ἀναίρεσις

killing, slaying, murder

Definition

The Greek word ἀναίρεσις specifically refers to the act of taking away life, meaning killing, slaying, or murder. In the New Testament, it is used exclusively in the context of violent, unjust killing, particularly the persecution and execution of early Christians. In Acts 8:1, it describes the 'great persecution' and killing that broke out against the church in Jerusalem after Stephen's death. In Acts 22:20, Paul recalls his approval of Stephen's 'murder' (ἀναίρεσις), emphasizing his former role as a persecutor. The term carries a strong connotation of a life being violently removed.

Biblical Usage

Ἀναίρεσις is used only twice in the New Testament, both times in the book of Acts. It appears in narratives describing the violent persecution of the early Christian community. In Acts 8:1, it summarizes the widespread killing that followed Stephen's martyrdom. In Acts 22:20, Paul uses the word in a personal confession of his complicity in Stephen's death. The usage is consistently in the context of religiously motivated, unjust killing.

Etymology

Derived from the verb αἱρέω (haireō), meaning 'to take' or 'to seize,' combined with the prefix ἀνά (ana-), which here intensifies the action. Thus, ἀναίρεσις literally means 'a taking up' or 'a taking away,' which developed the specific sense of 'taking away life.' It is related to the noun αἵρεσις (hairesis, G139), which originally meant 'choice' or 'a taking for oneself' but later came to mean 'sect' or 'faction.'

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it highlights the reality of violent opposition faced by the early church and the cost of discipleship. It underscores the theme of persecution in Acts, showing how the gospel spread even through suffering. Understanding this specific term for 'killing' enriches the reading of Acts 8:1 and 22:20 by emphasizing the deliberate, violent nature of the acts, contrasting with divinely ordained death or natural passing. It frames Stephen's death as a murder, which Paul later confesses, marking a pivotal point in salvation history and Paul's conversion.

In the first-century Greco-Roman and Jewish contexts, ἀναίρεσις would be understood as a violent, often extra-judicial or mob-driven killing. Unlike formal execution after a legal trial (which might use other terms), this word could imply a summary or unjust act of violence. In Acts, it reflects the turbulent, factional tensions in Jerusalem where early Christians were seen as a heretical sect, making them targets for vigilante-style violence.

φόνος (phonos, G5408) — a more general term for murder or slaughter. ἀποκτείνω (apokteinō, G615) — the common verb 'to kill.' θάνατος (thanatos, G2288) — refers to death as a state or result, not the act of killing.

Word Details

Scripture References