Contrary
The Old Testament: Walking Contrary to God
The most powerful use of "contrary" in the Old Testament appears in Leviticus 26, where God outlines the blessings of obedience and the curses of disobedience. The Hebrew word qeri describes a hostile, oppositional stance toward God. In a striking pattern of escalation, God warns Israel: "If you walk contrary to me and refuse to obey me... then I will walk contrary to you in fury" (Leviticus 26:21-28). The passage repeats this language multiple times, creating a vivid picture of mutual opposition — Israel turning away from God, and God responding in kind with discipline.
This imagery is deeply relational. God does not simply punish from a distance; He describes His response as "walking contrary" — matching Israel's hostility with consequences designed to bring them back. Even in judgment, the purpose is restoration (Leviticus 26:40-42).
Physical Opposition in the New Testament
In the New Testament, "contrary" frequently describes physical forces that oppose human efforts. When Jesus walked on the water, the disciples were straining at the oars because "the wind was contrary" (Matthew 14:24; Mark 6:48). During Paul's voyage to Rome, the ship encountered contrary winds that hindered their progress (Acts 27:4).
These descriptions of contrary winds serve as more than simple weather reports. In the biblical narrative, they often set the stage for divine intervention. Jesus came to the disciples on the stormy sea precisely because the wind was against them. The contrary wind became the occasion for a revelation of Christ's power over nature.
Doctrinal and Moral Opposition
Paul used "contrary" to describe teachings and behaviors that oppose sound doctrine. In 1 Timothy 1:10, he lists sins that are "contrary to sound teaching." In Galatians 5:17, he describes the fundamental conflict within the believer: "The flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh." This internal opposition defines the Christian struggle and points to the need for the Spirit's power.
In Colossians 2:14, Paul celebrates that Christ has canceled "the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands," describing the law's condemning power as something that was "contrary to us" — hostile and opposed to our well-being until Christ removed it through the cross.
The Call Beyond Opposition
The biblical use of "contrary" ultimately points believers toward alignment with God. Whether facing contrary winds, contrary doctrines, or the contrary pull of the flesh, the consistent scriptural response is trust in God's power to overcome opposition. The same God who walked contrary to disobedient Israel also promised restoration to those who humbled themselves (Leviticus 26:40-45). The same Christ who stilled the contrary wind also empowers believers to live by the Spirit rather than the flesh.
Biblical Context
The concept of contrariness appears across multiple genres. In Leviticus 26, it defines the covenant relationship under strain. In the Gospels and Acts, contrary winds test faith and occasion miracles (Matthew 14:24; Mark 6:48; Acts 27:4). In the epistles, Paul uses it to describe doctrinal opposition (1 Timothy 1:10), spiritual warfare within the believer (Galatians 5:17), and the condemnation removed by Christ (Colossians 2:14).
Theological Significance
The concept of contrariness reveals the seriousness of opposing God's will. In Leviticus, walking contrary to God brings escalating consequences. Yet even divine opposition serves redemptive purposes. In the New Testament, contrary forces — whether winds or fleshly desires — become occasions for demonstrating God's greater power and the sufficiency of Christ's work on the cross.
Historical Background
The Hebrew concept of qeri in Leviticus 26 has been debated by scholars. Some connect it to hostility or chance, suggesting Israel treated God's commands as accidental rather than intentional. The Greek enantios was used in Hellenistic navigation for headwinds and in philosophy for logical opposition. Both cultural contexts enrich the biblical usage.