(await)

μυστήριον, ου, τό ‘secret, secret rite, secret teaching, mystery’ a relig. t.t. (predom. pl.) applied in the Gr-Rom. world mostly to the mysteries w. their secret teachings, relig. and political in nature, concealed within many strange customs and ceremonies. The principal rites remain unknown because of a reluctance in antiquity to divulge them (Trag.+; Hdt. 2, 51, 2; Diod S 1, 29, 3; 3, 63, 2; Socrat., Ep. 27, 3; Cornutus 28 p. 56, 22; 57, 4; Alciphron 3, 26, 1; OGI 331, 54; 528, 13; 721, 2, SIG s. index; Sb 7567, 9 [III A.D.]; PGM 1, 131; 4, 719ff; 2477 τὰ ἱερὰ μ. ἀνθρώποις εἰς γνῶσιν; 5, 110; 12, 331; 13, 128 τὸ μυστήριον τοῦ θεοῦ. Only the perfected gnostic is τῶν μυστηρίων ἀκροατής Hippol., Ref. 5, 8, 29.—OKern, D. griech. Mysterien d. klass. Zeit 1927; WOtto, D. Sinn der eleusin. Myst. ’40; MNilsson, The Dionysiac Mysteries of the Hell. and Rom. Age, ’57; Kl. Pauly III 1533–42; WBurkert, Antike Mysterien ’90). Also LXX and other versions of the OT use the word, as well as En (of the heavenly secret) and numerous pseudepigr., Philo, Joseph. (C. Ap. 2, 189, 266), apolog. (exc. Ar.); it is a loanw. in rabb. Our lit. uses μ. in ref. to the transcendent activity of God and its impact on God’s people.

① the unmanifested or private counsel of God, (God’s) secret, the secret thoughts, plans, and dispensations of God (SJCh 78, 9; τὸ μ. τῆς μοναρχίας τῆς κατὰ τὸν θεόν Theoph. Ant. 2, 28 [p. 166, 17]) which are hidden fr. human reason, as well as fr. all other comprehension below the divine level, and await either fulfillment or revelation to those for whom they are intended (the divine Logos as διδάσκαλος θείων μυστηρίων Orig., C. Cels. 3, 62, 9: the constellations as δεῖγμα καὶ τύπον … μεγάλου μυστηρίου Hippol. Ant. 2, 15 [p. 138, 7]; Abraham is τῶν θείων … μέτοχος μυστηρίων Did., Gen. 213, 20).

ⓐ In the gospels μ. is found only in one context, where Jesus says to the disciples who have asked for an explanation of the parable(s) ὑμῖν τὸ μυστήριον δέδοται τῆς βασιλείας τ. θεοῦ Mk 4:11; the synopt. parallels have the pl. Mt 13:11 (LCerfaux, NTS 2, ’55/56, 238–49); Lk 8:10.—WWrede, D. Messiasgeh. in den Evv. 1901; HEbeling, D. Messiasgeh. u. d. Botschaft des Mc-Evangelisten ’39; NJohansson, SvTK 16, ’40, 3–38; OPiper, Interpretation 1, ’47, 183–200; RArida, St Vladimar Theol. Qtly 38, ’94, 211–34 (patristic exegesis Mk 4:10–12 par.).

ⓑ The Pauline lit. has μ. in 21 places. A secret or mystery, too profound for human ingenuity, is God’s reason for the partial hardening of Israel’s heart Ro 11:25 or the transformation of the surviving Christians at the Parousia 1 Cor 15:51. Even Christ, who was understood by so few, is God’s secret or mystery Col 2:2, hidden ages ago 1:26 (cp. Herm. Wr. 1, 16 τοῦτό ἐστι τὸ κεκρυμμένον μυστήριον μέχρι τῆσδε τῆς ἡμέρας), but now gloriously revealed among the gentiles vs. 27, to whom the secret of Christ, i.e. his relevance for them, is proclaimed, 4:3 (CMitton, ET 60, ’48/49, 320f). Cp. Ro 16:25; 1 Cor 2:1 (cp. Just., D. 91, 1; 131, 2 al. μ. τοῦ σταυροῦ; 74, 3 τὸ σωτήριον τοῦτο μ., τοῦτʼ ἔστι τὸ πάθος τοῦ χριστοῦ). The pl. is used to denote Christian preaching by the apostles and teachers in the expr. οἰκονόμοι μυστηρίων θεοῦ 1 Cor 4:1 (Iambl., Vi. Pyth. 23, 104 calls the teachings of Pyth. θεῖα μυστήρια). Not all Christians are capable of understanding all the mysteries. The one who speaks in tongues πνεύματι λαλεῖ μυστήρια utters secret truths in the Spirit which the person alone shares w. God, and which others, even Christians, do not understand 1 Cor 14:2. Therefore the possession of all mysteries is a great joy 13:2 (Just., D. 44, 2). And the spirit-filled apostle can say of the highest stage of Christian knowledge, revealed only to the τέλειοι: λαλοῦμεν θεοῦ σοφίαν ἐν μυστηρίῳ we impart the wisdom of God in the form of a mystery (ἐν μυστηρίῳ=in a mysterious manner [Laud. Therap. 11] or =secretly, so that no unauthorized person would learn of it [cp. Cyr. of Scyth. p. 90, 14 ἐν μυστηρίῳ λέγει]) 2:7 (AKlöpper, ZWT 47, 1905, 525–45).—Eph, for which (as well as for Col) μ. is a predominant concept, sees the μ. τοῦ θελήματος αὐτοῦ (sc. θεοῦ) 1:9 or μ. τ. Χριστοῦ 3:4 or μ. τ. εὐαγγελίου 6:19 in acceptance of the gentiles as Christians 3:3ff, 9ff. A unique great mystery is revealed 5:32, where the relation betw. Christ and the Christian community or church is spoken of on the basis of Gen 2:24 (cp. the interpretation of the sun as symbol of God, Theoph. Ant. 2, 15 [p. 138, 8], and s. WKnox, St. Paul and the Church of the Gentiles, ’39, 183f; 227f; WBieder, TZ 11, ’55, 329–43).

ⓒ In Rv μ. is used in ref. to the mysterious things portrayed there. The whole content of the book appears as τὸ μ. τοῦ θεοῦ 10:7. Also τὸ μ. τῶν ἑπτὰ ἀστέρων 1:20; τὸ μ. τῆς γυναικός 17:7, cp. vs. 5, where in each case μ. may mean allegorical significance (so BEaston, Pastoral Epistles ’47, 215).

② that which transcends normal understanding, transcendent/ultimate reality, secret, with focus on Israelite/Christian experience.

ⓐ 1 Ti uses μ. as a formula: τὸ μ. τῆς πίστεως is simply faith 3:9. τὸ τ. εὐσεβείας μ. the secret of (our) piety vs. 16.—τὸ μ. τῆς ἀνομίας 2 Th 2:7 s. ἀνομία 1 (Jos., Bell. 1, 470 calls the life of Antipater κακίας μυστήριον because of his baseness practiced in secret. Cp. also SibOr 8, 58 τὰ πλάνης μυστήρια; 56).—PFurfey, CBQ 8, ’46, 179–91.

ⓑ in Ign.: the death and resurrection of Jesus as μ. IMg 9:1 (τὸ περὶ τῆς ἀναστάσεως μ. Orig., C. Cels. 1, 7, 9). The virginity of Mary, her childbearing, and the Lord’s death are called τρία μ. κραυγῆς three mysteries (to be) loudly proclaimed IEph 19:1 (they are mysteries because they go so contrary to human expectation). So also of the annunciation to Mary and her conception GJs 12:2f. The deacons are οἱ διάκονοι μυστηρίων Ἰ. Χρ. ITr 2:3.

ⓒ Quite difficult is the saying about the tried and true prophet ποιῶν εἰς μυστήριον κοσμικὸν ἐκκλησίας who acts in accord with the earthly mystery of (God’s) assembly D 11:11. This may refer to celibacy; the prophet lives in such a way as to correspond to the relation betw. Christ and the people of God; cp. Eph 5:32 (so Harnack, TU II 1; 2, 1884, 44ff; HWeinel, Die Wirkungen d. Geistes u. der Geister 1899, 131–38; PDrews, Hdb. z. d. ntl. Apokryphen 1904, 274ff; RKnopf, Hdb. ad loc.—Differently CTaylor, The Teaching of the Twelve Apost. 1886, 82–92; RHarris, The Teaching of the Ap. 1887; FFunk, Patr. Apostol.² 1901 ad loc.; Zahn, Forschungen III 1884, 301).

ⓓ μ. occurs oft. in Dg: τὸ τῆς θεοσεβείας μ. the secret of (our) piety 4:6 (what Dg means by μ. is detailed in ch. 5). Likew. of Christian teaching (cp. Ps.-Phocyl. 229 and comments by Horst 260–61) πατρὸς μυστήρια 11:2; cp. vs. 5. Hence the Christian can μυστήρια θεοῦ λαλεῖν 10:7. In contrast to ἀνθρώπινα μ. 7:1. οὗ (sc. τ. θεοῦ) τὰ μυστήρια whose secret counsels 7:2 (the divine will for orderly management of the universe). Of God keeping personal counsel κατεῖχεν ἐν μυστηρίῳ … τὴν σοφὴν αὐτοῦ βουλήν 8:10.—Lghtf., St. Paul’s Ep. to the Col. and Phlm. p. 167ff; JRobinson, St. Paul’s Ep. to the Eph. 1904, 234ff; GWobbermin, Religionsgesch. Studien 1896, 144ff; EHatch, Essays on Bibl. Gk. 1889, 57ff; HvSoden, ZNW 12, 1911, 188ff; TFoster, AJT 19, 1915, 402–15; OCasel, D. Liturgie als Mysterienfeier⁵ 1923; JSchneider, ‘Mysterion’ im NT: StKr 104, ’32, 255–78; TArvedson, D. Mysterium Christi ’37; KPrümm, ‘Mysterion’ v. Pls bis Orig.: ZKT 61, ’37, 391–425, Biblica 37, ’56, 135–61; RBrown, The Semitic Background of ‘Mystery’ in the NT, ’68; cp. KKuhn, NTS 7, 61, 366 for Qumran parallels to various passages in Eph and Ro; ABöhlig, Mysterion u. Wahrheit, ’68, 3–40; JFruytier, Het woord M. in de catechesen van Cyrillus van Jerusalem, ’50; ANock, Hellenistic Mysteries and Christian Sacraments, Essays on Religion and the Ancient World II, ’72, 790–820; AHarvey, The Use of Mystery Language in the Bible: JTS 31, ’80, 320–36.—DELG s.v. μύω. M-M. EDNT. TW. Sv.

προσδέχομαι (Hom. et al.; ins, pap, LXX; TestJob 42:8; TestLevi 16:5; TestAsh 4:3; Just.) mid. dep.; impf. προσεδεχόμην; fut. προσδέξομαι (LXX); 1 aor. προσεδεξάμην; pass. προσεδέχθην.

① to receive favorably, take up, receive, welcome (Aeschyl., Hdt. et al.; also EpArist 257).

ⓐ w. acc. of pers. receive in a friendly manner (Pla., Leg. 4, 708a; Jos., Ant. 6, 255; TestLevi 16:5; Just., A I, 10, 1 and D 33, 2) ἁμαρτωλούς Lk 15:2. τινὰ ἐν κυρίῳ welcome someone in the Lord, i.e. as a Christian brother or sister (cp. 1 Ch 12:19) Ro 16:2; Phil 2:29. ἵνα ἡμᾶς προσδέξηται ὡς υἱούς 2 Cl 9:10 (Diod S 17, 37, 4 Ἀλέξανδρον ὡς θεὸν προσεδέξαντο). Pass. MPol 14:2.

ⓑ w. acc. of thing (Jos., Ant. 14, 30) receive οἱ δὲ ὡς περὶ βρώσεως προσεδέξαντο (i.e. τὰ δόγματα) they took (the decrees) as if they really dealt with food B 10:9.—Receive willingly, put up with (Hdt. et al.; see Pla., Phileb. 15b ὄλεθρον) τὴν ἁρπαγὴν τῶν ὑπαρχόντων Hb 10:34. τὰ ἐνεργήματα ὡς ἀγαθά B 19:6; D 3:10. ἐλπίδα, ἣν καὶ αὐτοὶ οὗτοι προσδέχονται.—W. a negative refuse to accept, reject (Jos., Ant. 6, 42; Just., D 117, 2) τὸ βάπτισμα B 11:1. τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν Hb 11:35 (ἀπολύτρωσις 1).

② to look forward to, wait for (Hom. et al.; Jos., Ant. 14, 451)

ⓐ w. acc. of pers. (X., Cyr. 4, 5, 22) Lk 1:21 D; Ac 10:24 D. τὸν κύριον Lk 12:36.

ⓑ w. acc. of thing (X., Hiero 1, 18, Apol. Socr. 33; Herodian 3, 1, 1; SIG 1268 [Praecepta Delphica: III B.C.] II 21 καιρὸμ προσδέχου=wait for the [right] time) τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ Mk 15:43; Lk 23:51. λύτρωσιν Ἰερουσαλήμ 2:38. παράκλησιν τοῦ Ἰσραήλ vs. 25. τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν (ἐπαγγελία 2) Ac 23:21. ἐλπίδα look forward to the fulfillment of our expectation Tit 2:13 (cp. Job 2:9a); await (the realization of) Ac 24:15. τὸ ἔλεος τοῦ κυρίου Jd 21. τὴν ἐσχάτην ἡμέραν Hv 3, 12, 2; cp. 3, 13, 2. ἀφθαρσίαν Dg 6:8.

ⓒ abs. wait ἡμέραν ἐξ ἡμέρας wait day after day 2 Cl 11:2 (prophetic saying of unknown origin).—M-M. TW.

σκότος, ους, τό (as a masc. word Hom. et al. and so in the Attic writers [EFraenkel, ZVS 43, 1910, 195ff; σκότος and φῶς], as well as Jos., Ant. 19, 216; 217; as a neut. Pind. et al. and H. Gk. gener., also in LXX [Thackeray p. 159]; pseudepigr.; Philo; Jos., Bell. 6, 140, Ant. 1, 27; apolog.; PWarr 21, 25; 30 [III A.D.].—B-D-F §51, 2; Mlt-H. 127. Only in Hb 12:18 does ὁ σκ. appear as a v.l. in the t.r.) ‘darkness’

① darkness, gloom, lit., of the darkness in the depths of the sea B 10:10. Of dark clouds ApcPt 10:25. Of the darkening of the sun (σκότος at the death of Aeschyl., acc. to Aristoph.: Ael. Aristid. 32, 32 K.=12 p. 145 D. At the death of Alexander ἐγένετο σκότος: Ps.-Callisth. 3, 33, 26. Others HUsener, RhM n.s. 55, 1900, 286f) Mt 27:45; Mk 15:33; Lk 23:44; GPt 5:15; Ac 2:20 (Jo 3:4: here σκ. means ‘bearer of darkness’; s. 4, end). Of the darkness of chaos (Gen 1:2; Mel., P. 82, 611; Theoph. Ant. 1, 6 [p. 70, 19]) 2 Cor 4:6. Of the darkness of nonexistence 1 Cl 38:3 (Sb 8960, 19 [grave-epigram I B.C.] σκότους πύλας); JosAs 8:10 ἀπὸ τοῦ σκότους εἰς τὸ φῶς). Of the darkness of the place of punishment far removed fr. the heavenly kingdom (Philo, Exsecr. 152 βαθὺ σκότος. Cp. Wsd 17:20; PsSol 14:9.—σκ. κ. βόρβορος ‘gloom and muck’ await those who are untrue to the Eleusinian Mysteries, Ael. Aristid. 22, 10 K.=19 p. 421 D. Of the darkness of death and the underworld in Hom. and the Trag. As the domain of evil spirits PGM 36, 138; Theoph. Ant. 2, 7 [p. 110, 5]) τὸ σκ. τὸ ἐξώτερον the darkness outside Mt 8:12; 22:13; 25:30 (also ApcEsdr 4:37 p. 29, 16 Tdf.; cp. Vi. Aesopi W 31 P., where Aesop advises a man: ῥῖψον αὐτὴν [his wife] εἰς τὸ σκότος.—RTaylor, Theology 33, ’42, 277–83). Also ὁ ζόφος τοῦ σκότους (ζόφος 2) 2 Pt 2:17; Jd 13.—Of the darkness in which the blind live (Soph., Oed. R. 419; Eur., Phoen. 377; 1534; Dt 28:29) w. ἀχλύς (q.v. 1) Ac 13:11. [διὰ τὸ] σκότος ἀφα̣[νής] unnoticed because of the darkness AcPl Ha 3, 27 (other restorations suggested in app.).

② the state of being unknown, darkness, fig. τὰ κρυπτὰ τοῦ σκότους the things that are hidden in darkness and therefore are known to nobody 1 Cor 4:5.

③ the state of spiritual or moral darkness, darkness, of darkening by sin, of the state of unbelievers and of the godless, opp. φῶς (Herm. Wr. 7, 2a; Philo, Det. Pot. Ins. 101, Somn. 2, 39; TestLevi 19:1; TestNapht 2:10; OdeSol 11:19; TestAbr B 7 p. 111, 22 [Stone p. 70]; TestJob 43:6; JosAs 15:13; Mel., P. 68, 491; Orig., C. Cels. 6, 67, 6.—S. σκότος as gnostic term Iren. 1, 4, 2 [Harv. I 36, 2]; Hippol., Ref. 10, 16, 4) Mt 4:16 (Is 9:1; s. σκοτία); 6:23b; J 3:19; Ac 26:18; Ro 2:19; 2 Cor 6:14; 1 Th 5:4f; 1 Pt 2:9; 1J 1:6; 1 Cl 59:2; B 14:7 (Is 42:7); 18:1; AcPl Ha 8, 32/BMM verso 4. Opp. δικαιοσύνη B 5:4. Cp. 14:5f. W. σκιὰ θανάτου (σκιά 2b) Lk 1:79 (schol. on Soph., El. 1079 p. 149 P. ἐν σκότει γενέσθαι τ. θανάτου. For σκότος=darkness of death cp. Plut., Mor. 296ab, an oath ‘by the σκότος near the oak tree, where the men of Priene had been killed in such great numbers’; s. also New Docs 4, 149).—Sins are τὰ ἔργα τοῦ σκότους Ro 13:12; Eph 5:11.—On ἡ ἐξουσία τοῦ σκότους Lk 22:53; Col 1:13 s. ἐξουσία 6. On οἱ κοσμοκράτορες τοῦ σκότους τούτου Eph 6:12 s. κοσμοκράτωρ.—In a related sense, and in contrast to φῶς, σκότος has the sense

④ bearer/victim/instrument of darkness Mt 6:23a; Lk 11:35; Eph 5:8 (s. KKuhn, NTS 7, ’61, 339f [Qumran]). S. also 3 above.—B. 61. DELG. M-M. EDNT. TW. Sv.

ἀπεκδέχομαι (s. δέχομαι) impf. ἀπεξεδεχόμην await eagerly (so Alciphron 3, 4, 6; Heliod. 2, 35, 3; 7, 23, 5; Sext. Emp., Math. 2, 73; TestAbr A 16 p. 96, 23 [Stone p. 40]) τινά or τί: Onesiphorus went out to meet Paul on the road that leads to Lystra and waited to welcome him καὶ εἱστήκει ἀ[πεκδεχόμενος αὐτόν] AcPl Ant 13, 22 (restoration after AcPlTh 3 [Aa I 237, 5]); in our lit. always of Christian hope w. its var. objects: σωτῆρα Phil 3:20; Christ Hb 9:28.—τὴν ἀποκάλυψιν τῶν υἱῶν τοῦ θεοῦ the revelation of the sons of God Ro 8:19; cp. 1 Cor 1:7. υἱοθεσίαν Ro 8:23 (for this and other passages JSwetnam suggests infer, understand in a certain sense: Biblica 48, ’67, 102–8). ἐλπίδα δικαιοσύνης Gal 5:5.—Abs. wait διʼ ὑπομονῆς wait patiently Ro 8:25. Of God’s forbearance 1 Pt 3:20.—M-M. TW.

ἀπολαμβάνω fut. ἀπολή(μ)ψομαι; 2 aor. ἀπέλαβον; pf. ptc. ἀπειληφότες 4 Macc 18:23. Mid.: 2 aor. ptc. ἀπολαβόμενος; pf. ptc. ἀπειλημμένων Is. 5:17 (s. λαμβάνω; Eur., Hdt.+).

① to obtain someth. from a source, receive τὶ: τ. υἱοθεσίαν adoption Gal 4:5. τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν B 15:7; pl. Hv 2, 2, 6, cp. 5:7. πάντα Hm 9:4. τ. ἐκκλησίαν 2 Cl 14:3. τ. αἰώνιον ζωήν 8:6.—As commercial t.t. (s. ἀπέχω) receive (UPZ 162 VIII, 28 [117 B.C.] τ. τιμὴν ἀπολαβεῖν) τὰ ἀγαθά σου you have already received your good things Lk 16:25 (difft. KBornhäuser, NKZ 39, 1928, 838f); cp. 2 Cl 11:4. Esp. of wages (since Hdt. 8, 137 μισθόν; Sb 7438, 13 [VI A.D.]; GrBar 15:3 μισθόν) ἀ. πολλαπλασίονα receive many times more Lk 18:30; ἄξια ἀ. 23:41; τ. μισθόν 2 Cl 9:5; Hs 5, 6, 7; μισθὸν πλήρη 2J 8; ἀντιμισθίαν ἀ. Ro 1:27; ἀπὸ κυρίου ἀ. τ. ἀνταπόδοσιν Col 3:24; τ. κλῆρον ἀ. obtain one’s lot IRo 1:2; τ. μέλλοντα αἰῶνα the future age (w. its glory) Pol 5:2; τ. τῆς ἀφθαρσίας στέφανον MPol 19:2 (cp. τὴν δόξαν TestJob 43:15). It appears to be used abs. οὐ γὰρ | ἐν τοῖς ζωοῖς μόνοις ἀπολαμβάνουσιν οἱ κακοῦργοι τῶν ἀν(θρώπ)ων ἀλλὰ [κ]αὶ| κόλασιν ὑπομένουσιν καὶ πολ[λ]ὴν| βάσανον Ox 840, 4–7, but the primary obj. is probably κόλασις which does duty for the two clauses, w. β. being an additional feature in the endtime: not only among the living do human evildoers receive punishment, but they also await it and much torment as well.—EPreuschen, ZNW 9, 1908, 4.

② to receive back someth. that one previously possessed, recover, get back (Jos., Ant. 5, 19; Just., A I, 18, 6 τὰ … ἑαυτῶν σώματα) τὰ ἴσα the same amount Lk 6:34 (a commercial term as Sb 7516, 24 [II A.D.] τὰ ὀφειλόμενα). ὑγιαίνοντα αὐτὸν ἀπέλαβεν he has gotten him back safe and sound 15:27. Fig. τ. λαὸν καθαρόν take his people back pure Hs 9, 18, 4. τὸ ἴδιον μέγεθος ISm 11:2.

③ to lead or take away from a particular point, take away of persons (so since Hdt. 1, 209; Aristoph., Ran. 78 αὐτὸν μόνον; PLond I, 42, 13 p. 30; Witkowski 32, 13 p. 62; sim. 36, 10f p. 65 for confinement; Jos., Bell. 2, 109 ἀπολαβόμενος αὐτὸν κατʼ ἰδίαν; 2 Macc 6:21) mid. ἀπολαβόμενος αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τ. ὄχλου κατʼ ἰδίαν he took him aside, away fr. the crowd, by himself Mk 7:33.

④ to accept someone’s presence with friendliness, welcome (PLips 110, 6; PIand 13, 17f ἵνα μετὰ χαρᾶς σε ἀπολάβωμεν) 3J 8 v.l.; τὴν πολυπληθίαν ὑμῶν your entire congregation IEph 1:3. ὸ̔ν ἐξεμπλάριον τ. ἀφʼ ὑμῶν ἀγάπης ἀπέλαβον whom I have welcomed as a living example of your love 2:1.—M-M. TW.

ἐκδέχομαι impf. ἐξεδεχόμην; fut. ἐκδέξομαι; 1 aor. ἐξεδεξάμην (both LXX); pf. 3 sg. ἐκδέδεκται Gen 44:32 (Hom. et al.; pap, LXX; TestSol D 7:4; TestAbr A 16 p. 97, 15 [Stone p. 42]; TestJob; TestGad 7:4; TestIss 4:3; ParJer 2:9; GrBar; EpArist 205; Philo, Op. M. 34; Joseph., Just.; intr.: Ath. 12, 2 τὸν ἐκδεχόμενον βίον ‘the life to come’) ‘take, receive’; in our lit. to remain in a place or state and await an event or the arrival of someone, expect, wait (Soph. et al.; pap) τινά (for) someone (Soph., Philoct. 123; Polyb. 3, 45, 6; BGU 892, 6 ἐκδεχόμενός σε) Ac 17:16; συνερχόμενοι εἰς τὸ φαγεῖν ἀλλήλους ἐκδέχεσθε when you come together to eat, wait for one another 1 Cor 11:33; 16:11. τὶ (for) someth. (Plut., Mar. 414 [17, 1]; Ps.-Apollod. 1, 9, 27, 3; POxy 724, 12; 939, 27; PFlor 332, 5 σου τὴν παρουσίαν; Jos., Ant. 11, 328; TestGad 7:4; TestIss 4:3) the movement of the water J 5:3 v.l.; the reign of God 2 Cl 12:1 (Lucian, Nav. 28 ἐ. τὴν βασιλείαν); τ. ἅγιον αἰῶνα B 10:11; fruit Js 5:7; 2 Cl 20:3; the heavenly city Hb 11:10. Foll. by ἕως wait until (Dionys. Hal. 6, 67 ἕως ἂν γένηταί τι) Hb 10:13. W. acc. and ἕως foll. ἐκδέξομαι αὐτὸν ἕως ὀψέ I will wait for him until evening Hs 9, 11, 2. ἔκδεξαί με ὧδε, ἕως wait here for me, until Hs 9, 10, 5.—S. ἐκδοχή.—M-M. TW.

ἐλπίς, ίδος, ἡ (s. ἐλπίζω; Hom.+ ‘expectation, hope’, also ‘foreboding’ Aeschyl. et al.)

① the looking forward to someth. with some reason for confidence respecting fulfillment, hope, expectation:

ⓐ gener. hope, expectation, prospect ἐπʼ ἐλπίδι (for the spelling s. 1bα below) in hope (Ps.-Pla., Alc. 1, 105a ἐπὶ τίνι ἐλπίδι ζῇς; Eur., Herc. Fur. 804; X., Mem. 2, 1, 18; Diod S 13, 21, 7; Jos., Ant. 4, 36) 1 Cor 9:10a in a quotation (source unknown; cp. Sir. 6:19). παρʼ ἐλπίδα contrary to (all human) expectation (Aeschyl., Ag. 899; Aeneas Tact. 1020; Lycophron vs. 535; Dionys. Hal. 6, 25; Appian, Bell. Civ. 3, 22 §85; Philo, Mos. 1, 250; Jos., Bell. 3, 183, Vi. 380; Just., D. 2, 5) Ro 4:18. W. objective gen. (Diod S 16, 55, 4 τῆς εὐεργεσίας ἐλπίς; Appian, Celt. 1 §9 ἐλπὶς ἀναβιώσεως; Jos., Vi. 325 ἐ. κέρδους; Just., D. 8, 3 ἐ. … ἀμείνονος μοίρας) ἐλπὶς τ. ἐργασίας hope of gain Ac 16:19; μετανοίας IEph 10:1; Hs 6, 2, 4; 8, 7, 2; 8, 10, 2. W. gen. of the inf. (Dositheus 19, 6 ἐ. τοῦ δύνασθαι; Ath. 33, 1 τοῦ συνέσεσθαι θεῷ) τοῦ σῴζεσθαι Ac 27:20; τοῦ μετέχειν 1 Cor 9:10b. ἐλπίδα ἔχειν (oft. LXX and non-bibl. wr.) w. gen. of the inf. τοῦ μετανοῆσαι Hs 8, 6, 5. τῇ ἐ. ἐσώθημεν we are saved (or possess salvation) only in hope/anticipation (not yet in reality) Ro 8:24 (Diod S 20, 40, 1 περιεβάλετο ταῖς ἐλπίσι μείζονα δυναστείαν=he entertained prospects of control over a larger realm). ἡ ἐ. ἡμῶν βεβαία ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν our expectations involving you are well founded (Paul is confident that the Cor. will hold out under oppression in the future as they have in the past) 2 Cor 1:7. Of the confidence that the Jews placed in their temple ματαία ἡ ἐ. αὐτῶν B 16:2 (on empty hope, s. Reader, Polemo 313).

ⓑ esp. pert. to matters spoken of in God’s promises, hope

α. without specif. ref. to Christian hope ἐπʼ ἐλπίδι (for the spelling ἐφʼ ἑλπίδι s. B-D-F §14; Rob. 224 and cp. an ins fr. Asia Minor: PASA II, 1888, p. 89 ln. 15 ἐπʼ ἐλπίδος and ln. 26 ἐφʼ ἑλπίδος) in (the) hope (Diod S 13, 21, 7 ἐπʼ ἐλπίδι [σωτηρίας]) Ro 8:20 (B-D-F §235, 2); cp. Tit 1:2. ἐπʼ ἐλπίδι ἐπίστευσεν full of hope he believed (in God) Ro 4:18. The ἐπʼ ἐ. of Ac 2:26 could also be understood in this way, but it is also prob. that in this quot. fr. Ps 15:9 the OT mng. in safety (Judg 18:7 B, 27 B; Hos 2:20; Pr 1:33) is correct, as 1 Cl 57:7 (Pr 1:33), unless, with Lat., Syr., and Copt. transl. and Clem. Al., Strom. 2, 22 πεποιθώς is to be added. Of Israel’s messianic hope Ac 23:6 (ἐ. καὶ ἀνάστασις for ἐ. τῆς ἀν. [obj. gen.] as 2 Macc 3:29 ἐ. καὶ σωτηρία); 26:6; 28:20. In imagery of one who combines γνώσις with interest in ζωή Dg 12:6.

β. of Christian expectation: abs. Ro 5:4f; 12:12; 15:13; 1 Cor 13:13 (cp. Pol. 3:3; on the triad: faith, hope, love s. on ἀγάπη 1aα; s. also WWeis, ZNW 84, ’93, 196–217); Hb 3:6; 6:11; 10:23; 1 Pt 3:15; Agr. 7; 2 Cl 17:7; IEph 1:2; IMg 7:1; expectation of resurrection 1 Cl 27:1. ἐ. ἀγαθή (Pla., Phd. 67c; X., Mem. 2, 1, 18 et al.; FCumont, Lux Perpetua ’49 p. 401–5 with numerous reff., including some from the mystery religions [IG V/2 p. 63: 64/61 B.C.]; μετὰ ἀγαθῆς ἐ. Hippol., Ref. 4, 49, 3; cp. ἐ. ἔχειν … ἀρίστας Orig., C. Cels. 4, 27, 14) 2 Th 2:16 (POtzen, ZNW 49, ’58, 283–85); ἐ. κρείττων Hb 7:19; ἐ. ζῶσα 1 Pt 1:3; cp. εἰς ἐ. B. 11:8. τὸ κοινὸν τῆς ἐ. the common hope 1 Cl 51:1; cp. κοινὴ ἐ. IPh 5:2; καινότης ἐλπίδος new hope IMg 9:1. W. subj. gen. Phil 1:20; ἐ. τῶν ἐκλεκτῶν 1 Cl 58:2; cp. 57:2. W. obj. gen., which designates the obj. of the hope (Ps.-Callisth. 1, 18, 1 ἱλαρὸς ἐπὶ τῇ τοῦ τέκνου ἐλπίδι=glad because of hope for the son; τῆς ἀναστάσεως Iren. 4, 18, 5 [Harv. II 208, 2]; Orig., C. Cels. 3, 3, 9; Did., Gen. 216, 16) ἐπʼ ἐ. τῆς ἐπαγγελίας because of hope in the promise Ac 26:6, cp. vs. 7; ἐ. ζωῆς αἰωνίου Tit 1:2; 3:7 (Ath. 33, 1); cp. B 1:4, 6; Hs 9, 26, 2; ἐ. τῆς δόξης τ. θεοῦ Ro 5:2; cp. Col 1:27; ἐ. σωτηρίας (cp. Aeneas Tact. ln. 14; Lucian, Abdic. 31; En 98:14; Philo, Leg. ad Gai. 329; Jos., Bell. 3, 194) 1 Th 5:8; 2 Cl 1:7. ἐλπίδα δικαιοσύνης ἀπεκδεχόμεθα Gal 5:5 is also obj. gen., since it is a blending of the two expressions ‘we await righteousness’ and ‘we have expectation of righteousness’ (cp. Job 2:9a προσδεχόμενος τὴν ἐλπίδα τῆς σωτηρίας μου); ἐ. τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν 1 Th 1:3 prob. belongs here also: hope in our Lord.—The gen. can also give the basis for the expectation: ἐ. τοῦ εὐαγγελίου hope that is based on the gospel Col 1:23; ἐ. τῆς κλήσεως the hope that is given w. the calling Eph 1:18; 4:4; ἐ. τῆς πίστεως hope that faith affords B 4:8; ὁ θεὸς τῆς ἐ. Ro 15:13. Sim. ἐ. εἰς (Plut., Galba 1061 [19, 6]; Achilles Tat. 6, 17, 5): ἐ. εἰς θεόν (εἰς τὸν θεόν Did., Gen. 150, 26) hope in God or directed towards God 1 Pt 1:21 (cp. AcThom 28 [Aa II/2, 145, 4]); εἰς τ. Ἰησοῦν B 11:11; cp. ἐ. ἐν (αὐτῷ Diod S 17, 26, 2): ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ Mt 12:21 v.l. ἐπὶ λίθον ἡ ἐ.; is (our) hope based on a stone? (w. ref. to Is 28:16) B 6:3.—As obj. of ἔχω: ἔχειν ἐλπίδα Ro 15:4; 2 Cor 3:12 (cp. Just., D. 141, 3); ἐ. μὴ ἔχοντες (Diod S 21, 12, 1 μηδεμίαν ἔχειν ἐλπίδα σωτηρίας) Eph 2:12; 1 Th 4:13; Hv 3, 11, 3; Hs 9, 14, 3; οὐκ ἔχουσιν ἐλπίδα (Wsd 3:18) Hv 1, 1, 9; ἀπώλεσάς σου τὴν πᾶσαν ἐ. 33, 7. W. ἐπί τινι in someone 1J 3:3 (cp. Appian, Bell. Civ. 3, 86 §354 ἐφʼ ἑνί; Lucian, Somn. 2; Ps 61:8; Is 26:3f; ἐπὶ τῇ μετανοίᾳ Orig., C. Cels. 3, 65, 17); likew. εἴς τινα (Thu. 3, 14, 1;—Appian, Liby. 51 §223 ἐλπίδα τῆς σωτηρίας ἔχειν ἔν τινι=place a hope of safety in someone) Ac 24:15; πρός τινα ibid. v.l. The obj. of the hope follows in the aor. inf. 2 Cor 10:15; in the acc. w. inf. Ac 24:15; w. ὅτι Ro 8:20f (v.l. διότι [q.v. 4]); Phil 1:20.

② that which is the basis for hoping, (foundation of) hope (ἐλπὶς … σύ, ὁ θεός PsSol 15:1; Thu. 3, 57, 4 ὑμεῖς, ὦ Λακεδαιμόνιοι, ἡ μόνη ἐλπίς; Plut., Mor. 169c; Oenom. in Eus., PE 5, 23, 5: for the Athenians in the Persian Wars, σωτηρίας ἐλπὶς μόνος ὁ θεός=God was their only hope for deliverence; IG III, 131, 1; Jer 17:7) of a Christian community 1 Th 2:19; of Christ, our hope 1 Ti 1:1 (sim. POxy 3239 [II A.D.] of Isis; New Docs 2, 77; EJudge, TynBull 35, ’84, 8); cp. Col 1:27; IEph 21:2; IPhld 11:2; IMg 11; ISm 10:2; ITr ins; 2:2; Pol 8:1.

③ that for which one hopes, hope, something hoped for (Vi. Aesopi G 8 P. ἀπὸ θεῶν λήμψεσθαι ἐλπίδας) ἐ. βλεπομένη οὐκ ἔστιν ἐ. something hoped for, when it is seen, is no longer hoped for=one cannot hope for what one already has Ro 8:24. διὰ τ. ἐλπίδα τὴν ἀποκειμένην ὑμῖν ἐν τ. οὐρανοῖς because of what you hope for, which is stored up for you in the heavens Col 1:5; προσδεχόμενοι τ. μακαρίαν ἐ. waiting for the blessed hope Tit 2:13 (cp. 2 Macc 7:14 τὰς ὐπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ προσδοκᾶν ἐλπίδας and Aristot. EN 1, 9, 10 οἱ δὲ λεγόμενοι διὰ τὴν ἐλπίδα μακαρίζονται of children who may be called fortunate in the present only because of latent promise). ἡ προκειμένη ἐ. Hb 6:18 (cp. Just., D. 35, 2 ἐν τῇ ἐ. κατηγγελμένῃ ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ).—PVolz, D. Eschatol. der jüd. Gemeinde ’34, 91ff; JdeGuibert, Sur l’emploi d’ ἐλπίς et ses synonymes dans le NT: RSR 4, 1913, 565–96; APott, D. Hoffen im NT 1915; WGrossouw, L’espérance dans le NT: RB 61, ’54, 508–32; DDenton, SJT 34, ’81, 313–20 (link w. ὑπομονή).—B. 1164. Schmidt, Syn. III 583–90. DELG s.v. ἔλπομαι. M-M. EDNT. TW. Spicq. Sv.

1) await

2) expect

1) await

2) expect

3) wait