great mystery

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.

τέλος, ους, τό (Hom.+)

① a point of time marking the end of a duration, end, termination, cessation (Nicol. Dam.: 90 Fgm. 130 §139 Jac. τέλος τ. Βίου Καίσαρος; TestAbr A 1 p. 78, 5 [Stone p. 4] τῆς ζωῆς; Maximus Tyr. 13, 9d ἀπιστίας) τῆς βασιλείας αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔσται τέλος Lk 1:33. μήτε ἀρχὴν ἡμερῶν μήτε ζωῆς τέλος ἔχων Hb 7:3. τὸ τέλος τοῦ καταργουμένου the end of the fading (splendor) 2 Cor 3:13. τέλος νόμου Χριστός Ro 10:4 (perh. 3 below). πάντων τὸ τέλος ἤγγικεν the end of all things is near 1 Pt 4:7. τὸ τ. Ἰερουσαλήμ GPt 7:25. τὸ τέλος κυρίου Js 5:11 is oft. (fr. Augustine to ABischoff, ZNW 7, 1906, 274–79) incorrectly taken to mean the end=the death (this is what τέλος means e.g. TestAbr A 4, p. 81, 14 [Stone p. 10]; Appian, Syr. 64 §342, Bell. Civ. 1, 107 §501; 3, 98 §408; Arrian, Anab. 3, 22, 2; 7, 24, 1) of the Lord Jesus (s. 3 below). τ̣ὸ̣ [τέλο]ς (or τ̣ε̣[λο]ς) τῶν φαινο[με]νων (Till’s rdg. of Ox 1081, 29f after the Coptic SJCh 90, 6, in place of τ̣ὸ̣ [φῶ]ς τῶν φαινο[μέ]νων) the end of the things that are apparent. τέλος ἔχειν have an end, be at an end (X., An. 6, 5, 2; Pla., Phdr. 241d, Rep. 3, 392c; Diod S 14, 18, 8; 16, 91, 2) Mk 3:26 (opp. στῆναι). The possibility of repenting ἔχει τέλος is at an end Hv 2, 2, 5. Of the consummation that comes to prophecies when they are fulfilled (Xenophon Eph. 5, 1, 13; Jos., Ant. 2, 73; 4, 125; 10, 35; SibOr 3, 211): revelations Hv 3, 3, 2. So perh. τὸ περὶ ἐμοῦ τέλος ἔχει the references (in the Scriptures) to me are being fulfilled Lk 22:37; also prob. is my life’s work is at an end (cp. Diod S 20, 95, 1 τέλος ἔχειν of siege-machines, the construction of which entailed a great deal of hard work: be completed; Plut., Mor. 615e; Jos., Vi. 154).

② the last part of a process, close, conclusion, esp. of the last things, the final act in the cosmic drama (Sb 8422, 10 [7 B.C.] τοῦτο γάρ ἐστι τέλος; TestAbr A 13 p. 92, 19 [Stone p. 32] τῆς κρίσεως ἐκείνης τὸ τέλος; ApcEsdr 3:13 ἐγγύς ἐστιν τὸ τέλος; Iren., 1, 10, 3 [Harv. I 96, 8] περὶ τοῦ τ. καὶ τῶν μέλλόντων)

ⓐ Mt 24:6, 14; Mk 13:7; Lk 21:9; PtK 2 p. 13, 22. Perh. 1 Cor 15:24, if ἔσται is to be supplied w. εἶτα τὸ τέλος then the end will come (so JHéring, RHPR 12, ’33, 300–320; s. below, bα and 4). ἔχει τέλος the end is here Hv 3, 8, 9. On τὰ τέλη τῶν αἰώνων 1 Cor 10:11 s. αἰών 2b and 5 below; also MBogle, ET 67, ’56, 246f: τ.=‘mystery’.—PVolz, D. Eschatologie d. jüd. Gemeinde im ntl. Zeitalter ’34; Bousset, Rel.³ 202–301; EHaupt, Die eschatol. Aussagen Jesu in den synopt. Evangelien 1895; HSharman, The Teaching of Jesus about the Future acc. to the Synopt. Gospels 1909; FSpitta, Die grosse eschatol. Rede Jesu: StKr 82, 1909, 348–401; EvDobschütz, The Eschatology of the Gospels 1910, Zur Eschatol. der Ev.: StKr 84, 1911, 1–20; PCorssen, Das apokalypt. Flugblatt in der synopt. überl.: Wochenschr. für klass. Philol. 32, 1915, nos. 30f; 33f; DVölter, Die eschat. Rede Jesu: SchTZ 32, 1915, 180–202; KWeiss (s. τελέω 1); JWeiss, Das Urchristent. 1917, 60–98; JJeremias, Jesus als Weltvollender 1930; WKümmel, Die Eschatologie der Ev.: ThBl 15, ’36, 225–41, Verheissg. u. Erfüllg. ’45; CCadoux, The Historic Mission of Jesus ’41 (eschat. of the synoptics); HPreisker, Das Ethos des Urchristentums ’49; AStrobel, Untersuchungen zum eschat. Verzögerungsproblem, ’61. Billerb. IV 799–976. S. also ἀνάστασις 2b, end.—In contrast to ἀρχή: B 1:6ab; IEph 14:1ab; IMg 13:1. Of God Rv 1:8 v.l.; 21:6; 22:13 (Ar. 4, 2; Just., D. 7, 2; Mel., P. 105, 113f; s. also ἀρχή 2).

ⓑ adverbial expressions

α. adv. acc. τὸ τέλος finally (Pla. et al.; BGU 1024 VII, 23; B-D-F §160; s. Rob. 486–88; Theoph. Ant. 1, 14 [p. 92, 8].—The customary use in this case is τέλος without the art.: ViAm 1 [p. 81, 11 Sch.]) 1 Pt 3:8. εἶτα τὸ τέλος 1 Cor 15:24 is classed here by Hofmann²; FBurkitt, JTS 17, 1916, 384f; KBarth, Die Auferstehung der Toten² 1926, 96 (s. 2a above and 4 below).

β. to the end, to the last: ἄχρι τέλους Hb 6:11; Rv 2:26; ἕως τέλους (Da 6:27 Theod.; JosAs 12:3) 1 Cor 1:8; 2 Cor 1:13 (here, too, it means to the end=until the parousia [Windisch, Sickenberger, NRSV] rather than ‘fully’ [Ltzm., Hdb.; RSV ’46]); Hs 9, 27, 3; μέχρι τέλους (Phocylides [VI B.C.] 17 Diehl³ ἐξ ἀρχῆς μέχρι τέλους; Chariton 4, 7, 8; Appian, Mithrid. 112 §550; Polyaenus 4, 6, 11; POxy 416, 3; PTebt 420, 18; Wsd 16:5; 19:1; Jos., Vi. 406) Hb 3:6 v.l., 14; Dg 10:7. S. also εἰς τέλος (γ below).

γ. εἰς τέλος in the end, finally (Hdt. 3, 40 et al.; PTebt 38, 11 [113 B.C.]; 49, 12; Gen 46:4; GrBar 13:2; Ps.-Clem., Hom. 18, 2) Lk 18:5. σωθῆναι 2 Cl 19:3.—To the end, until the end (Epict. 1, 7, 17; Jos., Ant. 19, 96; JosAs 23:5) Mt 10:22; 24:13; Mk 13:13; IEph 14:2; IRo 10:3.—Forever, through all eternity (Dionys. Hal. 13, 88, 3; Ps 9:19; 76:9; 1 Ch 28:9; Da 3:34) ἔφθασεν ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς ἡ ὀργὴ εἰς τέλος 1 Th 2:16 (s. also below and cp. TestLevi 6:11, concerning which there is a variety of opinion). εἰς τέλος ἀπολέσαι τὴν ζωήν lose one’s life forever Hs 8, 8, 5b.—Decisively, extremely, fully, altogether (Polyb. 1, 20, 7; 10; 12, 27, 3 and oft.; Diod S 18, 57, 1 ταπεινωθέντες εἰς τ.=ruined utterly; Lucian, Philop. 14; Appian, Bell. Mithr. 44 §174; OGI 90, 12 [II B.C.]; PTebt 38, 11 [II B.C.]; 49, 11; 793 [s. οὖς 1]; Josh 8:24; 2 Ch 12:12; Ps 73:1; Job 6:9; PsSol 1:1; TestAbr A 13 p. 92, 23 [Stone p. 32]; ApcMos 19; Jos., Vi. 24; Just., A I, 44, 12; Diodorus on Ps 51:7: MPG 33, 1589b εἰς τέλος τουτέστι παντελῶς) 1 Th 2:16 ( forever is also prob.; s. above); B 4:7; 10:5; 19:11. ἱλαρὰ εἰς τέλος ἦν she was quite cheerful Hv 3, 10, 5. Cp. 3, 7, 2; m 12, 2, 3; Hs 6, 2, 3; 8, 6, 4; 8, 8, 2; 5a; 8, 9, 3; 9, 14, 2.—For εἰς τέλος ἠγάπησεν αὐτούς J 13:1 s. εἰς 3.

δ. ἐν τέλει at the end (opp. πρὸ αἰώνων) IMg 6:1.

③ the goal toward which a movement is being directed, end, goal, outcome (Dio Chrys. 67 [17], 3; Epict. 1, 30, 4; 3, 24, 7; Maximus Tyr. 20, 3b; Jos., Ant. 9, 73; TestAsh 1:3; ἡ θεία παίδευσις καὶ εἰσαγωγὴν ἔχει καὶ προκοπὴν καὶ τ. Did., Gen. 69, 9) Mt 26:58. τὸ τέλος κυρίου the outcome which the Lord brought about in the case of Job’s trials Js 5:11 (Diod S 20, 13, 3 τὸ δαιμόνιον τοῖς ὑπερηφάνως διαλογιζομένοις τὸ τέλος τῶν κατελπισθέντων εἰς τοὐναντίον μετατίθησιν=the divinity, in the case of the arrogant, turns the outcome of what they hoped for to the opposite.—On Js 5:11 s. 1 above). τὸ τέλος τῆς παραγγελίας ἐστὶν ἀγάπη the instruction has love as its aim 1 Ti 1:5 (Ἐπίκουρος … λέγων τὸ τ. τῆς σοφίας εἶναι ἡδονήν Hippol., Ref. 1, 22, 4. τ.=‘goal’ or ‘purpose’: Epict. 1, 20, 15; 4, 8, 12; Diog. L. 2, 87; Just., D. 2, 6). Perh. this is the place for Ro 10:4, in the sense that Christ is the goal and the termination of the law at the same time, somewhat in the sense of Gal 3:24f (schol. on Pla., Leg. 625d τέλος τῶν νόμων=goal of the laws; Plut., Mor. 780e δίκη … νόμου τέλος ἐστί; FFlückiger, TZ 11, ’55, 153–57; difft. RJewett, Int 39, ’85, 341–56, Christ as goal but without repudiation of the law; cp. SBechtler, CBQ 56, ’94, 288–308); s. 1.—Esp. also of the final goal toward which pers. and things are striving, of the outcome or destiny which awaits them in accordance w. their nature (TestAsh 6:4; Philo, Exs. 162, Virt. 182; Just., A II, 3, 7; Ath., R. 24 p. 77, 19; Aelian, VH 3, 43; Alciphron 4, 7, 8; Procop. Soph., Ep. 154; τὸ τ. ὁρόμου Orig., C. Cels. 7, 52, 6) τὸ τέλος ἐκείνων θάνατος … τὸ τέλος ζωὴν αἰώνιον Ro 6:21f. Cp. 2 Cor 11:15; Phil 3:19 (HKoester, NTS 8, ’61/62, 325f): perh. a play on a mystery term; 1 Pt 4:17 (cp. 2 Macc 7:30–38); Hb 6:8. κομιζόμενοι τὸ τέλος τῆς πίστεως 1 Pt 1:9. τέλος τὰ πράγματα ἔχει all things have a goal or final destiny (i.e. death or life) IMg 5:1 (τέλος ἔχειν as Plut., Mor. 382e; Polyaenus 4, 2, 11 τέλος οὐκ ἔσχεν ἡ πρᾶξις=did not reach its goal; Jos., C. Ap. 2, 181, Ant. 17, 185.—Ael. Aristid. 52 p. 597 D.: τὸ τέλος πάντων πραγμάτων). εἰς τέλος εἶναι be at = reach the goal IRo 1:1 (εἰς for ἐν; s. εἰς 1aδ).

④ last in a series, rest, remainder (Aristot. De Gen. Anim. 1, 18 p. 725b, 8; Is 19:15. Of a military formation Arrian, Tact. 10, 5; 18, 4), if τὸ τέλος 1 Cor 15:24 is to be taken, w. JWeiss and Ltzm., of a third and last group (τάγμα 1b; s. 2a and 2bα above).

⑤ revenue obligation, (indirect) tax, toll-tax, customs duties (X., Pla. et al.; ins, pap; 1 Macc 10:31; 11:35; Jos., Ant. 12, 141) ἀποδιδόναι τὸ τέλος Ro 13:7b; cp. a (w. φόρος as Appian, Sicil. 2, 6, Bell. Civ. 2, 13 §47; Vi. Aesopi W 92; Ps.-Clem., Hom. 10, 22. Pl. w. εἰσφοραί Theoph. Ant. 1, 10 [p. 80, 19]). λαμβάνειν τέλη ἀπό τινος Mt 17:25 (w. κῆνσος; Just., A I, 27, 2).—τὰ τέλη τ. αἰώνων 1 Cor 10:11 is transl. the (spiritual) revenues of the ages by ASouter (Pocket Lex. of the NT 1916, s.v. τέλος) and PMacpherson, ET 55, ’43/44, 222 (s. 2a above).—GDelling, TW VIII, 50–88: τέλος and related words, also ZNW 55, ’64, 26–42=Studien zum NT, ’70, 17–31.—B. 802; 979. Schmidt, Syn. IV 496–523. DELG. M-M. EDNT. TW. Sv.

σωτήρ, ῆρος, ὁ (σῴζω) one who rescues, savior, deliverer, preserver, as a title of divinities Pind., Aeschyl.+; ins, pap; TestSol 17:4. This was the epithet esp. of Asclepius, the god of healing (Ael. Aristid. 42, 4 K. ς. τῶν ὅλων; OGI 332, 9 [138–133 B.C.], s. note 8; SIG 1112, 2; 1148); Celsus compares the cult of Ascl. w. the Christian worship of the Savior (Origen, C. Cels. 3, 3). Likew. divinities in the mystery religions, like Sarapis and Isis (Σαράπιδι Ἴσιδι Σωτῆρσι: OGI 87; Sb 597 [both III B.C.]; Sb 169 [Ptolemaic times]; 596; CIG 4930b [I B.C.]), as well as Heracles (τῆς γῆς κ. τῶν ἀνθρώπων ς.: Dio Chrys. 1, 84) or Zeus (Ael. Aristid. 52 p. 608 D.: Ζεὺς ὁ ς.).—GAnrich, Das antike Mysterienwesen 1894, 47ff; GWobbermin, Religionsgesch. Studien 1896, 105ff.—In gnostic speculation: ὁ ς. = ὁ παράκλητος Iren. 1, 4, 5 (Harv. I, 38, 9). The LXX has σωτήρ as a term for God; so also ApcSed 13:6 p. 135, 29 Ja.; and so do Philo (s. MDibelius, Hdb., exc. on 2 Ti 1:10) and SibOr 1, 73; 3, 35; but ς. is not so found in EpArist, Test12Patr, or Josephus (s. ASchlatter, Wie sprach Jos. von Gott? 1910, 66).—At an early date σωτήρ was used as a title of honor for deserving pers. (s. X., Hell. 4, 4, 6, Ages. 11, 13; Plut., Arat. 53, 4; Herodian 3, 12, 2.—Ps.-Lucian, Ocyp. 78 in an address to a physician [s. θεός 4a]; JosAs 25:6 [of Joseph]; the same phrase IXanthos p. 45 no. 23, 3f, of Marcus Agrippa [I B.C.]; Jos., Vi. 244; 259 Josephus as εὐεργέτης καὶ σωτήρ of Galilee), and in ins and pap we find it predicated of high-ranking officials and of persons in private life. This is never done in our lit. But outside our lit. it is applied to personalities who are active in the world’s affairs, in order to remove them fr. the ranks of ordinary humankind and place them in a significantly higher position. For example, Epicurus is called σωτήρ by his followers (Philod.: pap, Herc. 346, 4, 19 ὑμνεῖν τὸν σωτῆρα τὸν ἡμέτερον.—ARW 18, 1930, 392–95; CJensen, Ein neuer Brief Epikurs: GGAbh. III/5, ’33, 80f). Of much greater import is the designation of the (deified) ruler as ς. (Ptolemy I Soter [323–285 B.C.] Πτολεμαῖος καὶ Βερενίκη θεοὶ Σωτῆρες: APF 5, 1913, 156, 1; see Sb 306 and oft. in later times, of Roman emperors as well [Philo, In Flacc. 74; 126, Leg. ad Gai. 22; cp. Jos., Bell. 3, 459]).—PWendland, Σωτήρ: ZNW 5, 1904, 335ff; Magie 67f; HLietzmann, Der Weltheiland 1909; WOtto, Augustus Soter: Her 45, 1910, 448–60; FDölger, Ichthys 1910, 406–22; Dssm., LO 311f (LAE 368f); ELohmeyer, Christuskult u. Kaiserkult 1919; Bousset, Kyrios Christos² 1921, 241ff; EMeyer III 392ff; E-BAllo, Les dieux sauveurs du paganisme gréco-romain: RSPT 15, 1926, 5–34; KBornhausen, Der Erlöser 1927; HLinssen, Θεος Σωτηρ, diss. Bonn 1929=Jahrb. f. Liturgiewiss. 8, 1928, 1–75; AOxé, Σωτήρ b. den Römern: WienerStud 48, 1930, 38–61; WStaerk, Soter, I ’33; II ’38. S. also GHerzog-Hauser, Soter … im altgriech. Epos ’31; ANock, s.v. εὐεργέτης.—CColpe, Die Religionsgeschichtliche Schule ’61 (critique of some of the lit. cited above); FDanker, Benefactor ’82.

ⓐ of God ὁ θεὸς ὁ σωτήρ μου (Ps 24:5; 26:9; Mi 7:7 al.) Lk 1:47. θεὸς ς. ἡμῶν 1 Ti 1:1; Jd 25. ὁ ς. ἡμῶν θεός 1 Ti 2:3; Tit 1:3; 2:10; 3:4. ς. πάντων ἀνθρώπων μάλιστα πιστῶν 1 Ti 4:10 (cp. PPetr III, 20 I, 15 [246 B.C.] πάντων σωτῆρα and s. above Heracles as τῶν ἀνθρώπων ς. and in b below Sarapis). ὁ τῶν ἀπηλπισμένων σωτήρ the Savior of those in despair 1 Cl 59:3.

ⓑ of Christ (Just., A I, 33, 7 τὸ … Ἰησοῦς … σωτὴρ τῇ Ἑλληνίδι διαλέκτῳ δηλοῖ) Lk 2:11; Ac 13:23; Phil 3:20; Dg 9:6; Ox 840, 12; 21 (restored); 30; GMary 463, lines 4, 8, 18, 22, 31; Ox 1081, 27 (SJCh 90, 4); Qua. W. ἀρχηγός Ac 5:31; 2 Cl 20:5 (ἀρχηγὸς τῆς ἀφθαρσίας). σωτὴρ τοῦ σώματος Savior of the body (i.e. of his body, the Christian community) Eph 5:23. ὁ σωτὴρ τοῦ κόσμου (ins; cp. WWeber, Untersuchungen zur Gesch. des Kaisers Hadrianus 1907, 225f; 222) J 4:42; 1J 4:14. ς. τῶν ἀνθρώπων (Ael. Aristid. 45, 20 K.=8 p. 90 D. calls Sarapis κηδεμόνα καὶ σωτῆρα πάντων ἀνθρώπων αὐτάρκη θεόν) GPt 4:13. ὁ ς. ἡμῶν Χρ. Ἰ. 2 Ti 1:10; ISm 7:1; w. Χρ. Ἰ. or Ἰ. Χρ. preceding Tit 1:4; 3:6; IEph 1:1; IMg ins; Pol ins. ὁ μέγας θεὸς καὶ ς. ἡμῶν Χρ. Ἱ. our great God and Savior Christ Jesus Tit 2:13 (cp. PLond III, 604b, 118 p. 80 [47 A.D.] τῷ μεγάλῳ θεῷ σωτῆρι; but the presence of καί Tit 2:13 suggests a difft. semantic aspect and may justify the rendering in NRSV mg). S. MDibelius, exc. after Tit 2:14; HWindisch, Z. Christologie der Past.: ZNW 34, ’35, 213–38.—ὁ σωτὴρ κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰ. Χρ. IPhld 9:2. ὁ ς. τῶν ψυχῶν MPol 19:2. ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν καὶ ς. Ἰ. Χρ. 2 Pt 1:1. ὁ κύριος (ἡμῶν) καὶ ς. Ἰ. Χρ. vs. 11; 2:20; 3:18; without any name (so ὁ σωτήρ [meaning Asclep.] Ael. Aristid. 47, 1 K.=23 p. 445 D.; 66 K.=p. 462 D.; 48, 7 K.=24 p. 466 D.—Orig., C. Cels. 6, 64, 16; Hippol., Ref. 5, 8, 27) 2 Pt 3:2; AcPl Ha 8, 29 (restored: καὶ σωτῆρα). S. Loewe s.v. σωτηρία end.—Pauly-W. 2, VI 1211–21; Kl. Pauly V 289; RAC VI 54–219; DLNT 1082–84; BHHW I 430–32.—M-M. EDNT. TW. Spicq. Sv.

ἡμέρα, ας, ἡ (Hom.+; loanw. in rabb.)

① the period betw. sunrise and sunset, day

ⓐ lit. (opp. νύξ; e.g. Ath. 24, 2 ἀντιδοξοῦντι … ὡς … τῇ ἡμέρᾳ νύξ) Mt 4:2 (fasting for 40 days and 40 nights as Ex 34:28. S. νύξ 1d.—Cp. JosAs 13:8 ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας καὶ ἑπτὰ νύκτας; Lucian, Ver. Hist. 1, 10 ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας κ. τὰς ἴσας νύκτας); 12:40 and oft. ἡμέρα γίνεται day is breaking (X., An. 2, 2, 13; 7, 2, 34; Appian, Iber. 74 §315; Jos., Ant. 10, 202, Vi. 405) Lk 4:42; 6:13; 22:66; Ac 12:18; 16:35; 27:29, 39. ἡμέρα διαυγάζει the day dawns 2 Pt 1:19. κλίνει declines, evening approaches Lk 9:12; 24:29 (cp. Just., D. 56, 16 ἡμέρα προκόπτει). φαίνει shines Rv 8:12. In the gen. to denote a point of time ἡμέρας in daylight (Hippocr., Ep. 19, 7; Arrian, Ind. 13, 6; Lucian, Ver. Hist. 1, 10) 1 Cl 25:4. ἡμέρας μέσης at midday, noon (Lucian, Nigr. 34; cp. Jos., Ant. 5, 190) Ac 26:13. But also, as in Thu. et al., of time within which someth. occurs, ἡμέρας during the day Rv 21:25. ἡμέρας καὶ νυκτός (by) day and night (Appian, Liby. 121, §576; Arrian, Anab. 7, 11, 4; Jos., Ant. 11, 171; Just., D. 1, 4 διʼ ὅλης νυκτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας; also in reverse order as Is 34:10) Mk 5:5; Lk 18:7; Ac 9:24; 1 Th 2:9; 3:10; 2 Th 3:8; AcPl Ha 2, 10; 3, 2. The acc. of time νύκτα καὶ ἡμέραν (in this sequence Dio Chrys. 7 [8], 15; Ael. Aristid. 51, 1 K.=27 p. 534 D.; Esth 4:16; cp. νύκτωρ καὶ μεθʼ ἡμέραν Mel., HE 4, 26, 5; Ath. 34, 3) (throughout the) day and (the) night Mk 4:27; Lk 2:37; Ac 20:31; 26:7. τὰς ἡμέρας every day (opp. τὰς νύκτας; cp. Dio Chrys. 4, 36; Jos., C. Ap. 1, 199) Lk 21:37; cp. πᾶσαν ἡμέραν (throughout) every day Ac 5:42 (cp. Hdt. 7, 203, 1). τὴν ἡμέραν ἐκείνην (throughout) that day (Ael. Aristid. 49, 45 K.) J 1:39. ὅλην τ. ἡμ. (Jos., Ant. 6, 22) Mt 20:6. The acc. in a distributive sense συμφωνεῖν ἐκ δηναρίου τὴν ἡμέραν on a denarius a day Mt 20:2 (s. Meisterhans³-Schw. 205; pap in Mlt., ClR 15, 1901, 436; 18, 1904, 152). ἡμέρας ὁδός a day’s journey Lk 2:44 (cp. X., An. 2, 2, 12; Gen 31:23; 1 Macc 5:24; Jos., C. Ap. 2, 21; 23). Daylight lasts for twelve hours, during which a person can walk without stumbling J 11:9ab. ἡ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ τρυφή reveling in broad daylight 2 Pt 2:13.

ⓑ fig. (SibOr 5, 241) Christians as υἱοὶ φωτὸς καὶ υἱοὶ ἡμέρας children of light and of the day 1 Th 5:5; cp. vs. 8 (in contrast, Aristoph., Fgm. 573 K. calls Chaerephon, the friend of Socrates νυκτὸς παῖδα, in a derogatory sense). In J 9:4 day denotes the period of human life; cp. Ro 13:12f.

② civil or legal day, including the night, day Mt 6:34; 15:32; Mk 6:21; Lk 13:14; B 15:3ff. Opp. hours Mt 25:13; hours, months, years Rv 9:15; cp. Gal 4:10.

ⓐ In the gen., answering the question, how long? (Nicostrat. Com., Fgm. 5 K. ἡμερῶν τριῶν ἤδη=now for three days; Porphyr., Vi. Plotini 13 W. τριῶν ἡμ.; BGU 37, 7 [50 A.D.]; 249, 11 [70–80 A.D.] ἡμερῶν δύο διαμένομεν) τεσσεράκοντα ἡμερῶν during 40 days Ac 1:3 D*. ἑκάστης ἡμέρας each day AcPl Ha 6, 8 (cp. ILegGort 1, 9 of a fine τᾶς ἁμέρας ϝεκάστας ‘for each day’, on the gen. Buck, Dialects §170; Just., D. 2, 6 al.)—In the dat., answering the quest., when? (X., An. 4, 7, 8; Jdth 7:6; Esth 7:2; Bel 40 Theod.; JosAs 11:1; Just., A I, 67, 7 al.) τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ (cp. Arrian, Anab. 6, 4, 1 τρίτῃ ἡμ.; AscIs 3:16 τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμ.; JosAs 29:8; Just., D. 100, 1 al., cp. D. 85, 6 τῇ δευτέρᾳ ἡμ.) Mt 16:21; 17:23; Lk 9:22; 24:7, 46; 1 Cor 15:4. ᾗ δὲ ἡμέρᾳ on the day on which (PLille 15, 1 [242 B.C.] ᾗ ἡμέρᾳ; 1 Esdr 1:49; Jos., Ant. 20, 26) Lk 17:29; cp. vs. 30. μιᾷ ἡμέρᾳ in (the course of) one day (Appian, Iber. 58 §244) 1 Cor 10:8.

ⓑ In the acc., usu. answering the quest., how long? (X., An. 4, 7, 18; Nicol. Dam.: 90 Fgm. 130, 26 p. 410, 30 Jac. τὴν ἡμέραν ἐκείνην=throughout that day; Polyaenus 6, 53 τρεῖς ἡμέρας; Arrian, Anab. 6, 2, 3; Lucian, Alex. 15 ἡμέρας=several days; Philo, Vi. Cont. 30 τὰς ἓξ ἡμέρας; JosAs 10:20 τὰς ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας) ὅλην τ. ἡμέραν the whole day long Ro 8:36 (Ps 43:23), 10:21 (Is 65:2). ἡμέραν μίαν for one day Ac 21:7 (Just., D. 12, 3). ἔμειναν οὐ πολλὰς ἡμέρας J 2:12; cp. 4:40; 11:6; Ac 9:19; 10:48; 16:12; 20:6c; 21:4, 10; Gal 1:18; Rv 11:3, 9. ἡμέραν ἐξ ἡμέρας day after day (Ps.-Euripides, Rhes. 445f, Henioch. 5, 13 Kock; Gen 39:10; Num 30:15; Is 58:2; Ps 95:2; Sir 5:7; En) 2 Pt 2:8; 2 Cl 11:2 (quot. of unknown orig.; s. also e below, end). Only rarely does the acc. answer the quest., when? (Antiphanes Com. [IV B.C.] Fgm. 280; Ps.-Lucian, Halc. 3 τρίτην ἡμ.) τὴν ἡμέραν τῆς πεντηκοστῆς on the Day of Pentecost Ac 20:16. Peculiar is the expr. τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτην σήμερον ἡμέραν προσδοκῶντες this is the fourteenth day you have been waiting Ac 27:33 (cp. X., An. 4, 5, 24 ἐνάτην ἡμέραν γεγαμημένην).—ἑπτάκις τῆς ἡμέρας seven times a day Lk 17:4.

ⓒ Used w. prep.: ἀπό w. gen. from … (on) Mt 22:46; J 11:53; Ac 20:18. ἀφʼ ἧς ἡμέρας (PRev 9, 1 [258 B.C.]; PsSol 18:11f; EpArist 24) Col 1:6, 9; Hm 4, 4, 3. ἀπὸ … ἄχρι … Phil 1:5. ἀπὸ … μέχρι … Ac 10:30. ἄχρι w. gen. until Mt 24:38b; Lk 1:20; 17:27; Ac 1:2; 2:29. ἄχρι ἡμερῶν πέντε five days later Ac 20:6b. μέχρι τῆς σήμερον (ἡμέρας) up to the present day (1 Esdr 8:74) Mt 28:15. ἕως τ. ἡμέρας Mt 27:64; Ac 1:22; Ro 11:8 (Dt 29:3; Just., D. 134, 5 ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμ.; for this Ath. 2, 1 εἰς … τὴν σήμερον ἡμ.). διʼ ἡμερῶν after (several) days Mk 2:1 (cp. Hdt. 6, 118, 3 διʼ ἐτέων εἴκοσι; Thu. 2, 94, 3; Pla., Hipp. Maj. 281a διὰ χρόνου=after a [long] time). διὰ τριῶν ἡμερῶν within three days (PPetr II, 4 [6], 8 διʼ ἡμερῶν ε´=in the course of 5 days) Mt 26:61; Mk 14:58. διʼ ἡμερῶν τεσσεράκοντα Ac 1:3 (s. διά A 2a). διὰ τ. ἡμέρας in the course of the day Lk 9:37 D εἰς τ. ἡμέραν for the day (PPetr III, 95 col. 2, 6 [III B.C.]) J 12:7; Rv 9:15; εἰς ἡμέρας μ´ 40 days long AcPl Ha 6, 11. ἐν τῇ ἡμ. in the daytime J 11:9b. ἐν μιᾷ τῶν ἡμερῶν one day Lk 5:17; 8:22; 20:1. ἐν on w. dat. sing. Mt 24:50; Lk 1:59; 13:31 v.l. (Just., D. 29, 3 ἐν ταύτῃ τῇ ἡμ.; 111, 3 ἐν ἡμ. τοῦ πάσχα); J 5:9; Hb 4:4 (cp. Gen 2:2); AcPl Ha 3, 9. In, within w. dat. pl. (Alexis Com. 246, 2 K. ἐν πένθʼ ἡμέραις; Philo, Somn. 2, 112; TestJob 30:4; JosAs 21:7 ἐν ταῖς ἑπτὰ ἡμέραις τοῦ γάμου) ἐν τρισὶν ἡμέραις (PTebt 14, 5 [114 B.C.]; Porphyr., Vi. Plot. 17 p. 111, 26 W.; TestJob 24:9; EpArist 24) Mt 27:40; Mk 15:29; J 2:19f.—ἐπί w. acc. over a period of ἐπὶ ἡμέρας πλείους over a period of many days (PTurin I, 2, 15 [116 B.C.] ἐφʼ ἱκανὰς ἡμ.; Jos., Ant. 4, 277) Ac 13:31; cp. 27:20; ἐπὶ πολλὰς ἡμ. (Jos., Ant. 18, 57) 16:18; cp. Hb 11:30. καθʼ ἡμέραν every day (Hyperid. 6, 23; 26; Polyb. 1, 57, 7; 4, 18, 2 al.; Diod S 1, 36, 7 and 8; 2, 47, 2 al.; SIG 656, 22; UPZ 42, 13 [162 B.C.]; PGiss 17, 1; Tob 10:7; Sus 8 and 12 Theod.; 1 Macc 8:15; EpArist 304; Jos., Bell. 2, 265, Ant. 20, 205; Ar. [POxy 1778, 27]; Just., D. 39, 2 al.) Mt 26:55; Mk 14:49 (‘by day’: AArgyle, ET 63, ’51/52, 354); Lk 16:19; 22:53; Ac 2:46f; 3:2; 16:5; 17:11; 19:9; 1 Cor 15:31; 2 Cor 11:28; Hb 7:27; 10:11. Also (w. optional art., s. B-D-F §160; Rob. 766) τὸ καθʼ ἡμ. (Aristoph., Equ. 1126; Pla.; Polyb. 4, 18, 2; POxy 1220, 4; TestJob 14:2; but simply καθʼ ἡμ. Ac 2:45 D) Lk 11:3; 19:47; Ac 17:11 v.l.; καθʼ ἑκάστην ἡμ. every day (X., Mem. 4, 2, 12, Equ. 5, 9; PTebt 412, 2; Mitt-Wilck. I/2, 327, 18; Ex 5:8; Esth 2:11; Job 1:4; Bel 4:6; PsSol 18:11; GrBar 8:4) Hb 3:13. κατὰ πᾶσαν ἡμ. w. same mng. (Jos., Ant. 6, 49) Ac 17:17. μεθʼ ἡμέρας ἕξ six days later (PSI 502, 16 [257 B.C.] μεθʼ ἡμέρας ιβ´; 436, 3 [Just., D. 27, 5 μετὰ μίαν ἡμ. al.]) Mt 17:1; cp. 26:2; 27:63; Mk 8:31; Lk 1:24; J 4:43; 20:26; Ac 1:5; 15:36; 24:1; 28:13; AcPl Ha 1, 33; 11, 8; AcPlCor 2:30. πρὸ ἓξ ἡμερῶν τοῦ πάσχα six days before the Passover J 12:1 (not a Latinism, since it is found as early as Hippocr. πρὸ τριῶν ἡμερῶν τῆς τελευτῆς [WSchulze, Graeca Latina 1901, 15; Rydbeck 64f]; cp. Plut., Symp. 8, 717d; Lucian, De Morte Peregr. 1; Aelian, HA 11, 19; mystery ins of Andania [SIG 736, 70 πρὸ ἁμερᾶν δέκα τῶν μυστηρίων]; PFay 118, 15; PHolm 4, 23; PGM 13, 26; 671; Am 1:1; 2 Macc 15:36; Jos., Ant. 15, 408; Just., D. 27, 5; s. WSchmid, D. Attizismus III 1893, 287f; IV 1897, 629; Mlt. 100f; B-D-F §213).—It is striking to find the nom. denoting time in the expression ἤδη ἡμέραι τρεῖς προσμένουσίν μοι Mt 15:32; Mk 8:2; cp. Lk 9:28 (s. B-D-F §144; Rob. 460).

ⓓ Of festive days: ἡ ἡμέρα τῶν σαββάτων (σάββατον 1bβ) or τοῦ σαββάτου (σάββ. 1a) Lk 4:16; 13:14b, 16; J 19:31; Ac 13:14 (Just., D. 27, 5). ἡ ἡμέρα or αἱ ἡμέραι τ. ἀζύμων Lk 22:7; Ac 12:3; 20:6. ἡ ἡμέρα τ. πεντηκοστῆς Ac 2:1; 20:16. μεγάλη ἡμέρα the great day (of atonement) PtK 2 p. 14, 29. In gen. of a Judean festival GJs 1:2; 2:2 (the author no longer has a clear understanding of the precise festival signified by the term; s. Amann and deStrycker on 1:2). ἡ κυριακὴ ἡμέρα the Lord’s Day, Sunday Rv 1:10 (cp. Just. A I, 67, 7 τὴν … τοῦ ἡλίου ἡμέραν). Festive days are spoken of in the foll. passages: ὸ̔ς μὲν κρίνει ἡμέραν παρʼ ἡμέραν, ὸ̔ς δὲ κρίνει πᾶσαν ἡμέραν one person considers one day better than another, another considers every day good Ro 14:5. φρονεῖν τ. ἡμέραν concern oneself w. (= observe) the day vs. 6. ἡμέρας παρατηρεῖσθαι observe days Gal 4:10.—Used w. gen. to denote what happens or is to be done on the day in question ἡμ. τοῦ ἁγνισμοῦ Ac 21:26. τ. ἐνταφιασμοῦ day of burial J 12:7. ἕως ἡμέρας ἀναδείξεως αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὸν Ἰσραήλ Lk 1:80 (s. ἀνάδειξις).

ⓔ OT terminology is reflected in the expr. fulfilling of the days (Ex 7:25; 1 Ch 17:11; Tob 10:1b; cp. מָלֵא) ἐπλήσθησαν αἱ ἡμ. τῆς λειτουργίας αὐτοῦ the days of his service came to an end Lk 1:23. ἐπλήσθησαν ἡμ. ὀκτὼ τοῦ περιτεμεῖν αὐτόν the eighth day, on which he was to be circumcised, had come 2:21; cp. vs. 22. S. ἐκπλήρωσις, συμπληρόω, συντελέω, τελέω, τελειόω. The Hebr. has also furnished the expr. ἡμέρᾳ καὶ ἡμέρᾳ day after day (Esth 3:4 יוֹם וָיוֹם=LXX καθʼ ἑκάστην ἡμέραν; יוֹם יוֹם Ps 68:20=LXX 67:20 ἡμέραν καθʼ ἡμέραν) 2 Cor 4:16; GJs 6:1.—ἡμέραν ἐξ ἡμέρας (rather oft. in the OT for various Hebr. expressions, but also in Henioch. Com. 5, 13 K.) day after day 2 Pt 2:8; prophetic quot. of unknown origin 2 Cl 11:2. ἡμέρᾳ ἀφʼ ἡμέρας GJs 12:3.

③ a day appointed for very special purposes, day (UPZ 66, 5 [153 B.C.] ἡ ἡμ.=the wedding day; ins in ÖJh 64, ’95, p. 74 of a commemorative day for the founder of Ephesus τῇ τοῦ Ἀνδρόκλου ἡμέρᾳ), e.g. of childbirth J 16:21 v.l.

ⓐ τακτῇ ἡμέρᾳ Ac 12:21. ἡμέραν τάξασθαι (Polyb. 18, 19, 1) 28:23. στῆσαι (Dionys. Hal. 6, 48) 17:31. ὁρίζειν (Polyb., Dionys. Hal.; Epict., Ench. 51, 1) Hb 4:7; Hv 2, 2, 5. Of the day of the census (s. Lk 2:1) αὕτη ἡ ἡμέρα κυρίου GJs 17:1. ἐν ἡμέρᾳ, ᾗ ἔμελλεν θηριομαχῖν ὁ Παῦλος AcPl Ha 3, 9.

ⓑ esp. of a day of judgment, fixed by a judge

α. ἀνθρωπίνη ἡμ. a day appointed by a human court 1 Cor 4:3 (cp. the ins on a coin amulet [II/III A.D.] where these words are transl. ‘human judgment’ by CBonner, HTR 43, ’50, 165–68). This expr. is formed on the basis of ἡμ. as designating

β. the day of God’s final judgment (s. ὥρα 3). ᾗ ἡμ. ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἀποκαλύπτεται the day on which the Human One (Son of Man) reveals himself Lk 17:30; ἡ τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμ. 2 Pt 3:12. ἡ ἡμέρα ἡ μεγάλη τοῦ θεοῦ τ. παντοκράτορος Rv 16:14. ἡμ. κυρίου (Jo 1:15; 2:1, 11; Is 13:6, 9 al.) occurring only once in the NT of the day of God, the Lord, in an OT quot. πρὶν ἐλθεῖν ἡμ. κυρίου τ. μεγάλην κ. ἐπιφανῆ Ac 2:20 (Jo 3:4; cp. JosAs 14:2). Otherw. Jesus Christ is the Lord of this day: 1 Cor 5:5; 1 Th 5:2 (P-ÉLangevin, Jesus Seigneur, ’67, 107–67; GHolland, SBLSP 24, ’85, 327–41); 2 Th 2:2; 2 Pt 3:10. He is oft. mentioned by name or otherw. clearly designated, e.g. as υἱὸς τ. ἀνθρώπου, Lk 17:24; 1 Cor 1:8; 2 Cor 1:14; Phil 1:6, 10; 2:16. ἡ ἐσχάτη ἡμ. the last day (of this age) (s. ἔσχατος 2b) J 6:39f, 44, 54; 11:24; 12:48; Hv 2, 2, 5. ἡμ. (τῆς) κρίσεως (Pr 6:34; Jdth 16:17; PsSol 15:12; En; GrBar 1:7; cp. TestLevi 3:2, 3; Just., D. 38, 2; Tat. 12, 4) Mt 10:15; 11:22, 24; 12:36; 2 Pt 2:9; 3:7; 1J 4:17; 2 Cl 17:6; B 19:10. ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ὄτε κρίνει ὁ θεὸς διὰ Χρ. Ἰ. the day on which … Ro 2:16 (RBultmann, TLZ 72, ’47, 200f considers this a gloss). ἡμ. ὀργῆς καὶ ἀποκαλύψεως δικαιοκρισίας τοῦ θεοῦ 2:5 (ἡμ. ὀργῆς as Zeph 1:15, 18; 2:3; Ezk 7:19 v.l.; cp. Rv 6:17). ἡ ἡμ. ἡ μεγάλη (Jer 37:7; Mal 3:22) Rv 6:17; 16:14. ἡμ. μεγάλη καὶ θαυμαστή B 6:4. ἡμ. ἀπολυτρώσεως Eph 4:30. ἡμ. ἐπισκοπῆς (s. ἐπισκοπή 1a and b) 1 Pt 2:12. ἡμ. ἀνταποδόσεως B 14:9 (Is 61:2); ἐκείνη ἡ ἡμ. (Zeph 1:15; Am 9:11; Zech 12:3f; Is 10:20; Jer 37:7f) Mt 7:22; Lk 6:23; 10:12; 21:34; 2 Th 1:10; 2 Ti 1:12, 18; 4:8; AcPlCor 2:32. Perh. ἡμ. σφαγῆς (cp. Jer 12:3; En 16:1) Js 5:5 belongs here (s. σφαγή). Abs. ἡμ. 1 Cor 3:13; Hb 10:25; B 7:9; 21:3; cp. 1 Th 5:4.—ἡμέρα αἰῶνος (Sir 18:10) day of eternity 2 Pt 3:18 is also eschatological in mng.; it means the day on which eternity commences, or the day which itself constitutes eternity. In the latter case the pass. would belong to the next section.

④ an extended period, time (like יוֹם, but not unknown among the Greeks: Soph., Aj. 131; 623; Eur., Ion 720; Aristot., Rhet. 2, 13, 1389b, 33f; PAmh 30, 43 [II B.C.] ἡμέρας αἰτοῦσα=‘she asked for time’, or ‘a respite’)

ⓐ in sg. ἐν τ. ἡμέρᾳ τ. πονηρᾷ when the times are evil (unless the ref. is to the final judgment) Eph 6:13. ἐν ἡμ. σωτηρίας of the salutary time that has come for Christians 2 Cor 6:2 (Is 49:8). Of the time of the rescue fr. Egypt ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἐπιλαβομένου μου τ. χειρὸς αὐτῶν at the time when I took them by the hand Hb 8:9 (Jer 38:32; on the constr. cp. Bar 2:28 and B-D-F §423, 5; Rob. 514). ἐν ἐκείνῃ τ. ἡμέρᾳ at that time Mk 2:20b; J 14:20; 16:23, 26. τ. ἡμέραν τ. ἐμήν my time (era) 8:56. ἐν τῇ ἐσχάτῃ αὐτοῦ ἡμέρᾳ in his (Abraham’s) last days GJs 1:3.

ⓑ chiefly in the pl. αἱ ἡμέραι of time of life or activity, w. gen. of pers. (1 Km 17:12 A; 2 Km 21:1; 3 Km 10:21; Esth 1:1s; Sir 46:7; 47:1; ἡμέραι αὐτοῦ En 12:2; ἡμέραι ἃς ἦτε 102:5 and oft.) ἐν ἡμέραις Ἡρῴδου Mt 2:1; Lk 1:5; Νῶε 17:26a; 1 Pt 3:20; Ἠλίου Lk 4:25. ἐν ταῖς ἡμ. τοῦ υἱοῦ τ. ἀνθρώπου 17:26b; cp. Mt 23:30. ἀπὸ τ. ἡμερῶν Ἰωάννου Mt 11:12. ἕως τ. ἡμερῶν Δαυίδ Ac 7:45; cp. 13:41 (Hab 1:5). W. gen. of thing ἡμέραι ἐκδικήσεως time of vengeance Lk 21:22; τ. ἀπογραφῆς Ac 5:37; cp. Rv 10:7; 11:6. ἐν τ. ἡμέραις τῆς σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ in the time of his appearance in the flesh Hb 5:7.—ἡμέραι πονηραί corrupt times Eph 5:16; cp. B 2:1; 8:6. ἡμ. ἀγαθαί happy times (Artem. 4, 8) 1 Pt 3:10 (Ps 33:13). ἀφʼ ἡμερῶν ἀρχαίων Ac 15:7; αἱ πρότερον ἡμ. Hb 10:32. πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας all the time, always Mt 28:20 (cp. Dt 4:40; 5:29; PsSol 14:4). νῦν τ. ἡμέραις at the present time Hs 9, 20, 4. ἐν (ταῖς) ἐσχάταις ἡμ. Ac 2:17; 2 Ti 3:1; Js 5:3; B 4:9; D 16:3. ἐπʼ ἐσχάτου τ. ἡμερῶν τούτων Hb 1:2; cp. 2 Pt 3:3; GJs 7:2. ἐν τ. ἡμέραις ἐκείναις at that time Mt 3:1; 24:19, 38; Mk 1:9; Lk 2:1; 4:2b; 5:35b. ἐν τ. ἡμ. ταύταις at this time Lk 1:39; 6:12; Ac 1:15. εἰς ταύτας τ. ἡμέρας w. respect to our time (opp. πάλαι) Hs 9, 26, 6. πρὸ τούτων τ. ἡμερῶν before this (time) Ac 5:36; 21:38; πρὸς ὀλίγας ἡμ. for a short time Hb 12:10; ἐλεύσονται ἡμ. there will come a time: w. ὅταν foll. Mt 9:15; Mk 2:20a; Lk 5:35a; w. ὅτε foll. Lk 17:22 (Just., D. 40, 2). ἥξουσιν ἡμέραι ἐπί σε καί a time is coming upon you when Lk 19:43. ἡμ. ἔρχονται καί Hb 8:8 (Jer 38:31). ἐλεύσονται ἡμ. ἐν αἷς Lk 21:6; 23:29.—Esp. of time of life πάσαις τ. ἡμέραις ἡμῶν for our entire lives Lk 1:75. πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς αὐτοῦ all his life GJs 4:1 (cp. En 103:5; TestJob 46:9). μήτε ἀρχὴν ἡμερῶν μήτε ζωῆς τέλος ἔχων without either beginning or end of life Hb 7:3. προβεβηκὼς ἐν ταῖς ἡμ. advanced in years Lk 1:7, 18; cp. 2:36 (s. Gen 18:11; 24:1; Josh 13:1; 23:1; 3 Km 1:1; προβαίνω 2).—B. 991. DELG s.v. ἦμαρ. EDNT. M-M. TW. Sv.