Controversy

Controversy - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

CONTROVERSY, n. [L. See Controvert.]

1. Dispute; debate; agitation of contrary opinions. A dispute is commonly oral, and a controversy in writing. Dispute is often or generally a debate of short duration, a temporary debate; a controversy is often oral and sometimes continued in books or in law for months or years.

This left no room for controversy, about the title.

Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness. 1 Tim 3.

2. A suit in law; a case in which opposing parties contend for their respective claims before a tribunal.

And by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried. Deu 21.

3. Dispute; opposition carried on.

The Lord hath a controversy with the nations. Jer 25.

4. Opposition; resistance.

And stemming [the torrent] with hearts of controversy.

kon'-tro-ver-si (ribh, "strife," "contention"; homologoumenos, "confessedly," "without controversy"): Used frequently of disputes among men (as De 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 (Jer 25:31); with the inhabitants of the land (Ho 4:1); with His people (Mic 6:2). "Without controversy" (1Ti 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.

H. E. Jacobs