ἐπιστέλλω
I write, send by letter to.
Definition
ἐπιστέλλω means to send a message by letter, specifically to write instructions or commands to someone. In the New Testament, it always refers to authoritative written communication, often from a position of leadership or apostolic authority. In Acts 15:20 and 21:25, it describes the formal letter sent from the Jerusalem council to Gentile believers, containing essential decrees. In Hebrews 13:22, the author uses it to refer to his own written exhortation to the recipients.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used three times, exclusively in contexts of formal, authoritative written communication. In Acts, it is used for the apostolic decree (Acts 15:20, 21:25), a binding decision communicated to churches. In Hebrews 13:22, it describes the author's 'word of exhortation' sent via the epistle. The pattern shows it is not casual correspondence but carries weight and instruction.
Etymology
Derived from ἐπί (epi, 'upon' or 'to') and στέλλω (stellō, 'to send' or 'to set'). The compound suggests sending a message to a specific destination or person. Its meaning developed from the general idea of 'sending to' to the more specific act of sending written instructions.
Semantic Range
This word highlights the early church's use of written authority to establish doctrine and practice across distances. The apostolic letters (like the decree in Acts 15) carried binding theological and ethical weight, setting a precedent for the New Testament epistles as authoritative Scripture. Understanding this term enriches our view of how apostolic instruction was formally transmitted and received.
In the Greco-Roman world, official letters (often carried by envoys) were a primary means of governing and maintaining community standards across the empire. The use of ἐπιστέλλω for the Jerusalem decree mirrors this cultural practice, giving the written instructions the force of an official decision for the scattered Christian communities.
γράφω (graphō, G1125) — a more general term for writing, not necessarily implying authoritative sending. ἀποστέλλω (apostellō, G649) — to send away or dispatch (a person or message), broader than written communication.
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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