Redound
The Meaning of Redound
The word "redound" comes from the Latin roots meaning "to surge back" or "to overflow," and it carries the idea of something flowing abundantly beyond its original boundaries. In the King James Version, this term appears in 2 Corinthians 4:15, where Paul writes that grace, "having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God." The underlying Greek word is perisseuo, which means to be over and above, to superabound, or to exist in excess.
Redound in 2 Corinthians 4:15
The key biblical passage using this term is 2 Corinthians 4:15, where Paul explains the purpose behind his suffering and ministry. He endures hardship so that grace might reach more and more people, and as it does, the thanksgiving of many will overflow to God's glory. The image is one of a rising tide: as grace extends to additional believers, the volume of gratitude and praise directed toward God increases proportionally. Modern translations typically render this as "abound" or "overflow" rather than "redound."
The Theology of Overflowing Grace
The concept behind "redound" is deeply connected to Paul's theology of grace. In Romans 5:15, Paul teaches that God's grace overflows to the many through Jesus Christ. Similarly, in Ephesians 1:7-8, he speaks of the riches of grace that God "lavished" on believers. The idea is that divine grace is never stingy or measured but always exceeds what is needed or expected. When grace redounds, it creates a chain reaction of blessing, gratitude, and worship.
Grace, Thanksgiving, and God's Glory
Paul's use of "redound" in 2 Corinthians 4:15 reveals an important spiritual principle: the ultimate purpose of God's generosity is not merely human benefit but divine glory. As more people experience grace, more voices join the chorus of thanksgiving. This creates an ever-expanding circle where God gives, people receive and give thanks, and God is glorified through their gratitude. Paul echoes this principle in 2 Corinthians 9:12, where he notes that generous giving not only meets needs but also produces abundant thanksgiving to God.
A Word That Captures Abundance
While "redound" has largely fallen out of everyday English usage, the concept it represents remains central to Christian theology. The Greek perisseuo appears frequently throughout the New Testament. Jesus uses it when describing the abundant life he offers (John 10:10). Paul employs it when urging believers to abound in the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58). The word consistently points to the extravagant, overflowing character of life lived in connection with God.
Biblical Context
The term "redound" appears in the KJV rendering of 2 Corinthians 4:15, where Paul describes how grace spreading to more people causes thanksgiving to overflow to God's glory. The underlying Greek word perisseuo is used throughout the New Testament to describe abundance and overflow, particularly in Paul's letters regarding grace, generosity, and spiritual life.
Theological Significance
Redound illustrates the overflowing nature of God's grace and its intended purpose: the multiplication of thanksgiving that glorifies God. It teaches that divine blessing is not static but dynamic, creating expanding circles of gratitude and worship. This concept undergirds Paul's theology of grace as something that always exceeds, always abounds, and always returns glory to its source.
Historical Background
The English word 'redound' entered biblical vocabulary through Latin translations and was adopted by the KJV translators in 1611. The underlying Greek perisseuo was a common term in Hellenistic Greek meaning to exceed or overflow. Paul adapted this everyday word to express the superabundant character of God's grace, a concept that would have resonated with his audience familiar with images of abundance and overflow in both Greek culture and Jewish tradition.