κινδυνεύω

I am in danger

Definition

The verb κινδυνεύω means to be in danger, to be at risk, or to be in peril. It describes a state of exposure to serious harm or loss. In the New Testament, it is used both literally, for physical danger (Luke 8:23, where a boat is in danger of sinking), and more broadly, for situations of risk or threat to a community or way of life (Acts 19:27, 40, where a trade and civic order are perceived to be in danger). In 1 Corinthians 15:30, Paul uses it rhetorically to speak of the constant peril he faces for the gospel.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used four times in the New Testament, appearing in Luke, Acts, and 1 Corinthians. In Luke 8:23, it describes the literal, life-threatening danger of a storm on the Sea of Galilee. In Acts 19:27 and 19:40, it is used in public discourse to express the perceived danger to the economic livelihood of silversmiths and the civic reputation of Ephesus. Paul employs it in 1 Corinthians 15:30 in a personal, rhetorical context, highlighting the daily dangers he endures as an apostle.

Etymology

Derived from the noun κίνδυνος (kindynos, G2794), meaning 'danger' or 'peril.' The verb form essentially means 'to be in a state of κίνδυνος.' It is a straightforward formation common in Greek, indicating the act of being exposed to risk or hazard.

Semantic Range

While not a central theological term, κινδυνεύω illuminates the reality of the apostolic mission and the Christian life. In 1 Corinthians 15:30, Paul's rhetorical question ('Why do we endanger [κινδυνεύομεν] ourselves every hour?') directly ties the peril of ministry to the truth of Christ's resurrection. It underscores that genuine faith often involves tangible risk and that the apostles' willingness to face constant danger was a testimony to their conviction.

In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of danger (κίνδυνος) was associated with fortune, fate, and the unpredictable nature of life, especially for travelers, soldiers, and sailors. The use in Acts 19 reflects a very public, civic understanding of danger, where economic interests and social stability were paramount concerns, differing from a purely personal or internalized modern sense of risk.

θλίβω (thlibō, G2346) — means to press, oppress, or afflict, often with a sense of constriction rather than external peril. ἀποθνῄσκω (apothnēskō, G599) — means to die; κινδυνεύω focuses on the risk leading to death, not the death itself.

Word Details

Scripture References