Exegesis

[Greek] λειτουργέω (leitourgeō), [Latin] ministrare: to serve the state, to perform a religious service, to be a public servant, to be a minister, to render public service; Heb.10:11, Acts 13:2, Rom.15:27 Choragic Monument of Lysicrates (built in 335 B.C.): This…

[Greek] προγινώσκω (proginōskō), [Latin] providere: to know beforehand, to foreknow, to know before, to foreordain; Acts 26:5, Rom.8:9, Rom.11:2, 1Pet.1:20, 2Pet.3:17 Background information: Greek Hellenism: This term can refer to knowing beforehand (human foresight and cleverness) and to the gods’…

[Greek] νεκρός (nekros): dead, corpse, dead man; 132 scriptural references The Return of the Prodigal Son: painting by Bartolome Esteban Murillo (1667). The son was lost (dead) but has been found (alive). Background information: Greek Hellenism: This term, commonly found…

[Greek] κλέπτω (kleptō) [Latin] furare, [Latin] derelinquere, [Latin] desere, [French rager: to steal, to filch, to commit a theft, to take away by theft; Mt.6:19-20, Mt.19:18, Mt.27:64, Mt.28:13, Mk.10:19, Lk.18:20, Jn.10:10, Rom.2:21, Rom.13:9, Eph.4:28 The Good Shepherd: (painting by Bernhard Plockhurst…

[Greek] λύσις (lysis), [French] denouement, [Latin] quaerere solutionem: loosening, release, divorce; 1Cor.7:27 A loosened and unraveled knot. Background information: Greek Hellenism: This term, used quite extensively, means to loose, to release, to ransom, to deliver, to part, to dissolve, to…

[Greek] νόημα (noēma), [Latin] cogitatio, [Latin] sensus, [Latin] intellectus, [Latin] mens: mind, perception, purpose, disposition, design, scheme; 2Cor.2:11, 2Cor.3:14, 2Cor.4:4, 2Cor.10:5, 2Cor.11:3, Php.4:7 It is often helpful to be reminded that the devil can influence us through confusion, disobedience, rebellion,…

[Greek] ἐγγράφω (engraphō), [Latin] superscribere: to record, to write on, to write in, to inscribe; 2Cor.2:2-3, Lk.10:20 Trajan’s Column, built in 113-107 AD, commemorates Trajan’s victory in the Dacian Wars Background information: Greek Hellenism: This term means to write, to…

[Greek] φορτίζω (phortizō), [Latin] portare: to load, to overburden, to be burdened, to be loaded down, to cause to carry, to be heaven laden; Mt.11:28, Lk.11:46 A yoke placed upon the oxen’s shoulder blades. The yoke is held in position…

[Greek] ἔμπορος (emporos) [Latin] homini negotiatori: merchant, passenger on ship, tradesman, person on a journey (poros), one who buys and sells; Mt.13:45, Rev.18:3,11,15, 23 Remains of the ancient Phoenician city of Tyre on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea.…

[Greek] ὠδίνω (ōdinō), [French] travailler, [Latin] parturire: to have birth pangs, to be in labor, to travail, to travail in birth, to feel the pangs of child birth; Gal.4:19,27, Rev.12:2 Eileithuia, the Greek goddess of childbirth and labor pains, wields…

[Greek] παραβολή (parabolē), [Latin] parabola: parable, a placing beside, a placing alongside, comparison, symbol, type, something that resembles something else, and illustration that teaches, analogy; (multiple scriptural references in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Hebrews) The Parable of the Good Samaritan:…

[Greek] τρώγω (trōgō), [Latin] mandere, [French] manger: to gnaw, to munch, to crunch, to feed on, to bite; Mt.24:38, Jn.6:54, Jn.6:56, Jn.6:57, Jn.6:58, Jn.13:18   A trogon is a tropical bird which nibbles and gnaw holes in trees for nests.…

[Greek] ὑπόκρισις (hypokrisis), [Latin] simulatio, [Latin] sub iudicio: hypocrisy, pretense, play-acting, playing a part on the stage, pretending, deceit; Mt. 23:28, Mk.12:15, Lk.12:1, Gal.2:13, 1Tim.4:2, Jas.5:12, 1Pet.2:1 Background information: Greek Hellenism: This term, generally referencing an actor, means answer, playing…

[Greek] εὐχαριστία (eucharistia), [Latin] gratia: thankfulness, gratitude, giving of thanks, words of gratefulness; Acts 24:3, 1Cor.14:16, 2Cor.4:15, 2Cor.9:11-12, Eph.5:4, Php.4:6, Col.2:7, Col.4:2, 1Thess.3:9, 1Tim.2:1, 1Tim.4:3-4, Rev.4:9, Rev.7:12 A monstrance containing the Eucharist Background information: Greek Hellenism: This term means thanksgiving…

[Greek] διαίρεσις (diairesis), [Latin] divisio: division, diversity, variety, diversity, distribution; 1Cor.12:4-6 A Roman legion (divisio) Background information: Greek Hellenism: This term means divisibility, distribution, dividing, distinction, division, and dipthong. Plato’s Sophist 267b states “Some who imitates do so with knowledge…

[Greek] ὅρκος (horkos), [Hebrew] Sheva, [Latin] sacramentum: oath, vow, something which restrains someone, putting oneself under a curse, declaration; Mt.5:33, Mt.14:7,9, Mt.26:72, Mk.6:26, Lk.1:73, Acts 2:30, Heb.6:16,17, Jas.5:12 The Covenant at Beer-sheba (Well of the Oath[Seven]): Abraham made a covenant…

[Greek] συμμαρτυρέω (symmartyreō), [Latin] testificare, [Latin] reddere testimonium, [Latin] perhibere, [French] restituer, [French] demontrer: to bear witness with, to confirm something as one witness (along with others), to agree with, to agree with what was stated; Rom.2:15, Rom.8:16, Rom.9:1, Rev.22:18…

[Greek] κόσμος (kosmos), [Latin] cosmos: order, arrangement, world, cosmos, structure, adornment, unity; over 150 scriptures Background information: Greek Hellenism: This important term is found extensively in all walks of life. The world can be viewed in both in a spatial…

[Greek] πνοή (pnoē), [Latin] inspirare: wind, breath, breeze, soul; Acts 2:2, Acts 17:25 Background information: Greek Hellenism: This term means blowing (of the wind), breath, inspiration, breeze, blast, and soul. Euripides’ Bacchae 1094 states “They leapt through the torrent—streaming valley…

[Greek] ζῆλος (zēlos), [Latin] aemulatio, [Latin] multem laborem: envy, zeal, jealousy, intense desire, eagerness, striving, indignation, fierceness; Jn. 2:17, Acts 5:17, Acts 13:45, Rom.10:2, Rom.13:13, 1Cor.3:3, 2Cor.7:7,11, 2Cor.9:2, 2Cor.11:2, 2Cor.12:20, Gal.5:20, Php.3:6, Col.4:13, Heb.10:27, Jas. 3:14,16 The Stoning of Saint…

[Greek] καρδία (kardia), [Latin] cor: heart, spirit, soul, mind; 132 scriptural references The kneeling lover offers his affection to the damsel from the bottom of his “heart”. (1250’s) The pine cone represented the heart. The point of the pine cone…

[Greek] στρέφω (strephō), [Latin] vertere: to turn, to turn words around in a sentence, to change, to turn around, to convert, to turn about, to reverse, to turn back; Mt. 5:39, Mt.9:22, Mt. 16:23, Mt.18:3, Lk.7:9,44, Lk.9:55, Lk.10:23, Lk.14:25, Lk.22:61,…

[Greek] ὑπερβάλλω (hyperballō), [Latin] supere, [Latin] excellens, [Latin] eminens, [Latin] supereminens: to become an hyperbole, to surpass, to be far more, to “throw beyond”, to be much greater, to go beyond, to exceed; 2Cor.3:10, 2Cor.9:14, Eph.1:19, Eph.2:7, Eph.3:19 Michelangelo’s Moses…

[Greek] βρέφος (brephos), [Latin] infantem, [Latin] fetus: newborn child, unborn child, baby, toddler, infant, embryo; Lk. 1:41,44. Lk. 2:12,16, Lk. 18:15, Acts 7:19, 2Tim.3:15, 1Pet.2:2 Background information: Classical Greek Era: This term means infant, fetus, baby, embryo, and small child.…

[Greek]σκορπίζω (skorpizō), [Latin] dissipare: to scatter, to be scattered, to disperse, to be dispersed, to put into flight, to give generously; Mt.12:30, Lk.11:23, Jn.10:12, Jn.16:32, 2Cor.9:9 The scorpion scatters Background information: Greek Hellenism: This term essentially means to scatter, to…

[Greek] ἰάομαι (iaomai), [Latin] sanare: to make healthy (sanitary), to heal, to cure, to perform healing, to make whole, to cause someone to achieve health, to cleanse; Mt.8:8,13, Mt.13:15, Mt.15:28, Mk.5:29, Lk.4:18, Lk.5:17, Lk.6:17,19, Lk.7:7, Lk.8:47, Lk.9:2,11,42, Lk.14:4, Lk.17:15, Lk.22:51,…

[Greek] ἀγωνίζομαι (agōnizomai), [Latin] contendere, [Latin] sollicitus, [Latin] certere, [Latin] decertere: to struggle, to fight, to contend for a prize, to compete in the games, to make an effort, to strive; Lk.13:24, Jn.18:35, 1Cor.9:25, Col.1:29, Col.4:12, 1Tim.4:10, 1Tim.6:12, 2Tim.4:7 Christians…

[Greek] νίκη (nikē), [Latin] victoria: victory, conquest, success; 1Jn.5:4, Mt.12:20, 1Cor.15:54-55,57 Statue of the goddess Nike in Rhodes, Greece Background information: Greek Hellenism: This term, meaning victory or superiority, can be used in a physical, legal, psychological, and metaphorical sense.…

[Greek] γεννάω (gennaō): to generate, to begot, to be begotten, to bring forth, to bring into being, to give birth to, to be born, to father; Mt.1:2-20, Mt.2:1,4, Mt.19:12, Mt.26:24, Mk.14:21, Lk.1:13,35,57, Lk.23:29, Jn.1:13, Jn.3:3-8, Jn.8:41, Jn.9:2,19-20, Jn.9:32,34, Jn.16:21, Jn.18:37,…

[Greek] ποιμήν (poimēn), [Latin] pastor: shepherd, pastor, one who tends a flock, herdsman, shepherder; Mt. 9:36, Mt. 25:32, Mt.26:31, Mk.6:34, Mk.14:27, Lk.2:8,15,18,20, Jn.10:2,11-12,14,16, Eph.4:11, Heb.13:20, 1Pet.2:25 Jesus The Good Shepherd: Painting by Phillipe de Champaigne (1602-1674) Background Information: Ancient Orient/Greek…

[Greek] βλασφημέω (blasphēmeō), [Latin] blasphemare, [Latin] exprobare: to blaspheme, to injure, to injure the reputation of, to slander, to revile, to speak impiously, to speak evil of; Mt.9:3, Mt. 26:65, Mt.27:39, Mk.3:28-29, Mk.15:29, Lk.12:10, Lk.22:65, Lk.23:39, Jn.10:36, Acts 13:45, Acts…

[Greek] διαφέρω (diapherō),[Latin] differre: to transmit, to take away, to scatter, to be divided (alienated), to spread, to differ, to differentiate oneself, to distinguish oneself, to be estranged, to be changed; Mt.6:26, Mt. 10:31, Mt.12:12, Mk.11:16, Lk.12:7, Lk.12:24, Acts13:49, Acts…

[Greek] ἀδελφός (adĕlphŏs), [Latin] frater: brethren, brother, male sibling, fellow believer, kinsman; 319 scriptural references Woman Behold Your Son (Stabat Mater): painting my James Tissot (1836-1902) Background Information: Greek Hellenism: This term, meaning “from the same womb” (delphys), also refers…

[Greek]παρατίθεμαι (paratithemai), [Latin] parenthesis: to set aside (to place inside parentheses), to place before, to set before, to place beside, to entrust, to place at one’s disposal, to be entrusted, to be responsible for, to tell a parable; Mt.13:24,31, Mk.6:41,…

[Greek] κλίνω (klinō), [Latin] clinare: to cause to bend, to bow down, to put to flight, to draw to a close, to draw near, to recline, in incline, to lie down, to rest, to lean, to lean towards; Mt.8:20, Lk.9:12,…

[Greek] πολιτεία (politeia), [Latin] civitas: citizenship, commonwealth, community, freedom of a socio-economic group, administration, politics; Acts 22:28, Eph.2:12 Battle Scene with a Roman Army Beseiging: painting by Juan De La Corte (1597-1660). Tarsus, Paul’s birthplace, would have been an example…

‎[Greek] προβάλλω (proballō), [Latin] promovere, [Latin] producere, [Latin] propellere: to throw before, to put forward, to throw an obstacle (problem) forward, to throw something (problema) forward, to put forth (foliage), to throw forward, to push to the front, to shoot…

[Greek] συλλαμβάνω (syllambanō), [Latin] concipere, [Latin] conprehendere, [Latin] adprehendere, [Latin] laborare: to join in helping, to take part with, to conceive, to seize, to arrest, to capture, to take, to help with, to collect; Mt.26:55, Mk.14:48, Lk.1:24, Lk.1:31, Lk.1:36, Lk.2:21,…

[Greek] συμβιβάζω (symbibazō), [Latin] conectere: to drive together, to unite, to connect, to knit (tie) together, to join together, to “be on board together”, to consider, to conclude, to prove, to draw out, to put together; Col.2:2,19, Acts 9:22, Acts…

[Greek] ἀσφαλής (asphalēs),[Latin] cognoscere certum,[Latin] scire diligentius,[Latin] necessarium: certain, definite, sure, secure (literally and figuratively), firm, steadfast, unfailing, pertaining to a safeguard; Heb.6:19, Acts 21:34, Acts 22:30, Acts 25:26, Php.3:1 A pothole on 2nd Avenue in New York City Background…

[Greek] σκοπός (skopos), [Latin] destinatio: watchman, mark (on which to fix the eye), watcher, goal, spy, prophet, scout; Php.3:14 Painting of Ezekiel holding an open scroll of prophecy (Painting by on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo) Background…

[Greek] θησαυρός (thēsauros), [Latin] thesaurizare, [Latin] abundantia: treasure, deposit, wealth, storehouse, treasure box, place of safe keeping; Mt.2:11, Mt.6:19-21, Mt.12:35 Mt.13:44,52, Mt.19:21, Mk.10:21, Lk.12:33-34, Lk.18:22, 2Cor.4:7, Col.2:3, Heb.11:26 The thesauros (storage facilities) at the Temple of Delphi in Athens. Background…

[Greek] θεραπεία (therapeia), [Latin] sanare, [French] remedier: attention, medical service, healing, working servants, household, care caregivers, healing; Mt.24:45, Lk.9:11, Lk.12:42, Rev.22:2 The Household Gods: painting by John William Waterhouse (1880). These were figurines (icons) of gods and ancestors. Background information:…

[Greek] στερεός (stereos), [Latin] firmus: firm, steadfast, strong, hard, solid, sure; 2Tim.2:19, Heb. 5:12,14, 1Pet.5:9 This idea echoes the notion that the informed Christian has the means to discern good and evil. Background Information: Greek Hellenism: This term, taking on…

[Greek] κώνωψ (kōnōps), [Latin] culex, [Spanish] mosca: gnat, mosquito, midge, unclean insect; Mt.23:24 A canopy (bed with curtains) used by influential persons. Other canopies have mosquito curtains. Background Information: Old Testament: The mosquito (gnat) is one of the smallest unclean…

‎[Greek] ἀκολουθέω (akoloutheō): to accompany, to be an acolyte, to go along with, to go the same way with, to follow someone, to come behind, to go behind, to follow the one who proceeds, to walk the same road with;…

‎[Greek] ψεύδομαι (pseudomai), [Latin] dicipiere: to lie, to utter an untruth, to deceive by falsehood; Mt.5:11, Acts 5:3,4, Rom.9:1, 2Cor.11:31, Gal.1:20, Col.3:9, 1Tim.2:7, Heb.6:18, Jam.3:14, 1Jn.1:6, Rev.3:9 The Death of Ananias: painting by Raphael (1515-1516) Background Information: Greek Hellenism: This…

[Greek] θυμός (thumos), [Latin] fumus: fury, wrath, rage, intense desire, indignation, passion, outburst of emotion, anger; Lk.4:28, Acts 9:28, Rom.2:8, 2Cor.12:20, Gal.5:20, Eph.4:31, Col.3:8, Heb.11:27, Rev.12:12, Rev.14:10,19, Rev.15:1,7, Rev.16:1,19. Rev. 18:3, Rev.19:15 An ancient wine press near Mt. Hebron, a…

‎[Greek] αἴσθησις (aisthēsis), [Latin] sensus: aesthetic, perception, discernment, cognition, vocation, sense, capacity to understand; Php.1:9 Background Information: Greek Hellenism: This term means perception, discernment, and intellectual understanding. Perception includes sense perception, sensation, organs of sensation, means of observing, feelings, impressions,…

[Greek] μυκτηρίζω (muktērizō), [Latin] muccare: to mock, to ridicule, to be mocked, to be treated with contempt, to turn up one’s nose (mukter), to sneer at, to ignore; Gal.6:7 The Aeropagus is a prominent rock formation where legal cases were…

[Greek] ‎κρίσις (krisis), [Latin] crisis, [Latin] iudicium, [Latin] delinquentia : judgment, justice, evaluation, consideration, testing, process of distinguishing and selecting, authority to judge, decision; 48 scriptural references Jesus in Herod’s court: painting by Duccio di Buoninsegna (1310 AD) Background Information:…

[Greek] πλαστός (plastos), [Latin] fictis: formed, molded, plastic, false, feigned, fabricated, made up, deceitful; 2Pet.2:3 Jesus warned of false prophets (and teachers) who come in sheep’s clothing (Mt.7:15) Background Information: Greek Hellenism: This term can take on various and nuanced…

‎[Greek] ἀθλέω (athleō), [Latin] certare: to contend, to compete, to strive, to engage in an athletic contest, to win the prize, to contend in games; 2Tim.2:5 A Greek sculpture of the gymnasium in Jerusalem during the Maccabeean era Background Information:…

‎[Greek] σκάνδαλον (skandalon), [Latin] scandalus, [Latin] offensio: stumbling stone, obstacle, cause for stumbling, occasion to fall, something that arouses anger, sin, offense, trap, impediment; Mt.13:41, Mt.16:23, Mt.18:7, Lk.17:1, Rom.9:33, Rom.11:9, Rom.16:17, Rom.14:13, 1Cor.1:23, Gal. 5:11, 1Pet.2:8, 1Jn.2:10, Rev.2:14 Background Information:…

[Greek} μωρία (mōria), [Latin] morus: being a moron, foolishness, absurdity, moronic; 1Cor.1:18,21,23, 1Cor.2:14, 1Cor.3:19   Background Information: Greek Hellenism: This term, conveying various meanings, can pertain to deficiencies, medicine, foods and seasonings, animals, and folly. Foolishness is illustrated by mental…

[Greek] ἀναλογία (analogia), [Latin] ratio: proportion, analogy, right relationship; Rom.12:6 The Death of Socrates: painting by Jacques Louis David (1787) Background Information: Greek Hellenism: This term, used extensively, can mean mathematical proportion, ratio, relation, correspondence, and resemblance. Plato reflects on…

[Greek] πόσις (posis), [Latin] potio: drink, a drinking, beverage; Rom.14:17, Jn.6:55, Col.2:16 The Last Supper: by Danish painter Carl Bloch (1834-1890) Background Information: Greek Hellenism: This term, meaning drink, is found in celebratory occasions, events, and ordinary situations. A symposium…

[Greek] ἱλαρότης (hilarotēs), [Latin] hilaritas: cheerfulness, gladness, benevolence, gaiety, amiability, joyfulness; Rom.12:8 St. Philip Neri: “Cheerfulness strengthens the heart and helps us to persevere.” Background Information: Greek Hellenism: This term, meaning cheerfulness and sun (light), is found less frequently than…

[Greek] λογισμός (logismos), [Latin] logica: reasoning, thought, speculation, imagination, conscience, reckoning, thought, consideration, deliberation; Rom.2:15, 2Cor.10:5 Background Information: Greek Hellenism: This term means counting, calculation, account, reckoning, argument, and reasoning power. Counting and calculating are quite often utilized and valued…

[Greek] ποίημα (poiēma), [Latin] poema: creation, workmanship, what is made; Rom.1:20, Eph.2:10 Background Information: Greek Hellenism: The ancient Greeks did not have a Greek term for “to create” or for “creator”. Instead, they used the Greek verb poieo. This only…

[Greek] ἄγνωστος (agnōstos), [Latin] ignotus: unknown, unrecognizable, to be agnostic, unknowable; Acts 17:23 Epimenides of Crete, posed that there could still be an unknown good god who could forgive the Athenians’ treachery for slaughtering the followers of Cylon. The altar’s…

[Greek] βάρος (baros), [Latin] pondus: heaviness, pressure, burden authority, weight, power, load; Mt.20:12, 1Thess.2:6, Rev.2:24, 2Cor.4:17, Acts 15:28, Gal.6:2 The barometer was invented by Evangelista Torricelli (1627-1691) Background Information: Greek Hellenism: This term, essentially meaning bodily weight, conveys the sense…

[Greek] τέρας (teras), [Latin] stupendus: wonder, monster, portent, prodigy, threat, sign, power; Mt. 24:24, Mk.13:22, Acts.2:19,22,43, Acts 4:30, Acts 5:12, Acts 6:8, Acts 7:36, Acts 14:3, Acts 15:12, Rom.15:19, 2Cor.12:12, 2Thess. 2:9, Heb.2:4 The Gorgan Medusa depicted by Michaelangelo Caravaggio…

‎[Greek] συστέλλω (systellō), [Latin] deviare, [Latin] subtrahere: to draw to a close, to be overwhelmed, to be subjected, to be shortened, to be limited, to send (draw) together, to enwrap, to enshroud a corpse for burial, to contract, to wind…

[Greek] πρόγνωσις (prognōsis), [Latin] prescientia: foreknowledge, forecast, prognostication, foretelling, prediction, knowing beforehand, human foresight, advance knowledge; Acts 2:23, 1Pet.1:2 Hippocrates Tree (on the Island of Kos): It is believed that Hippocrates taught his students under this tree. Background information: Greek…

[Greek] θεράπων (therapōn), [Latin] ministerium: attendant, servant, minister; Heb.3:5 The Funeral Games of Patroklos: 1778 fresco by Jacque-Louis David Background Information: Greek Hellenism: This term is found essentially in religious settings (worship) and in Greek literature. The therapon is presented…

‎[Greek] ἀσφαλίζω (asphalizō), [Latin] custodire, [Latin] strinxit: to render secure (with asphalt), to make sure, to make firm, to make fast, to fasten, to make safe; Mt. 27:64-66, Acts 16:24 The Dead Sea: The ancient Greeks called this body of…

[Greek] ‎διαστολή (diastolē), [Latin] distinctio: separation, distinction, difference; Rom.3:22, Rom.10:12, 1Cor.14:7 Empedocles (490-430 BC) , a pre-Socratic naturalist, viewed the cosmos as a living and breathing organism with a disastole and systole Background Information: Greek Hellenism: This term, primarily found…

[Greek] ἀνάλυσις (analysis), [Latin] resolutio: an unloosing, death, departure, a leaving, a loosening, a breaking up, an unraveling, an unfastening, a releasing, a dissolving; 2Tim.4:6 Background Information: Greek Hellenism: This term refers to a loosening, unraveling, solving, releasing, unfastening, a…

‎[Greek] γυμνάζω (gymnazō), [Latin] exercere, [German] traineren, [French] pratiquer: to discipline oneself, to train, to exercise, to exercise naked; 1Tim. 4:7, Heb.5:14, Heb.12:11, 2Pet.2:14 “Bikini Girls”: A 4th century mosaic at Piazza Armerina, Sicily Background Information: Gymnasium: The gymnasium in…

[Greek] πεινάω (peinaō): to hunger, to hunger for truth, to be hungry, to have a painful lack for something, to famish, to crave, to be famished, to be in a state of hunger, to desire strongly, to pine for, to…