con·tend (kən-těnd') Pronunciation Key
v. con·tend·ed, con·tend·ing, con·tends
v. intr.
1.To strive in opposition or against difficulties; struggle: armies contending for control of strategic territory; had to contend with long lines at the airport.
2.To compete, as in a race; vie.
3.To strive in controversy or debate; dispute. See Synonyms at discuss.
The hebrew word for contend is
H7378 riyb reeb
or ruwb {roob};
a primitive root; properly, to toss, i.e. grapple; mostly figuratively, to wrangle,
i.e. hold a controversy; (by implication) to defend:--adversary, chide,
complain, contend, debate, X ever, X lay wait, plead, rebuke, strive, X
thoroughly.
In Greek
G1864 epagonizomai ep-ag-o-nid'-zom-ahee
from G1909 and G75;
to struggle for:--earnestly contend foreign
Specifically in Jude we have.
Ju 1:3 . Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort [you] that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
I think sometimes our objection can be that someone else is not contending for the faith in the same manner as us. We read scripture and see various teachings and think this or that is right or wrong. I will not say that there is not wicked teachings. I was immersed in some of the worst. Yet, the aspect of my being was shaped positively in the long run. As much as we object, it remains, as much as we expose, it remains. If someones words that come out of their mouth are so holy and righteous and filled with a truth, then it would crumble the very establishment they speak over. I see no evidence of that happening from ANYONE who rises up and declares they have truth as much as they might be right about the wickedness that abounds from religion.
The truth is contained in the source, the source for which I know has the power to reconcile.
1Ti 2:5 For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
There is only one scripture truly that has risen up from the bible and captured me to an unquestionable truth, one that I cannot avoid, one that I cannot reason away, one that I don't even begin to doubt.
1Ti 2:4 Who wills that all mankind be saved and come into a realization of the truth.
If I am to ignore the above scripture and contend for a faith that looks to any man, then I will indeed risk my soul in defiance of a powerless idol of vapor. Good luck Vapor, give me your best shot.
