Victory

VICTORY (νῖκος, Mat 12:20, 1Co 15:55; 1Co 15:57; νίκη, 1Jn 5:4; חּֽשׁוּעָה, 1Sa 19:5, Pro 21:31).—Mat 12:20 is a quotation from Isa 42:3; but in the latter the word used is אֶמָח ‘truth,’ and not ‘victory.’ It is the same word, νενίκηκα (fr. νικάω), which is used by our Lord in Joh 16:33 ‘I have overcome the world,’ and in many other passages throughout the NT, to express the idea of ‘overcoming.’ To the mind of Jesus there is only one kind of victory. It is not the triumph over social and financial difficulties which issues in worldly success, but that mastery over our lower nature and the powers of evil within and around us which issues in self-control, and the subjection of the whole life to the will of God. This is the one real victory, without which any other is but a fleeting phantom. It was the victory which He Himself gained, and which His true disciples are enabled to achieve through His aid and guidance. This victory brings with it such blessings as forgiveness, deliverance from the dominion of sin and from the fear of death, a deep sense of the moral order of the world, peace with God, and life everlasting.

Dugald Clark.

Songs celebrating victory in war were common among ancient people. Israel’s victory songs were marked by great praise to God, because Israelites acknowledged that God was the one who gave them victory (Exo 15:1-18; Judges 5; Psalms 18; see also WAR).

The New Testament uses the illustration of warfare in giving teaching about the Christian’s conflict with evil, a conflict in which God again is the one who brings victory (2Co 10:3-4; Eph 6:10-18; see also ARMOUR; WEAPONS). Satan is the enemy of God’s people, but Christians can be assured of victory over him because of Christ’s victory over him (Luk 4:1-13; Luk 10:18; Rev 12:7-11; see SATAN; TEMPTATION). Because of Satan’s power in the world, Christians have a conflict with the world and its evil ways, but again through faith in Christ they are guaranteed victory (Rom 8:35-37; Jas 4:4; 1Jn 2:15; 1Jn 5:19; see WORLD).

Within themselves likewise Christians have a conflict. Their old human nature, the flesh, still tries to rule them, but Christ has conquered the flesh so that they may no longer be under its power. By faith Christ’s victory becomes theirs (Rom 8:1-4; see FLESH).

The final victory will be the conquest of death at Christ’s return. All God’s people will be raised to new life in glorified spiritual bodies, and will be free for ever from the effects of sin. Having established complete authority over all things, Christ will then deliver his victorious kingdom to the Father (1Co 15:24-28; 1Co 15:54; see RESURRECTION).