σύσσωμος

belonging to the same body

Definition

The adjective σύσσωμος (syssōmos) literally means 'belonging to the same body' or 'united in one body.' In its sole New Testament occurrence in Ephesians 3:6, it is used metaphorically to describe the revolutionary spiritual reality that Gentiles are now 'fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.' This signifies that through faith in Christ, both Jewish and Gentile believers are integrated into a single, new entity—the Church, the body of Christ. There are no other biblical passages where the meaning differs, as its usage is specific to this theological point in Ephesians.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Ephesians 3:6. It appears in a key passage where the Apostle Paul is explaining the 'mystery' of Christ, previously hidden but now revealed: the inclusion of the Gentiles as full and equal members in God's people. The word is part of a threefold description ('fellow heirs,' 'members of the same body [syssōmos],' and 'partakers of the promise') that emphasizes the complete unity and shared inheritance of all believers in Christ, breaking down the historic division between Jew and Gentile.

Etymology

The word σύσσωμος is a compound adjective formed from the Greek prefix σύν (syn), meaning 'with' or 'together,' and the noun σῶμα (sōma, G4983), meaning 'body.' Thus, it literally means 'with-body' or 'together in a body.' It directly conveys the idea of joint participation and organic unity within a single physical or metaphorical body.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it encapsulates a core New Testament mystery: the unity of the Church. In Ephesians 3:6, it directly supports the doctrine that in Christ, all ethnic and religious barriers are abolished, creating one new humanity (Ephesians 2:15). Understanding this Greek term enriches Bible reading by highlighting the profound, organic unity God has created. It moves the concept of unity from mere association to being constitutive parts of a single living entity—the body of Christ.

In the first-century Greco-Roman and Jewish world, the division between Jews and Gentiles was profound, involving religious, social, and ethnic separation. Gentiles were considered 'uncircumcised' and outside God's covenants. The claim that Gentiles could be 'members of the same body' as Jews was culturally shocking and revolutionary. It redefined the people of God not by ethnic descent or law-keeping, but by shared faith in Christ.

σῶμα (sōma, G4983) — the root noun meaning 'body,' the entity into which believers are united. μέλος (melos, G3196) — means 'member' or 'part' of a body, emphasizing individual function within the whole. κοινωνός (koinōnos, G2844) — means 'sharer' or 'partner,' focusing on participation in something shared, but without the specific organic, bodily metaphor.

Word Details

Scripture References