Contending For The Faith

by Chris Simmons

Jude writes in verse 3 that those who are recipients of “our common salvation” bear a responsibility to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints”. We are tempted to lose sight of this fact, that with such an eternal blessing as salvation, comes responsibilities that we must bear. We need to be clear about this responsibility that we individually hold before God.

First, what does it mean to contend? The Greek word for contend is “epagonizomai” which W.E. Vine defines as: “to contend about a thing, as a combatant. The word ‘earnestly’ is added to convey the intensive force of the preposition” (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words). Other scholars use similar definitions: “to struggle for” (Strong’s Greek Definitions). Also, “…used of athletes contending in the athletic contests. The word speaks of a vigorous, intense, determined struggle to defeat the opposition. Our word 'agony' is the English spelling of the noun form of the word. The Greek athletes exerted themselves to the point of agony in an effort to win the contest. With such intense effort does Jude say that saints should defend the doctrine of Christianity” (Wuest). This definition is supported by the use of the same base Greek word in I Timothy 6:12, where Paul urges Timothy to “fight (‘agonizomai’) the good fight of faith” and in II Timothy 4:7 where Paul affirms that he had indeed “…fought (‘agonizomai’) the good fight …(and) kept the faith”. Our responsibility therefore is to battle and fight to the point of agony for the faith “once for all delivered to the saints”.

Second, we must understand what “the faith” is. In Galatians 1:11, Paul begins to explain the source for “the gospel” that he preached and how that he did not receive the message from man but rather by revelation from God (verse 12). He goes on in verses 13 through 22 to explain in more detail his early days after becoming a Christian and the initial reaction he received from his brethren. Then in verse 23 he states that these same brethren commented about Paul that “He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.” We can easily understand that when Paul preached “the faith”, he was preaching “the gospel” that he said earlier should not be altered one bit in verses 6 through 9. We can see by this context that “the faith” is all that came by revelation either through Jesus Christ or through His holy apostles (Ephesians 3:3-5).

Another passage that clearly makes this point is Acts 13, beginning in verse 7 where a man named Sergius Paulus sought Paul and Barnabas so that he might hear from them “the word of God”. In the very next verse, we read that Elymas the magician was opposing Paul and Barnabas (and that which they taught) and seeking to turn the proconsul away from “the faith”. Later then in verse 12, after Paul strongly rebukes Elymas, we read that the proconsul “believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching (or doctrine) of the Lord.” In this one context, we read that what Paul and Barnabas taught was considered to be “the word of God”, “the faith”, and “the teaching (or doctrine) of Christ”.

Therefore, our responsibility to “contend earnestly for the faith” means that we will contend for the word of God, the gospel and the doctrine of Christ, all of which was revealed to Christ and His apostles. We can not defend the words of Christ only and then consider adherence to the apostles teaching to be optional. Paul didn't teach opinions but rather he stated, “If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment” (I Corinthians 14:37). What the apostles taught was the “Lord's commandment” because Jesus had promised to the apostles that the Holy Spirit would come to them after His departure and “guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13). Therefore, to reject the words of the apostles is to reject God as Paul stated in I Thessalonians 4:8, “Consequently, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.”

Therefore, if we wish to be presented to God “holy and blameless and beyond reproach” we must “continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard … of which I, Paul, was made a minister.” (Colossians 1:22-23). And it is this gospel and this faith which we must contend for so earnestly.