ἐπαγγελία
a promise
Definition
ἐπαγγελία refers to a formal, binding promise, often with a legal or covenantal connotation. In the New Testament, it primarily denotes God's promises to His people, especially those related to the coming Messiah, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the inheritance of eternal life (e.g., Acts 2:39, Acts 13:32). It can also refer to a human pledge or assurance, as seen in Acts 23:21 where it describes a plot. The word consistently carries a sense of solemn commitment and future fulfillment.
Biblical Usage
The word is used 51 times, predominantly in Luke-Acts and the Pauline and General Epistles, especially Hebrews. It is central to discussions of God's covenant faithfulness and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies in Christ. Key examples include the promise of the Father (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4), the promise of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:33), and the promises made to Abraham (Acts 7:17, Galatians 3).
Etymology
Derived from the verb ἐπαγγέλλω (epangellō, G1861), meaning 'to announce, proclaim, or promise.' It combines the preposition ἐπί (epi, 'upon') with ἀγγέλλω (angellō, 'to announce'), giving the sense of a declaration or announcement that imposes an obligation, leading to the meaning of a formal promise.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically crucial, anchoring the New Testament message in God's covenant faithfulness. It connects the Old Testament promises (e.g., to Abraham) with their fulfillment in Jesus Christ and the gift of the Spirit. Understanding ἐπαγγελία enriches Bible reading by highlighting the unbreakable, divine commitment behind salvation history, assuring believers that God's word is reliable (2 Corinthians 1:20, Hebrews 6:17).
In the Greco-Roman world, an ἐπαγγελία was a formal, often public declaration that created a strong expectation of fulfillment, sometimes with legal force. This cultural weight informs its biblical usage, elevating God's promises above casual human assurances to the level of a guaranteed covenant.
ὁμολογία (homologia, G3671) — a confession or agreement, more about mutual assent than a unilateral pledge. λόγος (logos, G3056) — a word or statement, broader and less specific to a committed promise.
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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