Limited to Lk. 1:3 and Acts 1:1, “Theophilos” received the books of Luke and Acts. This man’s name meant “lover of God” or “God-beloved.”
Category Archives: Greek word studies
The Greek noun “θεότης”
Limited to Col. 2:9, the Greek noun “theotes” meant “deity” or “Godhead.” Paul said the “fullness of the Godhead” was in Jesus and thus eliminated any questions about Jesus being deity, or His being fully equal with the God Father.
The Greek adjective “θεοστυγής”
Limited to Rom. 1:30 and appearing alongside many other sins, Paul said there are “God-hating people. Many not only rebel against God and His will, they actively hate God and certainly His revealed will.
The Greek adjective “θεοσεβής”
Limited to Jn. 9:31, the Greek adjective “theosebes” meant “God-fearing,” “pious,” “devout.” Some Jews said God heard “God-fearing” people, but He did not “hear sinners.” Compare Acts 10:1-4.
The Greek noun “θεοσέβεια”
Limited to 1 Tim. 2:10, the Greek noun “theosebeia” meant “reverence for God,” “worship of God,” “fear of God.” Proper reverence for God should result in proper worship (1 Tim. 2:8).
The Greek noun “θεός”
Found in excess of a thousand times in the New Testament, the Greek noun “theos” meant “God” or “god.” When Jesus came to earth, humanity experienced “God with us” (Mt. 1:23). Scripture says it is possible to “glorify God” (Lk. 7:16), and nothing is impossible for “God” (Lk. 1:37). “God” has a kingdom which man can enter (Jn. 3:5). Jesus was in the form of “God” (Phil. 2:6), and we can most fully know God through Him (Col. 1:15).
The Greek adjective “θεόπνευστος”
Limited to 2 Tim. 3:16, the Greek adjective “theopneustos” meant “inspired of God” or “God-breathed.” Paul may have used this term to “express the sacred nature of the Scriptures, their divine origin, and their power to sanctify believers” (Spicq, 2:193). Compare 2 Pet. 1:21.
The Greek adjective “θεομάχος”
Limited to Acts 5:39, the Greek adjective “theomachos” meant “fight against God.” The Pharisee Gamaliel said it was possible to “fight against God” and that such a conflict would end in defeat.
The Greek verb “θεομαχέω”
Limited to Acts 23:9 (some manuscripts), the Greek verb “theomacheo” meant “fight against God.” Paul created a controversy between Pharisees and Sadducees by saying he believed in the resurrection and some Pharisees suggested opposition to Paul may have been “fighting against God.”
The Greek adjective “θεοδίδακτος”
Limited to 1 Thess. 4:9, the Greek adjective “theodidaktos” meant “taught of/by God” or “divinely instructed.”