UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: to be in a serious struggle with, to have to contend with

Semantic entry: 39.28

Semantic domains: Hostility, Strife

Subdomains: Strife, Struggle

Definition: (a figurative extension of meaning of θηριομαχέω ‘to be forced to fight with wild animals,’ not occurring in the NT) to be in conflict with forceful opposition

Notes: Some persons have assumed that θηριομαχέω in RV CO1 15:32 · LV CO1 15:32 · Read together CO1 15:32 is to be understood in a literal sense, but this is very unlikely. One can, however, preserve something of the figurative force of this expression by rendering this question in RV CO1 15:32 · LV CO1 15:32 · Read together CO1 15:32 as “if I have, as it were, fought ‘wild beasts’ here in Ephesus simply from human motives, what have I gained?” (TEV). By making a metaphor into a simile one can preserve something of the figurative value of the phrase, while at the same time not introducing possible misunderstanding.