Christians must expect to face many enemies on account of their faith. Jesus Christ made it clear that such opposition was the inevitable result of commitment to him. Nevertheless, Christians are called upon to love their enemies.
Christians are enemies of the world because they belong to Jesus Christ
John 15:18–19 See also Psalm 86:14; John 17:14; 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 4:15–16; 1 John 3:13
If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
Opposition to Christians is opposition to Jesus Christ
Matthew 25:34–40 See also Mark 9:42; Luke 17:1; Acts 9:4–5
Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’ And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’
Particular enemies of Christians
All kinds of people
Mark 13:13 parallel Matthew 10:22 See also John 15:21
You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
Family members
Matthew 10:34–36 parallel Luke 12:51–53 See also Genesis 37:1–11; Micah 7:6; Matthew 10:21 parallel Mark 13:12
Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
Religious zealots
Acts 4:18, Acts 5:28, Acts 8:3, Acts 9:1–2; 2 Peter 2:1; 3 John 1:9–10
Christians may be killed by their enemies
John 16:2 See also Acts 7:56–60, Acts 12:1–2, Acts 26:9–10; Revelation 6:9
They will put you out of the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.
Christian attitudes towards enemies
To love, do good, bless and pray for them
Matthew 5:44–45 See also Job 31:29–30; Luke 6:27–29, Luke 6:35, Luke 23:34; Acts 7:59–60; Romans 12:14; 1 Peter 3:9
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
To forgive them
Matthew 6:12–15; Luke 11:4, Luke 23:33–34; Acts 7:59–60
To help and show kindness to them
Romans 12:20 See also Proverbs 25:21–22; Luke 10:25–37
On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
To show kindness to their beasts of burden
If you encounter your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him. If you see the donkey of one who hates you fallen under its load, do not leave it there; you must help him with it.
Not to rejoice in their misfortunes
Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles, or the LORD will see and disapprove, and turn His wrath away from him.
To win them with kindness
Romans 12:21 See also 1 Samuel 26:21
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Christians have a spiritual enemy
Satan opposes Christians
1 Peter 5:8 See also Job 1:7–9; Luke 22:31; 2 Timothy 4:17–18
Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
The need to engage in spiritual warfare
1 Peter 5:9 See also 2 Corinthians 10:4; Ephesians 6:10–18; 1 Timothy 5:14–15; 2 Timothy 4:7; James 4:7
Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.
God supports his people against their enemies
Psalm 23:5; John 17:15 See also Deuteronomy 33:27; 1 Samuel 12:11; 2 Samuel 22:1–3; Psalm 18:2, Psalm 43:1, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 59:1–2, Psalm 71:1–4, Psalm 91:1–4, Psalm 119:134, Psalm 140:1–2, Psalm 143:9, Psalm 144:11; Matthew 10:28–31; Luke 1:69, Luke 1:71, Luke 22:32; 2 Timothy 4:8
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one.
Death as the last enemy to be destroyed by Jesus Christ
1 Corinthians 15:26 See also Psalm 116:8; 2 Timothy 1:10; Revelation 20:14, Revelation 21:4
The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.