φιλόνεικος (philoneikos)
philoneikos
dispute-loving
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective philoneikos describes a person who is fond of strife or inherently contentious. It combines the root for love or affection with the word for quarrel or dispute, literally meaning "strife-loving." This creates a vivid image of someone who does not merely engage in arguments when forced, but actively enjoys or seeks out conflict.
Its usage in Scripture is extremely rare, appearing only once in the New Testament at 1 Corinthians 11:16. Here, Paul uses it to address a specific cultural issue regarding order and submission within the church gatherings. By labeling such behavior as philoneikos, he characterizes it not just as disagreement, but as a disruptive, quarrelsome attitude that undermines the unity of the community.
The word’s construction highlights the moral weight placed on harmony in early Christian teaching. To be "fond" of strife is to have one's affections misaligned with peace. This single occurrence serves as a sharp warning against letting personal pride or argumentative tendencies disrupt the shared life of believers, emphasizing that contentment should replace contention.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word philoneikos paints a clear picture of someone who finds comfort in conflict. It combines the idea of love with strife, suggesting that some people are not just arguing by accident but actually enjoy the fight. Paul uses this rare term in 1 Corinthians to address those who seem intent on being contentious during gatherings.
For your faith life, this serves as a gentle check on our own hearts. Do we find ourselves seeking out disagreements or defending our pride? The text reminds us that God’s assemblies do not operate with this kind of disruptive energy. Instead, we are called to value peace and unity over winning an argument.
When tensions rise, it helps to remember that harmony is a shared custom among believers. We can choose to step back from the urge to provoke, trusting that God values cooperation more than contention. This small shift in attitude protects the community and reflects the love we have received.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- contentious1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- φιλόνεικος1×
Key Verses
-
I Corinthians 11:16
But if any man seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither do God’s assemblies.
Paul uses this specific term here to establish that the early church did not accept a culture of disruptive arguing as normal practice.