Contention

Concept

Contention — quarreling, strife, and argumentative conflict — is consistently treated in Scripture as a mark of folly and a destroyer of community. Proverbs is especially insistent: "It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling" (Prov. 20:3); "The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out" (Prov. 17:14); a quarrelsome wife is compared to the dripping of water on a rainy day (Prov. 19:13; 21:9, 19; 27:15). The contentious person is identified as someone who stirs up division by repeating matters (Prov. 17:9; 26:21). In the NT, Paul lists contentions and quarrels among the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:20; 2 Cor. 12:20) and as characteristic of pre-conversion foolishness (Tit. 3:9). Timothy is warned to avoid foolish controversies that breed quarrels (2 Tim. 2:23–24). James locates the root of conflicts in disordered passions and desires (Jas. 4:1–2). The positive counterpart to contention is the peace of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22), the meekness that receives instruction (Jas. 1:21), and the pursuit of what makes for peace (Rom. 14:19; Heb. 12:14).