φιλονεικία (philoneikia)
philoneikia
love of dispute
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun philoneikia denotes a love of strife or contentiousness, describing an eagerness to engage in argument for its own sake. It captures a spirit of rivalry that prioritizes winning a dispute over seeking truth or maintaining peace. The term carries a distinctly negative connotation, pointing toward disruptive behavior rather than healthy debate.
This word appears only once in the New Testament, found in Luke 22:24. In this context, it describes the disciples’ internal conflict as they argued among themselves about who was considered the greatest during the Last Supper. The usage highlights how their ambition had turned into a petty contest for status.
Its roots combine the word for love with the concept of striving or emulation. While such drive can be positive in other contexts, here it is twisted into a desire for conflict. Translators typically render it as "dispute" or "argument," reflecting the destructive nature of this specific kind of rivalry.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word philoneikia describes a love of dispute, an eagerness to argue for its own sake rather than to seek truth or peace. In Luke 22:24, it captures the disciples’ petty contest for status during the Last Supper, where ambition twisted into rivalry. This reminds us that even those closest to Jesus can fall into this trap when they prioritize winning over unity.
For your faith, this word invites self-examination. Do you engage in conversations to understand or to dominate? True Christian community thrives on humility, not competition. When conflicts arise, ask yourself if you are seeking resolution or merely victory. Let go of the need to be right and choose grace instead.
May you find freedom from the burden of constant contention. Instead, pursue peace with a gentle heart, knowing that God values harmony over heated debates. This shift brings deeper relationships and a clearer witness to those around you.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a dispute1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- φιλονεικία1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 22:24
A dispute also arose among them, which of them was considered to be greatest.
This verse uniquely illustrates philoneikia as the disciples’ internal conflict over who was greatest, showing how ambition can turn into a destructive rivalry even among followers of Jesus.