ἐπιστροφή
a turning to God
Definition
ἐπιστροφή (epistrophē) refers to a decisive turning or conversion, specifically a turning toward God. In its sole New Testament occurrence in Acts 15:3, it describes the Gentiles' conversion to faith in Christ, signifying a complete reorientation of life and allegiance. While the word itself appears only once, the concept is central to the New Testament message of repentance and faith. It implies not merely an intellectual assent but a transformative change in direction, from a life oriented away from God to one devoted to Him.
Biblical Usage
This noun is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 15:3, where it describes the conversion of Gentiles during Paul and Barnabas's missionary journey. The context is the report given to the church in Jerusalem, highlighting the work of God among the Gentiles. The singular usage focuses the term on the specific event of people turning to the Lord, emphasizing the result of apostolic preaching.
Etymology
Derived from the preposition ἐπί (epi, meaning 'upon' or 'to') and the root στροφή (strophē, meaning 'a turning' or 'twist'). It is related to the verb ἐπιστρέφω (epistrephō, G1994), which means 'to turn' or 'to return.' The compound form emphasizes a turning *to* or *toward* a specific object, in this case, God.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it encapsulates the New Testament concept of conversion. It underscores conversion as a conscious, active turning of the whole person toward God in response to the gospel. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by highlighting that biblical conversion is more than a feeling; it is a definitive change in direction and master, central to the message of Acts and the epistles.
In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of 'turning' could be used in philosophical contexts for a change of mind or lifestyle. In the Jewish and Christian context, however, ἐπιστροφή took on a deeply religious meaning, denoting a repentance and return to the one true God. This stands in contrast to modern, sometimes superficial, understandings of conversion.
μετάνοια (metanoia, G3341) — emphasizes the change of mind and repentance that accompanies the turn. ἐπιστρέφω (epistrephō, G1994) — the verbal action of turning, of which ἐπιστροφή is the noun result.
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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