χρῆσις
usage, use
Definition
χρῆσις (chrēsis) fundamentally means 'use,' 'usage,' or 'manner of use.' In the New Testament, it specifically refers to the use of something, particularly in a physical or relational sense. In Romans 1:26-27, its meaning is narrowed to denote 'sexual use' or 'sexual relations,' describing the exchange of natural relations for unnatural ones. This context gives the word a specific moral and relational application beyond a general term for utilization.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only twice in the New Testament, both in Romans 1:26 and 1:27. It is used in a specific ethical context where Paul discusses human sin and the rejection of God's natural order. The pattern is exclusively Pauline and pertains to describing the misuse of physical relations, making it a targeted term within a theological argument about human behavior and divine judgment.
Etymology
Derived from the verb χράομαι (chraomai, G5530), meaning 'to use' or 'to make use of.' χρῆσις is the noun form indicating the act or manner of using. It is related to other words in the χρη- word group dealing with use, need, or service, connecting it to concepts of utility and function in Greek thought.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it is central to Paul's argument in Romans 1 about the consequences of idolatry and the dishonoring of God. It highlights the distortion of God's created order, specifically in human sexuality, as a symptom of deeper spiritual rebellion. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by clarifying that Paul is describing a specific 'use' or function (sexual relations) that has been contrary to nature, underscoring the link between theological error and ethical corruption.
In the Greco-Roman world, sexual ethics varied widely, with practices like pederasty and temple prostitution being common in some contexts. Paul's use of χρῆσις in this specific manner would have contrasted sharply with certain cultural norms, asserting a creational and Jewish-based sexual ethic against prevailing Hellenistic practices. The term itself was neutral, but its application here carries a strong moral judgment informed by biblical revelation.
ἀποχρῆσις (apochrēsis, G671) — a using up, consumption; χρεία (chreia, G5532) — need, necessity, often for practical requirements rather than manner of use.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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