ὁμοιοπαθής

of like feelings

Definition

The adjective ὁμοιοπαθής means 'of like feelings' or 'subject to similar passions.' It describes a shared experience of human emotions, weaknesses, and physical limitations. In Acts 14:15, Paul and Barnabas use it to declare that they are 'human beings of like nature with you' (ὁμοιοπαθεῖς ἐσμεν ὑμῖν ἄνθρωποι), emphasizing their common humanity against the crowd's impulse to worship them as gods. In James 5:17, it is applied to the prophet Elijah, who was 'a man of like passions with us' (ἄνθρωπος ἦν ὁμοιοπαθὴς ἡμῖν), highlighting that his powerful prayers came from a person who shared our human frailties, not from a superhuman being.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only twice in the New Testament, in two distinct contexts that together reinforce a single meaning. In Acts 14:15, it is used in a missionary, apologetic context to correct idolatry by asserting shared human nature. In James 5:17, it is used in a pastoral, exhortative context to encourage prayer by pointing to Elijah's example as an ordinary person. Both uses stress solidarity in human experience—whether to deflate inappropriate reverence or to inspire faithful action.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek words ὁμοιος (homoios, G3664) meaning 'like' or 'similar,' and πάθος (pathos, G3806) meaning 'feeling,' 'suffering,' or 'experience.' It literally means 'similar in feeling' or 'experiencing the same things.' The compound emphasizes a fundamental sameness in the realm of emotions and physical experiences.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant for the doctrines of humanity and prayer. It underscores the biblical realism about human nature: even God's messengers (apostles) and most powerful prophets (Elijah) are fully human, subject to the same physical and emotional vulnerabilities as everyone else. This truth guards against hero worship and demystifies spiritual giants, making them relatable examples. It enriches Bible reading by revealing that God's power is perfected in human weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9), working through ordinary people 'of like passions.'

In the Greco-Roman world, gods and heroes were often depicted as fundamentally different from and superior to ordinary humans, free from mortal passions and sufferings. The New Testament's application of ὁμοιοπαθής to apostles and prophets directly countered this cultural assumption. It presented a radical view of shared human nature, where spiritual authority does not elevate a person above common human experience.

ἀσθενής (asthenēs, G772) — emphasizes weakness or infirmity more broadly, whereas ὁμοιοπαθής stresses shared experience of passions. ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos, G444) — the general term for 'human being'; ὁμοιοπαθής specifies the quality of being human-like in feelings.

Word Details

Scripture References