ἀντιστρατεύομαι (antistrateuomai)
antistrateuomai
to wage war against
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb antistrateuomai means to wage war against someone or something. It combines a prefix meaning "against" with a root related to military service or campaigning. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in Romans 7:23, where Paul describes an internal conflict.
Paul uses it to depict the law of sin waging war against the law of his mind. This usage highlights a fierce, active opposition rather than a passive disagreement. The term carries a strong military connotation, suggesting a sustained campaign or battle line drawn between two opposing forces within a person’s experience.
Its rarity in Scripture underscores the intensity of the struggle Paul describes. By choosing this specific word for military engagement, he emphasizes that the conflict is not merely a difference of opinion but a serious, ongoing battle for dominance over one's actions and desires.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word antistrateuomai paints a vivid picture of internal conflict. It describes an active military campaign waged against another force. In Romans 7:23, Paul uses this term to show how sin fights back against the mind’s desire to follow God’s law. This is not a quiet disagreement but a fierce battle for control over our actions.
Recognizing this struggle helps you understand why change feels so difficult. The presence of such intense opposition does not mean you are failing; it means the conflict is real and serious. Paul acknowledges this war to show that spiritual growth involves engaging with these deep tensions rather than ignoring them.
This awareness invites patience with yourself. You are part of a long tradition of believers who face similar internal battles. By naming the struggle, we can seek God’s strength with honesty, trusting that He walks with us through every stage of this ongoing journey toward peace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- warring against1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀντιστρατευόμενον1×
Key Verses
-
Romans 7:23
but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members.
This is the only New Testament occurrence, where Paul uses the term to describe sin’s active military campaign against his renewed mind.