'Let us walk honestly ... not in strife and envying' (Rom. 13:13).

'There are contentions among you' (1 Cor. 1:11).

'Whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye

not carnal, and walk as men?' (1 Cor. 3:3).

'Lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings,

whisperings, swellings, tumult' (2 Cor. 12:20).

So also Galatians 5:20; Philippians 1:15; 1 Timothy 6:4; Titus 3:9, to the

same effect.  Where this element together with its ugly companions are

admitted, defeat is certain.

Eritheia occurs as follows:

'Unto them that are contentious' (Rom. 2:8).

'Envyings, wraths, strifes' (2 Cor. 12:20).

'Emulations, wrath, strife' (Gal. 5:20).

'The one preach Christ of contention' (Phil. 1:16).

'Let nothing be done through strife' (Phil. 2:3).

'Envying and strife in your hearts' (Jas. 3:14).

'For where envying and strife is, there is confusion' (Jas. 3:16).

We learn from Galatians that this 'striving' is one of the works of the

flesh; from 1 Corinthians we learn that they who thus acted 'were carnal and

walked as men', while James associates it with that which is 'earthly,

sensual, devilish'.

Space will not permit us to exhibit this terrible thing in the full

light that the context of each occurrence supplies, but one passage is so

much to the point, so connected with the conception of the conflict between

darkness and light, the wearing of armour, and the weakening power of the

flesh, that we cannot forbear quoting it in full:

'The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off

the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.  Let us

walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in

chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.  But put ye on

the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil

the lusts thereof' (Rom. 13:12 -14).

We surely can appreciate the truth that a contentious spirit arising

from the flesh and having such evil associates as were discovered in every

passage, would wreck all hopes of victory.

In Matthew 12:19 we read: 'He shall not strive, nor cry'.  This word

'cry' cannot refer to the 'strong crying and tears' which for ever make

Gethsemane a holy place, even though the actual word is somewhat similar to

that used in Matthew 12.  It is the raucous cry of such that said 'Crucify

Him'; it is that raising of the pitch in the voice which is a sure sign that

anger has taken control:

'He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth

his spirit than he that taketh a city' (Prov. 16:32).

Here is an essential to ultimate victory.  One must have the immediate

victory over one's self before one can wear the laurels of the conqueror:

'Neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets' (Matt. 12:19).