Don't be contentious

Another example of Spanish being clearer than English is found in 2 Timothy 2:24-26. In English it says,

"24 And the servant of the Lord must not ^astrive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to ^bteach, patient,

 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken ^acaptive by him at his will.

In Spanish instead of strive it uses the word contentious:

 24 Porque el siervo del Señor no debe ser ^acontencioso, sino amable para con todos, apto para enseñar, sufrido;

 26 y se zafen del lazo del diablo, en que están ^acautivos a voluntad de él.

Strive can mean

VERB 

1. to exert oneself vigorously; try hard: He strove to make himself understood.

2. to make strenuous efforts toward any goal: to strive for success.

3. to contend in opposition, battle, or any conflict; compete.

4. to struggle vigorously, as in opposition or resistance: to strive against fate.

5. to rival; vie.

So one of the definitions is fight. 

But contentious means:

ADJECTIVE

1. tending to argument or strife; quarrelsome: a contentious crew.

2. causing, involving, or characterized by argument or controversy: contentious issues.