39. War. Fighting

From: Concise Bible Dictionary: Appendix By: George A. Morrish

The words πὀλεμος, and μἀχη are translated ‘fight,' or ‘fighting.' They both occur in Jas. 4:1¹From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? (James 4:1): "From whence come wars (πό.) and fightings (μά)?" and in the next verse occur the verbs to which these words belong: "Ye fight (μάχομαι) and war (πολεμέω)." These passages show the distinction between the words, and they may be said to correspond to the English words ‘war' (πόλεμος), and actual fighting (μάχη, compare the Hebrew makkah, slaughter), though the war may be moral, and the fighting be by word of mouth, as "strifes of words" (λαγομαχία),

1 Tim. 6:4⁴He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, (1 Timothy 6:4), and the "strivings (μά.) about the law," Titus 3:9⁹But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. (Titus 3:9). Besides the above quoted passages the word, μάχη occurs only in 2 Cor. 7:5⁵For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. (2 Corinthians 7:5); 2 Tim. 2:23²³But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. (2 Timothy 2:23).

πόλεμος is found nine times in the Revelation: in chap. 9:7, 9; 16:14; 20:8, it is in the A. V. translated ‘battle;' and in 11:7; 12:7, 17; 13:7; 19:19, it is ‘war.' It would be more correct to render it ‘war' in all the places, while μάχν is rather the actual shock of 'battle.'

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