beginning

beginning

ἀρχή, ῆς, ἡ (Hom.+)

① the commencement of someth. as an action, process, or state of being, beginning, i.e. a point of time at the beginning of a duration.

ⓐ gener. (opp. τέλος; cp. Diod S 16, 1, 1 ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς μέχρι τοῦ τέλους; Ael. Aristid. 30, 24 K.=10 p. 123 D.: ἐξ ἀ. εἰς τέλος; Appian, Bell. Civ. 5, 9, §36; Wsd 7:18) B 1:6; IEph 14:1; IMg 13:1; IRo 1:2, cp. vs. 1. W. gen. foll. (OGI 458, 10 life) ἡμέρας ὀγδόης B 15:8; ἡμερῶν (2 Km 14:26) Hb 7:3; τῶν σημείων first of the signs J 2:11 (ἀ. τοῦ ἡμετέρου δόγματος Orig., C. Cels. 2, 4, 20; cp. Isocr., Paneg. 10:38 Blass ἀλλʼ ἀρχὴν μὲν ταύτην ἐποιήσατο τ. εὐεργεσιῶν, τροφὴν τοῖς δεομένοις εὑρεῖν=but [Athens] made this the starting point of her benefactions: to provide basic needs for livelihood; Pr 8:22; Jos., Ant. 8, 229 ἀ. κακῶν); ὠδίνων Mt 24:8; Mk 13:8; κακῶν ISm 7:2. As the beginning, i.e. initial account, in a book (Ion of Chios [V B.C.] 392 Fgm. 24 Jac. [=Leurini no. 114] ἀρχὴ τοῦ λόγου; Polystrat. p. 28; Diod S 17, 1, 1 ἡ βύβλος τὴν ἀ. ἔσχε ἀπὸ …; Ael. Aristid. 23, 2 K.=42 p. 768 D.: ἐπʼ ἀρχῇ τοῦ συγγράμματος; Diog. L. 3, 37 ἡ ἀρχὴ τῆς Πολιτείας; cp. Sb 7696, 53; 58 [250 A.D.]) ἀ. τοῦ εὐαγγελίου Ἰ. Χ. Beginning of the gospel of J. C. Mk 1:1 (cp. Hos 1:2 ἀ. λόγου κυρίου πρὸς Ὡσηέ; s. RHarris, Exp. 8th ser., 1919, 113–19; 1920, 142–50; 334–50; FDaubanton, NThSt 2, 1919, 168–70; AvanVeldhuizen, ibid., 171–75; EEidem, Ingressen til Mkevangeliet: FBuhl Festschr. 1925, 35–49; NFreese, StKr 104, ’32, 429–38; AWikgren, JBL 61, ’42, 11–20 [ἀρχή=summary]; LKeck, NTS 12, ’65/66, 352–70). ἀ. τῆς ὑποστάσεως original commitment Hb 3:14. ἀρχὴν ἔχειν w. gen. of the inf. begin to be someth. IEph 3:1. ἀρχὴν λαμβάνειν begin (Polyb.; Aelian, VH 2, 28; 12, 53; Diog. L., Prooem. 3, 4; Sext. Emp., Phys. 1, 366; Philo, Mos. 1, 81) λαλεῖσθαι to be proclaimed at first Hb 2:3; cp. IEph 19:3.—W. prep. ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς from the beginning (Paus. 3, 18, 2; SIG 741, 20; UPZ 160, 15 [119 B.C.]; BGU 1141, 44; JosAs 23:4; Jos., Ant. 8, 350; 9, 30) J 6:64 v.l.; 15:27; 1J 2:7, 24; 3:11; 2J 5f; Ac 26:4; MPol 17:1; Hs 9, 11, 9; Dg 12:3. οἱ ἀπʼ ἀ. αὐτόπται those who fr. the beginning were eyewitnesses Lk 1:2. Also ἐξ ἀρχῆς (Diod. Sic. 18, 41, 7; Appian, Bell. Civ. 5, 45 [189]; SIG 547, 9; 634, 4; UPZ 185 II 5; PGen 7, 8; BGU 1118, 21; Jos., Bell. 7, 358) J 6:64; 16:4; 1 Cl 19:2; Pol 7:2; Dg 2:1. πάλιν ἐξ ἀ. (Ael. Aristid. 21, 10 K.=22 p. 443 D.; SIG 972, 174) again fr. the beginning (=afresh, anew; a common expr., Renehan ’75, 42) B 16:8. ἐν ἀρχῇ (Diod S 19, 110, 5; Palaeph. p. 2, 3; OGI 56, 57; PPetr II, 37, 2b verso, 4; PTebt 762, 9; POxy 1151, 15; BGU 954, 26; ViHab 14 [p. 87, 4 Sch.]) at the beginning, at first Ac 11:15; AcPlCor 2:4. ἐν ἀ. τοῦ εὐαγγελίου when the gospel was first preached Phil 4:15; sim., word for word, w. ref. to beg. of 1 Cor: 1 Cl 47:2.—τὴν ἀ. J 8:25, as nearly all the Gk. fathers understood it, is emphatically used adverbially=ὅλως at all (Plut., Mor. 115b; Dio Chrys. 10 [11], 12; 14 [31], 5; 133; Lucian, Eunuch. 6 al.; Ps.-Lucian, Salt. 3; POxy 472, 17 [c. 130 A.D.]; Philo, Spec. Leg. 3, 121; Jos., Ant. 1, 100; 15, 235 al.; as a rule in neg. clauses, but the negation can inhere in the sense: 48th letter of Apollonius of Tyana [Philostrat. I 356, 17]; Philo, Abrah. 116, Decal. 89; Ps.-Clem., Hom. 6, 11; without art. ApcSed 10:3; cp. Hs 2:5 cj. by W., endorsed by Joly; s. Field, Notes, 93f) τὴν ἀ. ὅτι καὶ λαλῶ ὑμῖν (how is it) that I even speak to you at all? But s. B-D-F §300, 2. More prob. the mng. is somewhat as follows: What I said to you from the first (so NT in Basic English; sim. REB et al.; cp. τὴν ἀρχήν ‘at the beginning’ Thu 2, 74, 2; s. also RFunk, HTR 51, ’58, 95–100; B-D-F §300, 2, but appeal to P⁶⁶ is specious, s. EMiller, TZ 36, ’80, 261).

ⓑ beginning, origin in the abs. sense (ἀ. τῆς τῶν πάντων ὑποστάσεως Orig. C. Cels. 6, 65, 4) ἀ. πάντων χαλεπῶν Pol 4:1; ἀ. κακῶν ISm 7:2 (cp. 1 Ti 6:10, which has ῥίζα for ἀ., and s. e.g. Ps 110:10; Sir 10:13); ἀ. κόσμου B 15:8; ἀ. πάντων PtK 2, p. 13, 21. ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς fr. the very beginning (Is 43:13; Wsd 9:8; 12:11; Sir 24:9 al.; PsSol 8:31; GrBar 17:2) Mt 19:4, 8; J 8:44; 1J 1:1 (of the Hist. beg. of Christianity: HWendt, D. Johannesbriefe u. d. joh. Christent. 1925, 31f; HWindisch, Hdb. ad loc.; difft. HConzelmann, RBultmann Festschr., ’54, 194–201); 3:8; 2 Th 2:13; ὁ ἀπʼ ἀ. 1J 2:13f; Dg 11:4; οἱ ἀπʼ ἀ. those at the very beginning, the first people 12:3; τὰ ἀπʼ ἀ. γενόμενα 1 Cl 31:1; ἀπʼ ἀ. κτίσεως Mk 10:6; 13:19; 2 Pt 3:4 (on ἀ. κτίσεως cp. En 15:9); ἀπʼ ἀ. κόσμου Mt 24:21. Also ἐξ ἀ. (X., Mem. 1, 4, 5; Ael. Aristid. 43, 9 K.=1 p. 3 D. [of the existence of Zeus]; TestAbr A 15 p. 96, 11 [Stone p. 40]; B 4 p. 109, 7 [St. p. 66]; Ath., R. 16, p. 67, 18; Philo, Aet. M. 42, Spec. Leg. 1, 300; Did., Gen. 50, 1) Dg 8:11; ἐν ἀ. in the beginning (Simplicius in Epict. p. 104, 2; Did., Gen. 29, 25 al.) J 1:1f; ἐν ἀ. τῆς κτίσεως B 15:3. κατʼ ἀρχάς in the beg. Hb 1:10 (Ps 101:26; cp. Hdt. 3, 153 et al.; Diod S; Plut.; Philo, Leg. All. 3, 92, Det. Pot. Insid. 118; Ps 118:152; Just., D. 2, 3).

② one with whom a process begins, beginning fig., of pers. (Gen 49:3 Ῥουβὴν σὺ ἀρχὴ τέκνων μου; Dt 21:17): of Christ Col 1:18. W. τέλος of God or Christ Rv 1:8 v.l.; 21:6; 22:13 (Hymn to Selene 35 ἀ. καὶ τέλος εἶ: Orphica p. 294, likew. PGM 4, 2836; 13, 362; 687; Philo, Plant. 93; Jos., Ant. 8, 280; others in Rtzst., Poim. 270ff and cp. SIG 1125, 7–11 Αἰών, … ἀρχὴν μεσότητα τέλος οὐκ ἔχων, expressed from the perspective of historical beginning).

③ the first cause, the beginning (philos. t.t. ODittrich, D. Systeme d. Moral I 1923, 360a, 369a;—Ael. Aristid. 43, 9 K.=1 p. 3 D.: ἀρχὴ ἁπάντων Ζεύς τε καὶ ἐκ Διὸς πάντα; Jos., C. Ap. 2, 190 God as ἀρχὴ κ. μέσα κ. τέλος τῶν πάντων [contrast SIG 1125, 10f]) of Christ ἡ ἀ. τῆς κτίσεως Rv 3:14; but the mng. beginning=‘first created’ is linguistically probable (s. above 1b and Job 40:19; also CBurney, Christ as the Ἀρχή of Creation: JTS 27, 1926, 160–77). [ὁ γὰ]ρ π̣̄ρ̣̄ (=πατὴρ) [ἀρ]|χή ἐ[ς]τ̣[ιν τῶν μ]ελλόν|των for the Father is the source of all who are to come into being in contrast to the προπάτωρ, who is without a beginning Ox 1081, 38f (SJCh 91, 1 ἀρχή; on the context, s. WTill, TU 60/5, ’55 p. 57).

④ a point at which two surfaces or lines meet, corner (from the perspective of an observer the object appears to begin at that point), pl. corners of a sheet Ac 10:11; 11:5 (cp. Hdt. 4, 60; Diod S 1, 35, 10).

⑤ a basis for further understanding, beginning τὰ στοιχεῖα τῆς ἀ. elementary principles Hb 5:12 (perh. w. an element of gentle satire: ‘the discrete items or ABC’s that compose the very beginning [of divine instructions]’; cp. MKiley, SBLSP 25, ’86, 236–45, esp. 239f). ὁ τῆς ἀ. τοῦ Χ. λόγος elementary Christian teaching 6:1.

⑥ an authority figure who initiates activity or process, ruler, authority (Aeschyl., Thu. et al.; ins; pap, e.g. PHal 1, 226 μαρτυρείτω ἐπὶ τῇ ἀρχῇ καὶ ἐπὶ τῷ δικαστηρίῳ; Gen 40:13, 21; 41:13; 2 Macc 4:10, 50 al., s. Magie 26; so as a loanw. in rabb. ἀ. = νόμιμος ἐπιστασία Did., Gen. 60, 9) w. ἐξουσία Lk 20:20; pl. (Oenomaus in Eus., PE 6, 7, 26 ἀρχαὶ κ. ἐξουσίαι; 4 Macc 8:7; Jos., Ant. 4, 220) Lk 12:11; Tit 3:1; MPol 10:2 (αἱ ἀρχαί can also be the officials as persons, as those who took part in the funeral procession of Sulla: Appian, Bell. Civ. 1, 106 §497.—The same mng. 2, 106 §442; 2, 118 §498 al. Likewise Diod S 34+35 Fgm. 2, 31).—Also of angelic or transcendent powers, since they were thought of as having a political organization (Damascius, Princ. 96 R.) Ro 8:38; 1 Cor 15:24; Eph 1:21; 3:10; 6:12; Col 1:16; 2:10, 15; AcPl Ha 1, 7. Cp. TestJob 49, 2; Just., D. 120, 6 end.

⑦ the sphere of one’s official activity, rule, office (Diod S 3, 53, 1; Appian, Bell. Civ. 1, 13 §57; Jos., C. Ap. 2, 177, Ant. 19, 273), or better domain, sphere of influence (Diod S 17, 24, 2; Appian, Syr. 23 §111; Arrian, Anab. 6, 29, 1; Polyaen. 8:55; Procop. Soph., Ep. 139) of angels Jd 6. Papias (4 v.l. for ἄρχω).—S. the lit. on ἄγγελος and HSchlier, Mächte u. Gewalten im NT: ThBl 9, 1930, 289–97.—144–50 (‘Archai’). EDNT. DELG s.v. ἄρχω D. M-M. TW. Sv.

-ῆς ⁺ ἡ N 1 30-42-65-54-48=239 Gn 1,1.16(bis); 2,10; 10,10

often stereotypical rendition of שׁרא

beginning (temporal) Gn 1,1; beginning (of a process) Gn 41,21; beginning (local) Ez 21,26; branch

(beginning of a river) Gn 2,10; end, extremity Ex 36,23

power, authority, office Gn 41,21; power, principle of authority Gn 1,16; magistry, office Gn 40,13;

government Dt 17,18

αἱ ἀρχαί the heads (of families) Ex 6,25; authorities (personification of invisible powers) Dn^Th 7,27

ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς of old Hab 1,12; τὸ ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς at first, in a distant time Jos 24,2; τὴν ἀρχήν in the beginning, at first (as adv.) Gn 13,4; κατ’ ἀρχάς in the beginning Ps 101(102),26; ἀρχὴ τέκνων μου the first of my children Gn 49,3; ἀπὸ κορυφῆς ὀρέων ἀρχῆς from the top of the ancient mountains Dt 33,15; λάβετε ἀρχήν take a census, take the sum, count! (semit., stereotypical rendition of שׁרא אשׂנ) Nm 1,2, cpr. Ex 30,12, Nm 1,49, 3,40, 4,2.22, 26,2, 31,26.49, 1 Chr 27,23

*Is 42,10 ἡ ἀρχὴ αὐτοῦ his beginning-תחלתו for MT תהלתו his praises; *Jer 28(51),58 ἐν ἀρχῇ in the beginning? in (their) rule?-שׁברא for MT שׁבדי־א for fire, see also Na 1,6; *Jer 30,18(49,2) τὴν ἀρχὴν αὐτοῦ his dominion-יושׁרא for MT יושׁיר those who possessed him; *Ez 21,24 ἐπ᾽ ἀρχῆς at the beginning- שׁרא/ב for MT ברא (ברה) selected?; *Ob 20 ἡ ἀρχή beginning, first-החל חלל for MT החל חיל the army, cpr. Na 3,8; *Jb 37,3 ἀρχὴ αὐτοῦ his dominion-ררשׂ for MT רהושׁי רשׁי? he directs it

see ἐξουσία

Cf. CARAGOUNIS 1986 68-70(Dn^Th 7,27); EYNIKEL 1999, 146-147; HARL 1986a, 86.93; LE BOULLUEC

1989, 342; TOV 1976b, 530(Gn 1,16); WALTERS 1973, 342; WEVERS 1990 168. 566.604; →LSJ RSuppl; NIDNTT; TWNT

κάταρξις

beginning: fem nom /voc /acc dual (attic epic)

κατάρξεϊ, κάταρξις

beginning: fem dat sg (epic)

κάταρξις

beginning: fem dat sg (attic ionic)

κατάρχω

make beginning of: aor subj act 3rd sg (epic)

κατάρχω

make beginning of: fut ind mid 2nd sg

κατάρχω

make beginning of: fut ind act 3rd sg

ἀρχηγετέω

make a beginning: aor subj act 3rd sg (epic)

ἀρχηγετέω

make a beginning: fut ind mid 2nd sg

ἀρχηγετέω

make a beginning: fut ind act 3rd sg

ἀ̱ρχηγετήσει, ἀρχηγετέω

make a beginning: futperf ind mp 2nd sg (doric aeolic)

ἀ̱ρχηγετήσει, ἀρχηγετέω

make a beginning: futperf ind act 3rd sg (doric aeolic)

ἀρχηγετέω

make a beginning: aor subj act 3rd sg (epic)

ἀρχηγετέω

make a beginning: fut ind mid 2nd sg

ἀρχηγετέω

make a beginning: fut ind act 3rd sg

ἀ̱ρχηγετήσει, ἀρχηγετέω

make a beginning: futperf ind mp 2nd sg (doric aeolic)

ἀ̱ρχηγετήσει, ἀρχηγετέω

make a beginning: futperf ind act 3rd sg (doric aeolic)

κατά̱ρχεσθε, κατάρχω

make beginning of: imperf ind mp 2nd pl (doric aeolic)

κατάρχεσθε, κατάρχω

make beginning of: pres imperat mp 2nd pl

κατάρχεσθε, κατάρχω

make beginning of: pres ind mp 2nd pl

κατάρχεσθαι, κατάρχω

make beginning of: pres inf mp

κατάρχεσθε, κατάρχω

make beginning of: imperf ind mp 2nd pl (homeric ionic)

αἰών, ῶνος, ὁ (Hom.+; gener. ‘an extended period of time’, in var. senses)

① a long period of time, without ref. to beginning or end,

ⓐ of time gone by, the past, earliest times, readily suggesting a venerable or awesome eld οἱ ἅγιοι ἀπʼ αἰῶνος προφῆται the holy prophets fr. time immemorial (cp. Hes., Theog. 609; Περὶ ὕψους 34, 4 τοὺς ἀπʼ αἰ. ῥήτορας; Cass. Dio 63, 20 τῶν ἀπὸ τοῦ αἰ. Ῥωμαίων; IMagnMai 180, 4; SIG index; Gen 6:4; Tob 4:12; Sir 14:17; 51:8; En 14:1; 99:14; Jos., Bell. 1, 12; Just., D. 11, 1) Lk 1:70; Ac 3:21; make known from of old Ac 15:18; πρὸ παντὸς τ. αἰ. before time began Jd 25a (for the combination with πᾶς cp. Sallust. 20 p. 36, 5 τὸν πάντα αἰῶνα=through all eternity); pl. πρὸ τῶν αἰ. 1 Cor 2:7 (cp. Ps 54:20 θεὸς ὁ ὑπάρχων πρὸ τῶν αἰ. [PGM 4, 3067 ἀπὸ τ. ἱερῶν αἰώνων]); ἐξ αἰ. since the beginning D 16:4 (Diod S 1, 6, 3; 3, 20, 2; 4, 83, 3; 5, 2, 3; Sext. Emp., Math. 9, 62; OGI 669, 61; Philo, Somn. 1, 19; Jos., Bell. 5, 442; Sir 1:4; SibOr Fgm. 1, 16 of God μόνος εἰς αἰῶνα κ. ἐξ αἰῶνος). W. neg. foll. ἐκ τοῦ αἰῶνος οὐκ ἠκούσθη never has it been heard J 9:32.

ⓑ of time to come which, if it has no end, is also known as eternity (so commonly in Gk. lit. Pla. et al.); εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα (since Isocr. 10, 62, also Diod S 1, 56, 1 εἰς τ. αἰ.=εἰς ἅπαντα τ. χρόνον; 4, 1, 4; SIG 814, 49 and OGI index VIII; POxy 41, 30=‘Long live the Caesars’; PGM 8, 33; 4, 1051 [εἰς αἰ.]; LXX; En 12:6; 102:3; PsSol 2:34, 37; ParJer 8:5; JosAs 15:3 εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα χρόνον 4:10 al. Jos., Ant. 7, 356 [εἰς αἰ.]) to eternity, eternally, in perpetuity: live J 6:51, 58; B 6:3; remain J 8:35ab; 12:34; 2 Cor 9:9 (Ps. 111:9); 1 Pt 1:23 v.l., 25 (Is 40:8); 1J 2:17; 2J 2; be with someone J 14:16. Be priest Hb 5:6; 6:20; 7:17, 21, 24, 28 (each Ps 109:4). Darkness reserved Jd 13. W. neg.=never, not at all, never again (Ps 124:1; Ezk 27:36 al.) Mt 21:19; Mk 3:29; 11:14; 1 Cor 8:13. ἕως αἰῶνος (LXX) 1 Cl 10:4 (Gen 13:15); Hv 2, 3, 3; Hs 9, 24, 4. In Johannine usage the term is used formulaically without emphasis on eternity (Lackeit [s. 4 below] 32f): never again thirst J 4:14; never see death 8:51f; cp. 11:26; never be lost 10:28; never (= by no means) 13:8. εἰς τὸν αἰ. τοῦ αἰῶνος (Ps 44:18; 82:18 al.) Hb 1:8 (Ps 44:7). ἕως αἰῶνος (LXX; PsSol 18:11) Lk 1:55 v.l. (for εἰς τὸν αἰ.); εἰς ἡμέραν αἰῶνος 2 Pt 3:18.—The pl. is also used (Emped., Fgm. 129, 6 αἰῶνες=generations; Theocr. 16, 43 μακροὺς αἰῶνας=long periods of time; Philod. περὶ θεῶν 3 Fgm. 84; Sext. Emp., Phys. 1, 62 εἰς αἰῶνας διαμένει; SibOr 3, 767; LXX, En; TestAbr B 7 p. 112, 3 [Stone p. 72].—B-D-F §141, 1), esp. in doxologies: εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας (Ps 60:5; 76:8) Mt 6:13 v.l.; Lk 1:33 (cp. Wsd 3:8); Hb 13:8. εἰς πάντας τοὺς αἰ. (Tob 13:4; Da 3:52b; En 9:4; SibOr 3, 50) Jd 25b. εὐλογητὸς εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας to all eternity (cp. Ps 88:53) Ro 1:25; 9:5; 2 Cor 11:31. αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰ. Ro 11:36; ᾧ κτλ. 16:27 (v.l. αὐτῷ). τὸ κράτος εἰς τοὺς αἰ. 1 Pt 5:11; more fully εἰς τοὺς αἰ. τῶν αἰώνων (Ps 83:5; GrBar 17:4; PGM 4, 1038; 22b, 15) for evermore in doxologies Ro 16:27 v.l.; Gal 1:5; Phil 4:20; 1 Ti 1:17; 2 Ti 4:18; Hb 13:21; 1 Pt 4:11; 5:11 v.l.; Rv 1:6, 18; 5:13; 7:12; 11:15 al. 1 Cl 20:12; 32:4; 38:4; 43:6; εἰς πάσας τὰς γενεὰς τοῦ αἰῶνος τῶν αἰ. Eph 3:21 (cp. Tob 1:4; 13:12; En 103:4; 104:5). Of God ὁ ζῶν εἰς τοὺς αἰ. (cp. Tob 13:2; Sir 18:1; Da 6:27 Theod.) Rv 4:9f; 10:6; 15:7; formulaically= eternal 14:11; 19:3; 20:10; 22:5.—κατὰ πρόθεσιν τῶν αἰώνων according to the eternal purpose Eph 3:11. All-inclusive ἀπὸ αἰώνων καὶ εἰς τ. αἰῶνας from (past) eternity to (future) eternity B 18:2 (cp. Ps 40:14 and Ps.-Aristot., De Mundo 7, 401a, 16 ἐξ αἰῶνος ἀτέρμονος εἰς ἕτερον αἰῶνα; M. Ant. 9, 28, 1 ἐξ αἰῶνος εἰς αἰῶνα; SibOr Fgm. 1, 16 of God μόνος εἰς αἰῶνα κ. ἐξ αἰῶνος).

② a segment of time as a particular unit of history, age

ⓐ ὁ αἰὼν οὗτος (הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה) the present age (nearing its end) (Orig., C. Cels. 1, 13, 15, in ref. to 1 Cor 3:18; s. Bousset, Rel. 243ff; Dalman, Worte 120ff; Schürer II 537f; NMessel, D. Einheitlichkeit d. jüd. Eschatol. 1915, 44–60) contrasted w. the age to come (Philo and Joseph. do not have the two aeons) Mt 12:32. A time of sin and misery Hv 1, 1, 8; Hs 3:1ff; ending of Mk in the Freer ms. 2; ἡ μέριμνα τοῦ αἰ. (v.l. + τούτου) the cares of the present age Mt 13:22; pl. cp. Mk 4:19. πλοῦτος earthly riches Hv 3, 6, 5. ματαιώματα vain, futile things Hm 9:4; Hs 5, 3, 6. πραγματεῖαι m 10, 1, 4. ἐπιθυμία m 11:8; Hs 6, 2, 3; 7:2; 8, 11, 3. πονηρία Hs 6, 1, 4. ἀπάται Hs 6, 3, 3 v.l. οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ αἰ. τούτου the children of this age, the people of the world (opp. children of light, enlightened ones) Lk 16:8; 20:34.—The earthly kingdoms βασιλεῖαι τοῦ αἰ. τούτου IRo 6:1. συσχηματίζεσθαι τῷ αἰ. τούτῳ be conformed to this world Ro 12:2. As well as everything non-Christian, it includes the striving after worldly wisdom: συζητητὴς τοῦ αἰ. τούτου searcher after the wisdom of this world 1 Cor 1:20. σοφία τοῦ αἰ. τούτου 2:6. ἐν τῷ αἰ. τούτῳ 3:18 prob. belongs to what precedes=those who consider themselves wise in this age must become fools (in the estimation of this age). The ruler of this age is the devil: ὁ θεὸς τοῦ αἰ. τούτου 2 Cor 4:4 (θεός 5). ἄρχων τοῦ αἰ. τούτου IEph 17:1; 19:1; IMg 1:3; ITr 4:2; IRo 7:1; IPhld 6:2; his subordinate spirits are the ἄρχοντες τοῦ αἰ. τούτου 1 Cor 2:6, 8 (ἄρχων 1c).—Also ὁ νῦν αἰών (Did., Gen. 148, 21): πλούσιοι ἐν τῷ νῦν αἰ. 1 Ti 6:17; ἀγαπᾶν τὸν νῦν αἰ. 2 Ti 4:10; Pol 9:2. Cp. Tit 2:12. Or (Orig., C. Cels. 2, 42, 30) ὁ αἰ. ὁ ἐνεστώς the present age Gal 1:4 (cp. SIG 797, 9 [37 A.D.] αἰῶνος νῦν ἐνεστῶτος). The end of this period (cp. SibOr 3, 756 μέχρι τέρματος αἰῶνος) συντέλεια (τοῦ) αἰ. Mt 13:39f, 49; 24:3; 28:20 (cp. TestJob 4:6; TestBenj 11:3; JRobinson, Texts and Studies V introd. 86). συντέλεια τῶν αἰ. Hb 9:26; on GMary 463, 1 s. καιρός end.

ⓑ ὁ αἰὼν μέλλων (הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא) the age to come, the Messianic period (on the expr. cp. Demosth. 18, 199; Hippocr., Ep. 10, 6 ὁ μ. αἰ.=the future, all future time; Ael. Aristid. 46 p. 310 D.: ἡ τοῦ παρελθόντος χρόνου μνεία κ. ὁ τοῦ μέλλοντος αἰῶνος λόγος; Jos., Ant. 18, 287; Ar. 15, 3; Orig., C. Cels. 8, 24, 20; Did., Gen. 164, 2) in 2 Cl 6:3, cp. Hs 4:2ff, opposed to the αἰὼν οὗτος both in time and quality, cp. Mt 12:32; Eph 1:21; δυνάμεις μέλλοντος αἰ. Hb 6:5. Also αἰ. ἐκεῖνος: τοῦ αἰ. ἐκείνου τυχεῖν take part in the age to come Lk 20:35. ὁ αἰ. ὁ ἐρχόμενος Mk 10:30; Lk 18:30; Hs 4:2, 8. ὁ αἰ. ὁ ἐπερχόμενος Hv 4, 3, 5: pl. ἐν τοῖς αἰῶσιν τοῖς ἐπερχομένοις in the ages to come Eph 2:7. As a holy age ὁ ἅγιος αἰ. (opp. οὗτος ὁ κόσμος; cp. εἰς τὸν μείζονα αἰ. TestJob 47:3) B 10:11 and as a time of perfection αἰ. ἀλύπητος an age free from sorrow 2 Cl 19:4 (cp. αἰ. … τοῦ ἀπαραλλάκτου TestJob 33:5), while the present αἰών is an ‘aeon of pain’ (Slav. Enoch 65, 8).—The plurals 1 Cor 10:11 have been explained by some as referring to both ages, i.e. the end-point of the first and beginning of the second; this view urges that the earliest Christians believed that the two ages came together during their own lifetimes: we, upon whom the ends of the ages have come (JWeiss. A Greek would not refer to the beginning as τέλος. The Gordian knot has οὔτε τέλος οὔτε ἀρχή: Arrian, Anab. 2, 3, 7). But since τὰ τέλη can also mean ‘end’ in the singular (Ael. Aristid. 44, 17 K.=17 p. 406 D.: σώματος ἀρχαὶ κ. τέλη=‘beginning and end’; 39 p. 737 D.: τὰ τέλη … δράματος; Longus 1, 23, 1 ms. ἦρος τέλη; Vi. Thu. 2, 2 [=OxfT ΘΟΥΚΥΔΙΔΟΥ ΒΙΟΣ 2] τέλη τοῦ πολέμου; Aëtius, Eye Diseases p. 120, 25 Hirschb. after Galen: τὰ τέλη τ. λόγου=the close of the section; Philo, Virt. 182) and, on the other hand, the pl. αἰῶνες is often purely formal (s. above 1a and b, 2a at end) τὰ τέλη τῶν αἰ. can perh. be regarded as equal to τέλος αἰώνων (SibOr 8, 311)=the end of the age(s). Cp. TestLevi 14:1 ἐπὶ τὰ τέλη τῶν αἰώνων.—For the essential equivalence of sing. and pl. cp. Maximus Tyr. 14, 8b τὰ τῆς κολακείας τέλη beside τέλος τῆς σπουδῆς. Cp. also τέλος 5.

③ the world as a spatial concept, the world (αἰ. in sg. and pl. [B-D-F §141, 1]: Hippocr., Ep. 17, 34; Diod S 1, 1, 3 God rules ἅπαντα τὸν αἰῶνα; Ael. Aristid. 20, 13 K.=21 p. 434 D.: ἐκ τοῦ παντὸς αἰῶνος; Maximus Tyr. 11, 5e; IAndrosIsis, Cyrene 4 [103 A.D.] P. p. 129]; Ps 65:7; Ex 15:18 [cp. Philo, Plant. 47; 51]; Wsd 13:9; 14:6; 18:4; αἰῶνες οἱ κρείττονε Tat. 20:2) ApcPt 4:14. Created by God through the Son Hb 1:2; through God’s word 11:3. Hence God is βασιλεὺς τῶν αἰ. 1 Ti 1:17; Rv 15:3 (v.l. for ἐθνῶν); 1 Cl 61:2 (cp. PGM 12, 247 αἰώνων βασιλεῦ; Tob 13:7, 11, cp. AcPh 2 and 11 [Aa II/2, 2, 20 and 6, 9]); πατὴρ τῶν αἰ. 35:3 (cp. Just., A I, 41, 2; AcPh 144 [Aa II/2, 84, 9]); θεὸς τῶν αἰ. 55:6 (cp. Sir 36:17; ὁ θεὸς τοῦ αἰ.; En 1:4; PGM 4, 1163; TSchermann, Griech. Zauber-pap 1909, 23; AcJ 82 [Aa II/1, 191, 24f]). But many of these pass. may belong under 2.

④ the Aeon as a person, the Aeon (Rtzst., Erlösungsmyst. 268 index under Aion, Taufe 391 index; Epict. 2, 5, 13 οὐ γάρ εἰμι αἰών, ἀλλʼ ἄνθρωπος=I am not a being that lasts forever, but a human being [and therefore I know that whatever is must pass away]; Mesomedes 1, 17=Coll. Alex. p. 197, 17; Simplicius in Epict. p. 81, 15 οἱ αἰῶνες beside the μήτηρ τῆς ζωῆς and the δημιουργός; En 9:4 κύριος τ. κυρίων καὶ θεὸς τ. θεῶν κ. βασιλεὺς τ. αἰώνων; PGM 4, 520; 1169; 2198; 2314; 3168; 5, 468; AcPh 132 [Aa II/2, 63, 5]; Kephal. I p. 24, 6; 45, 7) ὁ αἰ. τοῦ κόσμου τούτου Eph 2:2. The secret hidden from the Aeons Col 1:26; Eph 3:9 (Rtzst., Erlösungsmyst. 235f); IEph 19:2 (Rtzst. 86, 3); cp. 8:1 (Rtzst. 236, 2). Various other meanings have been suggested for these passages.—CLackeit, Aion I, diss. Königsbg. 1916; EBurton, ICC Gal 1921, 426–32; HJunker, Iran. Quellen d. hellenist. Aionvorstellung: Vortr. d. Bibl. Warburg I 1923, 125ff; ENorden, D. Geburt des Kindes 1924; MZepf, D. Gott Αιων in d. hellenist. Theologie: ARW 25, 1927, 225–44; ANock, HTR 27, 1934, 78–99=Essays I, ’72, 377–96; RLöwe, Kosmos u. Aion ’35; EOwen, αἰών and αἰώνιος: JTS 37, ’36, 265–83; 390–404; EJenni, Das Wort ˓ōlām im AT: ZAW 64, ’52, 197–248; 65, ’53, 1–35; KDeichgräber, RGG I³ 193–95; HSasse, RAC I 193–204; MNilsson, Die Rel. in den gr. Zauberpapyri, K. humanist. Vetenskapssamfundets Lund II ’47/48, 81f; GJennings, A Survey of αιων and αιωνιος and their meaning in the NT, ’48; GStadtmüller, Aion: Saeculum 2, ’51, 315–20 (lit.); EDegani, ΑΙΩΝ da Omero ad Aristotele ’61 (s. Classen, Gnomon 34, ’62, 366–70; D.’s reply in RivFil 91, ’63, 104–10); MTreu, Griech. Ewigkeitswörter, Glotta 43, ’65, 1–24; JBarr, Biblical Words for Time² ’69; OCullman, Christus u. die Zeit³ ’62.—B. 13. EDNT. DDD s.v. Aion. DELG. M-M. TW. Sv.

ἀκροκνέφαιος

at beginning of night: masc /fem voc sg

ἀκροκνέφαιος

at beginning of night: neut nom /voc /acc sg

ἀκροκνεφής

at beginning of night: masc /fem voc sg

ἀκροκνεφής

at beginning of night: neut nom /voc /acc sg

ἀκροκνέφαιος

at beginning of night: masc /fem voc sg

ἀκροκνέφαιος

at beginning of night: neut nom /voc /acc sg

ἀκροκνεφής

at beginning of night: masc /fem voc sg

ἀκροκνεφής

at beginning of night: neut nom /voc /acc sg

κάταρξις

beginning: fem nom /voc pl (attic epic)

κάταρξις

beginning: fem nom /acc pl (attic)

κατάρχω

make beginning of: aor subj act 2nd sg (epic)

κατάρχω

make beginning of: fut ind act 2nd sg

κατάρξηι, κάταρξις

beginning: fem dat sg (epic)

κατάρχω

make beginning of: aor subj mid 2nd sg

κατάρχω

make beginning of: aor subj act 3rd sg

κατάρχω

make beginning of: fut ind mid 2nd sg

κατάρξηι, κάταρξις

beginning: fem dat sg (epic)

κατάρχω

make beginning of: aor subj mid 2nd sg

κατάρχω

make beginning of: aor subj act 3rd sg

κατάρχω

make beginning of: fut ind mid 2nd sg

κάταρξις

beginning: fem dat sg (epic)

κατάρξῃ, κατάρχω

make beginning of: aor subj mid 2nd sg

κατάρξῃ, κατάρχω

make beginning of: aor subj act 3rd sg

κατάρξῃ, κατάρχω

make beginning of: fut ind mid 2nd sg

κατά̱ρξω, κατάρχω

make beginning of: aor ind mid 2nd sg (doric aeolic)

κατάρχω

make beginning of: aor subj act 1st sg

κατάρχω

make beginning of: fut ind act 1st sg

κατάρχω

make beginning of: aor ind mid 2nd sg (homeric ionic)

κατά̱ρχετε, κατάρχω

make beginning of: imperf ind act 2nd pl (doric aeolic)

κατάρχω

make beginning of: pres imperat act 2nd pl

κατάρχω

make beginning of: pres ind act 2nd pl

κατάρχω

make beginning of: imperf ind act 2nd pl (homeric ionic)

ἄρχω, [dialect] Ep. inf.

A

ἀρχέμεναι Il.20.154

: [tense] impf. ἦρχον ib.2.378, etc.; [dialect] Dor.

ἆρχον Pi.O.10(11).51

: [tense] fut.

ἄρξω Od.4.667

, A.Pr. 940, Th.1.144: [tense] aor. ἦρξα, [dialect] Ep.

ἄρξα Od.14.230

, etc.: [tense] pf.

ἦρχα CIG3487.14

([place name] Thyatira), Decr. ap. Plu.2.851f:—[voice] Med., Od.8.90, etc.; non-thematic part.

ἄρχμενος Call.Aet.3.1.56

, al.: [tense] impf., Il.9.93, Hdt.5.28: [tense] fut. ἄρξομαι (in med. sense, v. infr.) Il.9.97, E.IA 442, X.Cyr.8.8.2; [dialect] Dor.

ἀρξεῦμαι Theoc.7.95

: [tense] aor.

ἠρξάμην Od.23.310

, etc.:—[voice] Pass., [tense] pf. ἦργμαι only in med. sense, v. infr. 1.2: [tense] aor.

ἤρχθην, ἀρχθῆναι Th.6.18

, Arist.Pol. 1277b13, v. infr.11.4:—to be first,

I in Time, begin, make a beginning, [voice] Act. and [voice] Med. (in Hom. the [voice] Act. is more freq., in [dialect] Att. Prose the [voice] Med., esp. where personal action is emphasized),

πολέμου ἄρχειν

to be the aggressor,

Th.1.53

; π. ἄρχεσθαι to begin one's operations, X.HG6.3.6; ἄρχειν τοῦ λόγου to open a conversation, Id.An.1.6.6; ἄρχεσθαι τοῦ λόγου to begin one's speech, ib.3.2.7. Constr.:

1 mostly c. gen., make a beginning of,

ἄρχειν πολέμοιο Il.4.335

;

μύθων Od.3.68

;

τῶν ἀδικημάτων πρῶτον τοῦτο ἄρξαι Hdt. 1.2

;

ἦρξεν ἐμβολῆς A.Pers. 409

; τοῦ κακοῦ ib. 353; ἄρχειν χειρῶν ἀδίκων, ἄρχειν τῆς πληγῆς, strike the first blow, Antipho 4.2.1 and 2:— in [voice] Med. in religious sense, = ἀπάρχεσθαι, ἀρχόμενος μελέων beginning with the limbs, Od.14.428, cf. E. Ion 651; but [voice] Act.,

σπονδαῖσιν ἄρξαι Pi.I.6(5).37

.

2 c. gen., begin from or with..,

ἐν σοὶ μὲν λήξω σέο δ' ἄρξομαι Il.9.97

;

ἄρχεσθαι Διός Pi.N.5.25

; πόθεν ἄρξωμαι; A.Ch. 855;

πόθεν ποτὲ ἦρκται Hp. VM5

; ἄρχεσθαι, ἦρχθαι ἔκ τινος, Od.23.199, Hp.Off.11; ἀπό τινος freq. in Prose, ἀρξάμενοι αὐτίκα ἀπὸ παιδίων even from boyhood, Hdt.3.12; but more commonly ἐκ παίδων, ἐκ παιδός, etc., Pl.R. 408d, Thg. 128d:— ἀπό in non-temporal relations, ἀρξάμενος ἀπὸ σοῦ. i.e. including yourself, Pl.Grg. 471c, cf. D.18.297;

ἀπὸ τῶν πατέρων X.Mem.3.5.15

;

μέχρι τῶν δώδεκα ἀπὸ μιᾶς ἀρξάμενος Pl.Lg. 771c

; ἀφ' ἱερῶν ἠργμένη ἀρχή ib. 771a;

ἀφ' Ἑστίας ἀρχόμενος Ar.V. 846

.

3 c. gen. rei et dat. pers., ἄρχε θεοῖς δαιτός begin a banquet to the gods, Il.15.95;

τοῖς ἄρα μύθων ἦρχε 2.433

, etc.;

τῇσι δὲ.. ἄρχετο μολπῆς Od.6.101

;

ἦρξε τῇ πόλει ἀνομίας τὸ νόσημα Th.2.53

, cf. 12;

τὴν ἡμέραν ἄρχειν ἐλευθερίας τῇ Ἑλλάδι X.HG2.2.23

;

ἡμὶν οὐ σμικρῶν κακῶν ἦρξεν τὸ δῶρον S.Tr. 871

.

4 c. acc., ἄρχειν ὁδόν τινι, show him the way, Od.8.107 (but also ἄρχειν ὁδοῖο lead the way, 5.237): abs. (sc. ὁδόν)

, ἄρχε δ' Ἀθήνη 3.12

;

σὺ μὲν ἄρχε Il.9.69

;

ἦ ῥα καὶ ἄρχε λέχοσδε κιών 3.447

;

ἦρχε δ' ἄρα σφιν Ἄρης 5.592

, cf. infr. 11.2: with other accusatives,

ἄρχειν ὕμνον Pi.N.3.10

;

ἅπερ ἦρξεν A.Ag. 1529

(lyr.);

λυπηρόν τι S.El. 552

;

ὕβριν Id.Fr. 368

.

5 of actions,

σέο δ' ἕξεται ὅττι κεν ἄρχῃ Il.9.102

: freq. c. inf., τοῖσιν δ' ἦρχ' ἀγορεύειν among them, Il.1.571, etc.; ἦρχε νέεσθαι, ἦρχ' ἴμεν, 2.84, 13.329;

ἄρχετε νῦν νέκυας φορέειν Od.22.437

, etc.;

ὑφαίνειν ἤρχετο μῆτιν Il.7.324

;

ἤρξαντο οἰκοδομεῖν Th.1.107

;

ἡ νόσος ἤρξατο γενέσθαι Id.2.47

: c. part., of continued action or condition,

ἦρχον χαλεπαίνων Il.2.378

;

ἢν ἄρξῃ ἀδικέων Hdt.4.119

;

ἡ ψυχὴ ἄρχεται ἀπολείπουσα X.Cyr.8.7.26

;

πόθεν ἂν ὀρθῶς ἀρξαίμεθα ἐπαινοῦντες; Pl.Mx. 237a

, cf. Tht. 187a (but

ἄ. ἐπαινεῖν Id.Phdr. 241e

);

ἄρξομαι διδάσκων X.Cyr.8.8.2

(but

ἤρξω μανθάνειν Id.Mem.3.5.22

).

6 abs.,

ἄρχε

take the lead!

Il.9.69

: generally, begin, ἄρχειν [τὴν ἐκεχειρίαν] τήνδε τὴν ἡμέραν Indut. ap. Th.4.118, cf. Lex ap.D.24.42; τὸ ἄρχον, opp. τὸ ἑπόμενον, Dam.Pr. 234: part.

ἀρχόμενος

at first,

X.Eq.9.3

, Cyn.3.8, Isoc.2.54; at the beginning,

ἀρχομένου δὲ πίθου καὶ λήγοντος Hes.Op. 368

, cf. Fr.192.4;

ἀρχομένοισιν ἢ καταπαυομένοισι Ar.Eq. 1246

;

ἄρχεται ὁ πόλεμος ἐνθένδε Th.2.1

; ἅμα ἦρι ἀρχομένῳ ibid.; θέρους εὐθὺς ἀρχομένου ib.47.

7 Gramm., of a word,

ἄ. ἀπὸ φωνήεντος D.T.633.27

; ἡ ἄρχουσα (sc. συλλαβή) A.D.Synt.130.13.

II in point of Place or Station, rule, govern, command,

1 mostly c. gen., rule, be leader of..,

Βοιωτῶν Il.2.494

, cf. Hdt.5.1, etc.

2 less freq. c. dat.,

ἀνδράσιν ἦρξα Od.14.230

, cf. 471, Il.2.805, Pi.P.3.4, A.Pr. 940, E.Andr. 666, IA 337, IG7.2830 ([place name] Hyettus), etc.; also ἐν δ' ἄρα τοῖσιν ἦρχ' held command among them, Il.13.690, cf. Pl.Phdr. 238a: c. inf. added, ἄρχε Μυρμιδόνεσσι μάχεσθαι led them on to fight, Il.16.65.

3 abs., rule,

ὅσον τό τ' ἄρχειν καὶ τὸ δουλεύειν δίχα A.Pr. 927

, cf. Pers. 774; esp. hold a magistracy,

ὁκοῖόν τε εἴη ἄρχειν μετὰ τὸ βασιλεύειν Hdt.6.67

; at Athens, etc., to be archon, D.21.178; ἀρχάς, ἀρχὴν ἄρχειν, Hdt.3.80, Th.6.54; ἄρχειν τὴν ἐπώνυμον (with or without ἀρχήν) IG3.659, 693, SIG872.7.

4 [voice] Pass., with [tense] fut.

ἄρξομαι Hdt.7.159

, Pi.O.8.45, A.Pers. 589, Lys.28.7; but

ἀρχθήσομαι Arist.Pol. 1259b40

, D.C.65.10:—to be ruled, governed, etc.,

ὑπό τινος Hdt.1.127

;

ἔκ τινος S.El. 264

, Ant.63;

ὑπό τινι Hdt.1.91

, 103;

σφόδρα ὑπό τινος Lys.12.92

;

ἄρχε πρῶτον μαθὼν ἄρχεσθαι Sol.

ap.D.L.1.60, cf. Pl.Prt. 326d;

δύνασθαι καὶ ἄρχεσθαι καὶ ἄρχειν Arist. Pol. 1277b14

;

οἱ ἀρχόμενοι

subjects,

X.An.2

6.19, etc.

ἀρχά̱, ἀρχή

beginning: fem nom /voc /acc dual

ἀρχά̱, ἀρχή

beginning: fem nom /voc sg (doric aeolic)

ἀρχαί, ἀρχή

beginning: fem nom /voc pl

ἀρχί, ἀρχίς

fem voc sg

ἀρχέ, ἀρχός

leader: masc voc sg

ἄρκαι, ἄρκη

arca: fem nom /voc pl

ἄρκᾱͅ, ἄρκη

arca: fem dat sg (doric aeolic)

ἄρκε, ἄρκος

bear: masc voc sg

ἄρχε, ἄρχω

to be first: pres imperat act 2nd sg

ἄρχε, ἄρχω

to be first: imperf ind act 3rd sg (homeric ionic)

ἀρχαῖα, ἀρχαῖος

from the beginning: neut nom /voc /acc pl

ἀρχαῖε, ἀρχαῖος

from the beginning: masc voc sg

ἀρχαῖαι, ἀρχαῖος

from the beginning: fem nom /voc pl

ἀρχαῖα, ἀρχαῖος

from the beginning: neut nom /voc /acc pl

ἀρχαῖε, ἀρχαῖος

from the beginning: masc voc sg

ἀρχαῖαι, ἀρχαῖος

from the beginning: fem nom /voc pl