[Greek] νικάω (nikaō), [Latin] vincere, [Latin] victoria, [Latin] supervenire, [French] surprendre, [French] agresser, [French] surpasser, [French] conquerir, [German] seigen: to conquer, to overcome, to prevail, to overpower; Lk.1:22, Jn.16:33, Rom.3:4, Rom.12:21, 1Jn.2:13-14, 1:Jn.4:4, 1Jn.5:4-5
The Christian sect Nicolaitans wreaked havoc in the early Church with their toleration, inclusion, compromise, worldliness, and false compassion. Sound familiar? Jesus hated the works of the Nicolaitans. What does that say about the Vatican conciliar/Synodal Church?
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to surpass, to prevail, to conquer, to be victorious, to carry the majority, to appeal to the mob, and to yield to excellence.
Sophocles’ Ajax 1357: “I yield to his excellence much more than his hostility.”
Plato’s Phaedrus 56b: “For they have truly conquered the Olympic contests.”
Aeschylus’ Eumenides 88: “Remember, do not let fear overpower your heart.”
Sophocles’ Antigone 233: “The view prevailed that I should come to you.”
Euripides’ Orestis 944: “The villain spoke and gained his point by appealing to the mob.”
Mythology: Nike is the goddess of victory. Throughout history mortals (man) have called upon the gods seeking favor, fortune, and victory. The Greeks worshipped Nike, believing that she could grant them the strength and speed to be victorious. The related Roman goddess is Victoria.
Old Testament: This term means to excel, to be pre-eminent, to be permanent, to be innocent, to be clean, to stand victorious as a martyr, and to stand innocent before the judgment. God’s victory is the only answer one can give to the meaning of evil.
New Testament: This term means to overcome, to conquer, and to be victorious. Victories and defeats may be temporary in life, but Christ has the ultimate victory. One must conquer evil with good. The victor is the Christian who holds fast to his faith and does God’s will in the face of opposition and persecution.
Scripture:
Lk.11:21-22: “When a strong man fully arms his palace, his possessions are safe.” (The strong man is the devil. The place is the world (kingdom of the devil.
Strong man: the devil
Palace: this is the world (kingdom of the devil)
Strong man’s possessions (the temporary security that evil forces have over their captives): ignorance, unbelief, disobedience, hardness of heart, hatred, enmity toward God, pride, rebellion, arrogance, failing to acknowledge sin, lack of need for conversion, worldliness, self indulgence, spiritual blindness, closemindedness.
But when one stronger (Jesus) than he attacks and overcomes him (Satan), Jesus takes away the armor on he relied and distributes the spoils.” (The strong man is the devil. The palace is the world (kingdom of the devil.)
Lk.11:22: “But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, He takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils.”
One stronger than he: The stronger one is Jesus who has the authority to defeat Satan. Jesus is address the power struggle between the kingdom of God and the forces of evil.
Taking away the armor: The armor represents the defenses and strategies that the evil forces rely on to maintain control. These represents the false securities and deceptions that people trust in apart from God.
Distributing the spoils: Jesus releases and liberates those who are possessed and controlled by the devil. This symbolizes the triumph and reward of Christ’s sacrificial work.
- Ignorance: This includes of God, ourselves, truth, busyness, and salvation. The devil blinds our eyes and hardens our hearts.
- Unbelief: Our fallen nature, doubts, disobedience, barriers against God.
- Hardness of heart: Inability to fill sorrow from sin, closemindedness, failure to acknowledge sin, inclination for sin, lack of need for conversion.
- Hatred and enmity toward God: failure to acknowledge God’s ways, corruptness, failure to acknowledge Truth, inclination for hatred.
- Pride: Selfishness, self-exultation, self-indulgence, vanity, arrogance, rebellion, “I will not serve”, “I know better…”
- Jesus attacks and overcomes Satan’s armor: (Jesus overcomes Satan’s control over his subjects.)
- Jesus distributes the spoils: (Jesus releases those who are possessed and controlled by the devil.
Jn.16:33: “I have told you this so that you may have peace in Me. In the world, you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” (Trouble in this world: great tribulation, malice, persecution, affliction, torment, pride, treachery, sin, arrogance, ignorance, and “being of this world”.)
Rom.12:20-21: “For by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head. Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good.”
Rom.12:21: Conquering evil with good (kindness):
- Being conquered by evil is a sign of weakness, not strength. To repress this desire for revenge because a personal victory for oneself.
- Your actions will illustrate the power of the gospel.
- Your actions may serve to disarm your enemies of their rage.
- Your actions may serve to confound the evil one, who seeks to stir up one’s passions and desires.
- Allow God to repay with vengeance upon others.
- “Kill” your enemies with kindness (serving, feeding, and serving them).
- Showing them kindness is like heaping burning coals upon their heads: make them feel the pain of shame, embarrassment, remorse, and repentance.