Enemies of believers

Christians are enemies of the world because they belong to Jesus Christ

John 15:18–19 NASB95

“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.

See also Ps 86:14; Jn 17:14; 2 Ti 3:12; 1 Pe 4:15–16; 1 Jn 3:13

Opposition to Christians is opposition to Jesus Christ

Matthew 25:34–40 NASB95

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of 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 invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to 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? ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? ‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

See also Mk 9:42; Lk 17:1; Ac 9:4–5

Particular enemies of Christians

All kinds of people

Mark 13:13 NASB95

“You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.

See also Jn 15:21

Family members

Matthew 10:34–36 NASB95

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. “For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.

See also Ge 37:1–11; Mic 7:6; Mt 10:21

Religious zealots

Ac 4:18; Ac 5:28; Ac 8:3; Ac 9:1–2; 2 Pe 2:1; 3 Jn 9–10

Christians may be killed by their enemies

John 16:2 NASB95

“They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God.

See also Ac 7:56–60; Ac 12:1–2; Ac 26:9–10; Re 6:9

Christian attitudes towards enemies

To love, do good, bless and pray for them

Matthew 5:44–45 NASB95

“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

See also Job 31:29–30; Lk 6:27–29; Lk 6:35; Lk 23:34; Ac 7:59–60; Ro 12:14; 1 Pe 3:9

To forgive them

Mt 6:12–15; Lk 11:4; Lk 23:33–34; Ac 7:59–60

To help and show kindness to them

Romans 12:20 NASB95

“But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

See also Pr 25:21–22; Lk 10:25–37

To show kindness to their beasts of burden

Exodus 23:4–5 NASB95

“If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him. “If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless under its load, you shall refrain from leaving it to him, you shall surely release it with him.

Not to rejoice in their misfortunes

Proverbs 24:17–18 NASB95

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; Or the Lord will see it and be displeased, And turn His anger away from him.

To win them with kindness

Romans 12:21 NASB95

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

See also 1 Sa 26:21

Christians have a spiritual enemy

Satan opposes Christians

1 Peter 5:8 NASB95

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

See also Job 1:7–9; Lk 22:31; 2 Ti 4:17–18

The need to engage in spiritual warfare

1 Peter 5:9 NASB95

But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

See also 2 Co 10:4; Eph 6:10–18; 1 Ti 5:14–15; 2 Ti 4:7; Jas 4:7

God supports his people against their enemies

Ps 23:5; Jn 17:15

See also Dt 33:27; 1 Sa 12:11; 2 Sa 22:1–3; Ps 18:2; Ps 43:1; Ps 46:1; Ps 59:1–2; Ps 71:1–4; Ps 91:1–4; Ps 119:134; Ps 140:1–2; Ps 143:9; Ps 144:11; Mt 10:28–31; Lk 1:69; Lk 1:71; Lk 22:32; 2 Ti 4:8

Death as the last enemy to be destroyed by Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 15:26 NASB95

The last enemy that will be abolished is death.

See also Ps 116:8; 2 Ti 1:10; Re 20:14; Re 21:4