[Greek] ἡλικία (hēlikia), [Latin] helix: maturity, age, stature, lifetime, generation; Mt.6:27, Lk.2:52, Lk.12:25, Jn.9:21,23, Eph.4:13, Heb.11:11
The scroll (volute) is the decoratively carved spiral part of the violin.
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means age, advanced age, youth, prime of life, adulthood, physical maturity, and age of discretion. This term, also known as a volute, was a spiral ornamentation in Corinthians or Ionic columns. Homer’s Iliad 22.419 states “I will make prayer to you ruthless men, yon worker of violence, if so be he may have same before his fellows and have pity on my old age.” Desmothenes’ Funeral Orations 60.11 states “They went on bearing the brunt of all dangers that chanced to arise until the laps of time brings us to the generation now living.” Herodotus’ The Histories 1.209 states “Darius was the eldest of his sons, then about twenty years old, this Darius had been left behind in Persia, not yet being of age to go on campaign.”
Old Testament: This term means age, stature, height, and maturity. The altar shall be square, at its height shall be three cubits (Exo.27:1). Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him (1Sam.16:7). The height of one cherub was ten cubits (1Kgs.6:26). Your stature is like a palm tree, and your breasts are like its clusters (Sol.7:7). Those also who are all tall in stature will be cut down and those who are lofty will be abased (Isa.10:33). Therefore its height was loftier than all the trees of the field (Eze.31:5).
New Testament: This term means lifespan, stature, height, maturity, and age. God calls each of us to have trust in Him, despite our worries and insecurities. After they had lost the young Jesus, Joseph and Mary found Jesus in the temple. Despite His youth, the young Jesus advanced in wisdom, age, and favor before God and man. The blind man, healed by Jesus, was of the age to be able to speak for himself. The final goal of the Christian is to attain spiritual maturity. The work of the apostles, pastors and teachers serve to provide this instruction to others.
Scripture:
“Can any of you by worrying as a single moment to your life-span?” Mt.6:27
God calls upon us to trust in Him. However, our fears and insecurities in life often get in the way of doing this.
“And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.” Lk.2:52
The young Jesus grew in His stature in His Father’s house.
“Until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ.” Eph.4:13
We are called to grow to in spiritual maturity. We are also called to utilize the resources of the Church in order to grow spiritually.
The volute (spiral ornamentation) of the Ionic column.
Helix: A helix, a spiral thing, finds itself in mathematical curves, coil springs, DNA and RNA sequences, staircases, architectural ornamentation, shells, and violins. In architecture, a helix is the scroll ornamentation found on a Corinthian column (capital). A volute is the scroll ornamentation found on an Ionic column (capital). In mathematics, the helix is a curve in a three-dimensional space. The DNA and RNA helix make up the building blocks of life.
Conclusion:
Helix, helical, scroll
First of all, I would have never have thought that this term would mean age, maturity, and stature. The idea of a helix or a spiral does not come up in this primary meaning. However, this comes up in the spherical ornamentation of a Corinthian or Ionic column.
Jesus’ stature increases in wisdom in the eyes of His contemporaries. Most importantly, this term pertains to attaining spiritual maturity. As spiritual infants, we are called upon to seek the resources of the apostles, pastors, priests, and teachers in our spiritual growth.
It is interesting to note that the Latin volute means scroll. The spiral shape is most notably found in the violin.
Little did I know that this spherical (helical) sense would take second fiddle to the original meaning of this term from ages past.