Bible Encyclopedias
Controversy

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kon´tro -vẽr -si ( ריב , rı̄bh , "strife," "contention"; ὁμολογουμένως , homologouménōs , "confessedly," "without controversy"): Used frequently of disputes among men (as Deuteronomy 17:8 ) and then transferred to the justice of God as directed against the sins of men. Thus we read of Yahweh's controversy with the nations (Jeremiah 25:31 ); with the inhabitants of the land (Hosea 4:1 ); with His people (Micah 6:2 ). "Without controversy" (1 Timothy 3:16 ), a positive rather than a negative expression, "by common consent," or better, "as unanimously confessed," introducing a quotation from a hymn or rhythmical confession of the early church.