The Word

These articles aim to study the various meanings and applications of one word in a specific Bible verse. It is the hope of the author that all who read will be equipped with a fuller understanding of the Word of GOD, then with this knowledge, claim the promise and the power that are available to the Christian living in these final hours of earth’s history. Hebrews 4:12 KJV “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”.

1 Peter 5:8 KJV - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Adversary

Who is your adversary? Is he a friend or a foe? We must have a clear definition in our minds when we consider the adversary mentioned in 1 Peter 5:8. The word “adversary” is the Greek noun ἀντίδικος which is transliterated as antidikos (än-te'-de-kos). “Antidikos” (ἀντίδικος) is formed from the prefix “anti” and the root word “dike”. “Anti” meaning against and “dike” meaning a cause or suit at law. We can easily realize that the word antidikos was originally a term used to mean “a prosecuting attorney arguing a case-at-law” or “an opponent at law".

Thus, the antidikos was someone who brought “formal charges” against another person in the court of law. He cited the law against someone who was accused. We are in a spiritual courtroom where we are being accused daily. Our antidikos is identified as the devil who is the “the accuser of our brethren” in Revelation 12:10.

Our antidikos is not merely accusatory but he is vicious also. Among the synonyms for the word, adversary are the words “enemy, foe, hostile and opponent”. Hence, he is compared to “a roaring lion” in 1 Peter 5:8. Let’s consider the comparison, “a roaring lion”.

When a lion hunts, he is relentless and hunts to kill. Thus, our antidikos does not play games.

If we find ourselves in his grasp, he will go for the jugular: he will kill us. A lion usually hunts in a group and our antidikos does the same. He hunts us along with fallen angels who delight to oppress and harm us in preparation for the kill.

How are we to survive then?

We must survive on this earth by being sober and vigilant as stated in Articles One and Two. We must be aware of the hunting tactics of the antidikos. The major one, the one that was first used to cause the first man and woman to sin, is deception. The antidikos always suggests a lie. The battle that we face starts in our mind. The many thoughts that we have throughout the day are not just coming from us. Many of these thoughts are suggestions that are crafted to deceive us. Deceptive traps that are laid to prey on our insecurities, fears, weaknesses, evil habits and lusts.

We fall for the trap every time because we are still asleep. We still believe that once we accept Christ that all we have to do is go to church and have five-minute devotions. We are ensnared because we are not sober or vigilant. We are drunk with worldliness and we are not vigilantly praying every moment of everyday, vigilantly seeking GOD’s will as outlined in the bible and responding to the prompts of the Holy Spirit.

The Lord Rebukes the "antidikos"

A scene is set in Zechariah 3 that offers us hope of victory over the antidikos. Here is a summary in the most general terms as it relates to us: A man who is dressed in filthy clothes is accused by the antidikos, the Lord rebukes the antidikos, cleans up the man and acquits him. The only hope that we have is Jesus. Jesus’ role as our defense is clearly stated in Hebrews 4:14 -15, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, Let us hold fast our profession.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin”. So you see, we do not have to fall prey to a vicious antidikos. We have Jesus and all that He has to offer. To Him is given “all power” Matthew 28:18. Thus we can “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need”.

To summarize

We live in a dangerous world, one that is far more dangerous than we realize. We are being hunted by an adversary, an antidikos who delights to accuse us before God with the aim of destroying us. We are helpless unless Jesus defends us. Although we have many foes on this planet, we have a Great High Priest who promises to save us. As our High Priest, Jesus invites us to come to Him for mercy, grace and help which He willingly gives us but we must come.

References

1 Peter 5. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/1pe/5/1/s_1156001

adversary. (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adversary

antidikos. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://biblehub.com/greek/476.htm