Colossians 1:29; 1 Timothy 4:10 (some mss. have oneidizomai here, "to suffer reproach"); to wrestle earnestly in prayer, Colossians 4:12 (cp. sunagonizomai, Romans 15:30 ). See LABOR , STRIVE.

"to box" (from puktes, "a pugilist"), one of the events in the Olympic games, is translated "fight" in 1 Corinthians 9:26 .

"to fight," is so rendered in James 4:2 (cp. "fightings," ver. 1, see below), and translated "strive" in 2 Timothy 2:24; "strove" in John 6:52; Acts 7:26 , See STRIVE.

signifies "to fight with wild beasts" (therion, "a beast," and No. 3), 1 Corinthians 15:32 . Some think that the Apostle was condemned to fight with wild beasts; if so, he would scarcely have omitted it from 2 Corinthians 11:23-33 . Moreover, he would have lost his status as a Roman citizen. Probably he uses the word figuratively of contending with ferocious men. Ignatius so uses it in his Ep. to the Romans.

Notes: (1) In Revelation 2:16; 12:7 , AV, polemeo, "to war," is translated "to fight," RV, "will make war," "going forth to war," and "warred." (2) In Acts 23:9 some mss. have the verb theomacheo, "to fight against God." Cp. the corresponding adjective, below, under FIGHTING.