Word Study Wednesday

Have you ever pondered what it means to be an enemy of God?  If we haven't, then how do we know that we aren't unknowingly being one?

Webster's 1828 definition of enemy is:

1. A foe; an adversary. A private enemy is one who hates another and wishes him injury, or attempts to do him injury to gratify his own malice or ill will. A public enemy or foe, is one who belongs to a nation or party, at war with another. 2. One who hates or dislikes; as an enemy to truth or falsehood. 3. In theology, and by way of eminence, the enemy is the Devil; the archfiend. 4. In military affairs, the opposing army or naval force in war, is called the enemy. The Old Testament uses these words for enemy: 'oyeb - to be an adversary to anyone, to persecute him as an enemy, to hate צַר tsar, tsar; or צָר tsâr; from H6887; narrow; (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, i.e. trouble); also a pebble (as in H6864); (transitive) an opponent (as crowding):—adversary, afflicted(-tion), anguish, close, distress, enemy, flint, foe, narrow, small, sorrow, strait, tribulation, trouble. The New Testament uses this word:  echthros hated, odious, hateful hostile, hating, and opposing another used of men as at enmity with God by their sin opposing (God) in the mind a man that is hostile a certain enemy the hostile one the devil who is the most bitter enemy of the divine government

Wow, there is more to being an enemy than I thought.  We'll begin looking at verses next Wednesday.