Bible Word Study
πολίτευμα
politeyma · a state, commonwealth
πολίτευμα
a state, commonwealth
Definition
πολίτευμα refers primarily to a community of citizens, a commonwealth, or a state. In its only New Testament occurrence in Philippians 3:20, it denotes the heavenly citizenship or commonwealth to which Christians belong. This contrasts with earthly political entities, emphasizing that a believer's ultimate allegiance and legal standing are in heaven, under Christ's lordship. The word carries the sense of an organized, governed community with shared rights and responsibilities.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Philippians 3:20: 'For our πολίτευμα is in heaven.' Here, Paul uses it metaphorically to describe the Christian's true citizenship. The context contrasts this heavenly citizenship with the earthly pursuits and identities (like Paul's former Jewish credentials) mentioned earlier in the chapter, highlighting where a believer's primary allegiance and legal standing reside.
Etymology
Derived from the verb πολιτεύομαι (politeuomai, G4176), meaning 'to live as a citizen' or 'to conduct one's life.' It comes from the root πόλις (polis, G4172), meaning 'city.' Thus, πολίτευμα fundamentally relates to the condition, rights, and life of a citizen within a city-state or political community.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it encapsulates the Christian identity as citizens of heaven. It reinforces the doctrine of being 'in Christ' and belonging to God's kingdom rather than any earthly nation (Ephesians 2:19). Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by highlighting that salvation grants a new, primary citizenship with eternal rights and responsibilities, which should shape how believers live on earth (Philippians 1:27). In the Greco-Roman world, citizenship (especially Roman citizenship) conferred valuable legal rights, protections, and a sense of privileged identity. Paul's audience in Philippi, a Roman colony, would have deeply understood the prestige and security of citizenship. By using this term, Paul taps into that cultural understanding to explain the superior and secure status believers have in Christ's heavenly kingdom. πόλις (polis, G4172) — a physical city or city-state, whereas πολίτευμα emphasizes the citizen body and its political entity. πολιτεία (politeia, G4174) — can mean citizenship, commonwealth, or government, often focusing on the rights and constitution; πολίτευμα is the actual community of citizens itself.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). Concordance and morphology data are derived from the interlinear Bible.
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]