παροίχομαι

I pass away time

Definition

παροίχομαι is a verb meaning 'to pass by' or 'to pass away,' often referring to the passage of time or events. In its only New Testament occurrence in Acts 14:16, it describes God allowing the nations to 'walk in their own ways' in past generations—a period that has now elapsed with the coming of the gospel. The word carries a sense of something being left behind or having gone by, whether literally in spatial terms or, as in this context, temporally. It implies a transition from one era or condition to another, marking a clear distinction between what was and what now is.

Biblical Usage

This word appears only once in the New Testament, in Acts 14:16. Here, the Apostle Paul uses it in a speech at Lystra to describe the past age when God permitted the Gentile nations to follow their own pagan paths without direct intervention. The usage is entirely temporal, referring to a bygone period of history that has now concluded with the revelation of Christ and the preaching of the apostles. It sets up a contrast between the former time of ignorance and the present opportunity for repentance and faith.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition παρά (para, meaning 'beside' or 'by') and the verb οἴχομαι (oichomai, meaning 'to go' or 'to depart'). Literally, it means 'to go by' or 'to go past.' The compound emphasizes motion alongside or past something, which evolved to include the figurative sense of time passing by. It is related to other Greek words involving passage or transition, such as παρέρχομαι (parerchomai, G3928), which also means 'to pass by.'

Semantic Range

Though used only once, παροίχομαι holds theological significance in marking salvation history. In Acts 14:16, it delineates the pre-Christian era of God's forbearance toward Gentile nations, a time now superseded by the proclamation of the living God. This underscores the biblical theme of epochs or dispensations, highlighting that with Christ's coming, a decisive turn in redemptive history has occurred. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by clarifying that Paul is not merely describing ancient history but a divinely ordained period that has definitively passed, making the present call to faith urgent.

In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of time passing was often viewed cyclically or as a series of ages. Paul's use of παροίχομαι injects a linear, historical perspective rooted in Jewish thought—that God acts in specific times, moving history toward a goal. The 'past generations' (Acts 14:16) refer to the era before Christ, when polytheism and idolatry prevailed among Gentiles, a condition well-known in the cultural context of Lystra, where Zeus and Hermes were worshipped. The word signals a break from that past, aligning with the Christian claim of a new, revealed truth.

παρέρχομαι (parerchomai, G3928) — also means 'to pass by,' but more common and can refer to physical passing or time passing; often used in eschatological contexts (e.g., Matthew 24:35). ἀπέρχομαι (aperchomai, G565) — means 'to go away' or 'depart,' focusing on departure rather than passage by something. διέρχομαι (dierchomai, G1330) — means 'to go through' or 'travel across,' implying traversal rather than merely passing by.

Word Details

Scripture References