officials of the

Grammatical information: m.

Meaning: Orig. name of the Propontis and the Dardanelles with a part of the sea which opens to the Aegaean and the Gulf of Melas; since the 5th cent. often limited to the straits of the Dardanelle. (Il.). Cf. V. Burr Nostrum mare (Würzb. Stud. z. Altertumswiss. 4 [1932]) 11ff.

Compounds: Comp. Έλλησποντο-φύλακες name of the custom officials on the Hellespont;

Derivatives: Έλλησπόντιος, - ποντιακός, f. - ποντιάς `hellespontic', Έλλησποντίας, Ion. - ίης ( ἄνεμος) name of the Northeastwind (cf. Chantr. Form. 95), Ion.-Att.

Origin: XX [etym. unknown]

Etymology: The traitional explanation as "Sea of Helle" is defended by Kretschmer Glotta 27, 29 against Burr (s. above). The old etymology seems most improbable to me.

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Grammatical information: adj.

Meaning: `old' as opppsed to`new', only in expressions about fruits and officials of the past year, also of the last dayof the preceding month, indicating the new period (Hes.; ἔνη the first day of the month, with Ion. psilosis?); in the last sense mostly ἕνη καὶ νέα (sc. σελήνη; Att. since Solon).

Origin: IE [Indo-European] [907] * senos `old'

Etymology: The general IE word for `old', *sénos, is still found in most branches, as opposed to `new': Gr. ἕνος, Arm. hin, Skt. sána-, Lith. sẽnas, Celt., e. g. OIr. sen; here also OWNo. sina f. `withered grass of last year' (cf. ἕνος βλαστός etc.). Some lnguages use it also as opposed to `young', so e.g. Celtic and Lithuanian, but also Germ., e. g. Goth. sineigs `πρεσβύτης', and also Iranian, Av. hana- `old, grey'; in Skt. sána- is not so used. this meaning became dominant in Italic, Lat. senex, Osc. senateís ` senātūs'. In the East *sénos in this meaning was replaced by the expressive group of von γέρων (s. v.). - Cf. Porzig Sprachgeschichte und Wortbedeutung 343ff..

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προκάθημαι (Hdt. et al.; ins)

① to be in an office of leadership, preside (over), lead (Pla. et al.; Polyb. 12, 16, 6; Plut., Rom. 14, 5; Cass. Dio 49, 40 et al.; SIG 694, 50f [129 B.C.] προκαθημέναις θεαῖς τ. πόλεως; UPZ 110, 165 [164 B.C.]; 1 Esdr). lit. of the ἐπίσκοπος IMg 6:1. Of other church officials beside the overseer/bishop οἱ προκαθήμενοι the leaders 6:2. Of the Roman congregation προκάθηται ἐν τόπῳ (s. τύπος, end) χωρίου Ῥωμαίων it presides in the land of the Romans IRo ins a (s. on this Lghtf. and Hdb. ad loc.; Harnack, SBBerlAk 1896, 111–31; JChapman, Rev. Bénéd. 13, 1896, 385ff; FFunk, Kirchengeschichtl. Abhandlungen u. Untersuchungen I 1897, 1–23; HAchelis, Das Christentum in den ersten drei Jahrhunderten 1912, I 210ff).

② to exercise preeminence, take the lead fig. ext. of 1: of the Roman church προκαθημένη τῆς ἀγάπης preeminent in love IRo ins b (s. AJülicher, GGA 1898, 4).

στρατηγός, οῦ, ὁ (στρατός ‘army, host’, ἄγω; Aeschyl., Hdt.+; ins, pap, LXX; EpArist 280; Philo, Joseph.; Mel., P. 105, 818; loanw. in rabb. Orig. ‘general’).

① the highest official in a Gr-Rom. city, praetor, chief magistrate pl. of the highest officials of the Roman colony of Philippi. This title was not quite officially correct, since these men were properly termed ‘duoviri’, but it occurs several times in ins as a popular designation for them (JWeiss, RE XII 1903, p. 39, 39f.—στρατηγοί governed Pergamum [Jos., Ant. 14, 247] and Sardis [14, 259]) Ac 16:20, 22, 35f, 38.—Mommsen, Röm. Geschichte V 274ff; JMarquardt, Staatsverw. I² 1881, 316ff; Ramsay, JTS 1, 1900, 114–16; FHaverfield, ibid. 434f; Zahn, Einl.³ I 378ff; AWikenhauser, Die AG 1921, 346f. Mason 86f.

② ὁ στρατηγὸς τοῦ ἱεροῦ=commander responsible for the temple in Jerusalem, captain of the temple Ac 4:1; 5:24. Also simply ὁ στρατηγός (Jos., Bell. 6, 294, Ant. 20, 131) vs. 26. In the pl. (LXX; s. Schürer II 278, 7) στρατηγοὶ (τοῦ ἱεροῦ) Lk 22:4, 52.—Schürer II 277f and s. EBriess, WienerStud 34, 1912, 356f; Kl. Pauly V 388–91 (CIG 3151 στ. ἐπὶ τοῦ ἱεροῦ).—B. 1381f. DELG s.v. στρατό. M-M. TW.

Grammatical information: m.pl.

Meaning: `overseer', designation of Spartan officials, overseeing the male youth (Laconia, Messenia [II^a], Paus.).

Other forms: also βιδεοι; Pausanias' βιδαιοι is wrong

Origin: IE [Indo-European] [1125] * ueid- `see'

Etymology: From *Ϝιδυσ-ι̯οι, i. e. the zero grade of the perf. ptc. εἰδώς; cf. Hom. Ϝιδυῖα (s. οἶδα). Cf. the Myc. name widowoijo. Further Att. ἰδῦ(ῖ)οι συνίστορες, μάρτυρες (Solon ap. Ar. fr. 222); and ἰδυῖοι... οἱ τὰς φονικὰς δίκας κρὶνοντες H. - The form with - ε- is not well explained, s. Bechtel, Gr. Dial. 2, 355ff. On βι-, βει- cf. Bourguet, Laconien 97 n. 3. A parallel formation was seen in βέβαιος, hardly correctly.

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Grammatical information: m.pl.

Meaning: `overseer', designation of Spartan officials, overseeing the male youth (Laconia, Messenia [II^a], Paus.).

Other forms: also βιδεοι; Pausanias' βιδαιοι is wrong

Origin: IE [Indo-European] [1125] * ueid- `see'

Etymology: From *Ϝιδυσ-ι̯οι, i. e. the zero grade of the perf. ptc. εἰδώς; cf. Hom. Ϝιδυῖα (s. οἶδα). Cf. the Myc. name widowoijo. Further Att. ἰδῦ(ῖ)οι συνίστορες, μάρτυρες (Solon ap. Ar. fr. 222); and ἰδυῖοι... οἱ τὰς φονικὰς δίκας κρὶνοντες H. - The form with - ε- is not well explained, s. Bechtel, Gr. Dial. 2, 355ff. On βι-, βει- cf. Bourguet, Laconien 97 n. 3. A parallel formation was seen in βέβαιος, hardly correctly.

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πρῠτᾰν-ις, also [full] πρότανις (q.v.), gen. εως,

A ruler, lord,

π. κύριε.. ἀγυιᾶν καὶ στρατοῦ Pi.P.2.58

, cf. B.18.43; στεροπᾶν κεραυνῶν τε π., of Zeus, Pi.P.6.24; ἵππων, of Poseidon, Stesich.49; ἀγορῆς π., of Apollo, Simon.164; μακάρων π., of Zeus, A.Pr. 170 (anap.);

Κρόνιε πρύτανι Φρύγιε E.Tr. 1288

(lyr.); π. συμποσίων, i.e. Dionysus, Ion Lyr.1.14; οἶνον.. ἀνθρώπων π. Id.9.3; δυσαμεριᾶν π., of the Sphinx, A.Fr. 236;

Ἡρόδοτον.. ἱστορίης πρύτανιν App.Anth.2.21

; πλούτου καὶ σοφίης π., of Periander, Epigr. ap. D.L.1.97; π. ὕμνων (sc. ἡ ᾠδή) Lyr.Adesp.80; μούσης ὑψινόου π. Epigr.Gr.440.10 ([place name] Batanaea);

τέχνας ὁ π. πέλεκυς AP6.205

(Leon.); πρυτάνεις κόσμου, of the stars, LXXWi.13.2; ὅρκος.. ἀληθείας γενόμενος ἡμῖν π. Hierocl. in CA2p.422M.

II at Athens, member of the tribe presiding in βουλή or

ἐκκλησία, τοὺς πρυτάνεις τοὺς τότε πρυτανεύσαντας And.1.46

, etc.; in other states,

οἱ π. οἱ πρυτανεύοντες τὸν μῆνα SIG1015.19

(Halic.), cf. IG12(3).169 ([place name] Astypalaea); at Calynda in Caria, PCair.Zen. 341 (a).23 (iii B.C.).

2 πρυτάνεις τῶν ναυκράρων, officials of the ναύκραροι (q.v.).

3 in other Greek states title of a chief magistrate, IG12(1).53,al. ([place name] Rhodes); in Lycia, Ephipp.5.19 (anap.); at Miletus, Arist.Pol. 1305a18; as title of a chief priest, ib. 1322b29: rarely of a woman, IGRom.4.1325 ([place name] Phocaea), CIG 3953d ([place name] Trapezopolis).

b pl., title of a board of magistrates, SIG 581.91 (Hierapytna. ii B.C.), 976.3 (Samos, ii B.C.), etc.

c president of a council, POxy.77.2 (iii A.D.), etc.

τῑμουχ-ος (properisp.), ον, ([etym.] ἔχω)

A having honour, h.Ven.31, h.Cer. 268 (in form [full] τιμάοχος).

II the name of a magistrate in certain Greek cities, as Massilia, Str.4.1.5; Naucratis, Herm.Hist.2; Teos, SIG578.60 (ii B.C.); Lebedos, prob. in BCH52.165; Messene, Ael.Fr.39; applied to a woman, IG12(8).526 ([place name] Thasos): prob. title of officials of the Λλήνιον at Memphis, Wilcken Chr. 30 i 16 (iii/ii B.C.):—[dialect] Aeol. [full] τιμῶχος Schwyzer 631 A 2 (Methymna (found at Miletus), ii B.C.).

φωκάρχ-ης, ου, ὁ,

A one of the chief officials of the Phocian city league, ib.97, 101 (ibid.).

ἔτειος, α, ον (ος, ον E.Fr. 330 (s.v.l.)), ([etym.] ἔτος)

A yearly, annual,

ἄεθλα Pi.I.4(3).67

;

δασμός E.Rh. 435

; of the year,

ὧραι Thphr.Od. 68

;

μεταλλαγαί E.Fr. 330

(prob.) ; ἐτεία, ἡ, yearly board of officials or the term of such a board, SIG559.45 (Magn. Mae., iii B. C., but Arc.): neut. pl. ἔτεια, as Adv., Lyc.721.

2 lasting a year,

φρουρά A.Ag.2

.

II of one year, yearling, X.Cyn.5.14 ;

βρέφος Poll.2.8

.

νεότης, [dialect] Dor. [suff] νέο-τας, ητος, ἡ, ([etym.] νέος)

A youth,

ἐκ νεότητος.. ἐς γῆρας Il. 14.86

, cf. Ev.Marc.10.20, etc.;

ἀτέμβονται νεότητος Il.23.445

; ἐρατὴν γὰρ ἀπωλέσαμεν νεότητα, i.e. we died young, Simon.89, cf. E.HF 637 (lyr.), Fr. 149; ἐν νεότατι, ἐπὶ νεότητος, in one's youth, Sapph.Supp. 12.3, Ar.V. 1199, cf. Ach. 214: in pl.,

αἱ ν. ἄφρονες AP9.359

(Posidipp. or Pl.Com. or Crates); αἱ ν. ῥωμαλέαι ib. 360 (Metrod.).

2 youthful spirit, impetuosity, Hdt.7.13: in bad sense, youthful folly, insolence,

ἀκολασίᾳ καὶ ν. Pl.Ap. 26e

;

ν. καὶ ἄνοια And.2.7

.

II collective, = νεολαία, body of youth, esp. of military or athletic age, Pi.I.8(7).75, Hdt.4.3, 9.12, Th.2.8, 20, etc.

III in Crete, [full] νεότας, ἁ, acc. νεότα, gen. νεότας, board of officials representing the νέοι (cf.

νέος 1.1

), GDI5012.6, SIG525.9 (Gortyn, iii B.C.).

ὑπόστολοι, οἱ, officials of the Serapeum at Demetrias in Thessaly,

A

τὸ κοινὸν τῶν ὑ. IG9(2).1107

, cf.

Ἀρχ.Δελτ. 1.148

([place name] Eretria).

παρακαλέω impf. παρεκάλουν; fut. παρακαλέσω LXX; 1 aor. παρεκάλεσα. Pass.: 1 fut. παρακληθήσομαι; 1 aor. παρεκλήθην; pf. παρακέκλημαι (Aeschyl., Hdt.+).

① to ask to come and be present where the speaker is, call to one’s side

ⓐ τινά w. inf. foll., to indicate the purpose of the call; so perh. παρεκάλεσα ὑμᾶς ἰδεῖν I have summoned you to see you Ac 28:20 (but s. 3 below).

ⓑ invite τινά someone w. inf. foll. (this can be supplied fr. context) παρεκάλει αὐτὸν εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὸν οἶκον Lk 8:41. παρεκάλει αὐτόν (i.e. εἰσελθεῖν) 15:28 (but s. 5 below). παρεκάλεσεν τὸν Φίλιππον καθίσαι Ac 8:31 (cp. Jos., Ant. 12, 172). The content of the invitation follows in direct discourse 9:38; introduced by λέγουσα 16:15. Cp. ἀνὴρ Μακεδών τις ἦν παρακαλῶν αὐτὸν καὶ λέγων … βοήθησον ἡμῖν vs. 9. Pass., w. inf. foll. παρακληθέντες δειπνῆσαι when you are invited to dine Mt 20:28 D.—Some of the passages in 5 may fit here.

ⓒ summon to one’s aid, call upon for help (Hdt. et al.) so esp. of God, upon whom one calls in time of need (Thu. 1, 118, 3; Pla., Leg. 2, 666b; 11 p. 917b; X., Hell. 2, 4, 17; Epict. 3, 21, 12; Jos., Ant. 6, 25; SIG 1170, 30f in an account of a healing: περὶ τούτου παρεκάλεσα τὸν θεόν. POxy 1070, 8f [III A.D.] τὸν μέγαν θεὸν Σάραπιν παρακαλῶ περὶ τῆς ζωῆς ὑμῶν; cp. the restoration in the pap letter of Zoilus, servant of Sarapis, in Dssm., LO 121, 11 [LAE 153, 4; the letter, ln. 8: ἐμοῦ δ̣ὲ̣ π[α]ρ̣[ακαλέσαντος τὸν θεὸν Σάραπιν]) τινά: τὸν πατέρα μου Mt 26:53. ὑπὲρ τούτου τὸν κύριον παρεκάλεσα, ἵνα 2 Cor 12:8. θεὸς … παρακαλούμενος ἀκούει God heeds, when called upon AcPt Ox 849, 27.

② to urge strongly, appeal to, urge, exhort, encourage (X. et al.; LXX) w. acc. of pers. Ac 16:40; 2 Cor 10:1; 1 Th 2:12 (but s. 5 below); 5:11; Hb 3:13; ITr 12:2; IRo 7:2. The acc. is found in the immediate context Ac 20:1; 1 Ti 5:1 (but s. 5 below). Pass. 1 Cor 14:31. τινὰ λόγῳ πολλῷ someone with many words Ac 20:2; also τινὰ διὰ λόγου πολλοῦ 15:32. τινὰ διʼ ὀλίγων γραμμάτων IPol 7:3. W. acc. of pers. and direct discourse 1 Cor 4:16; 1 Th 5:14; Hb 13:22; 1 Pt 5:1; direct discourse introduced by λέγων (B-D-F §420) Ac 2:40. W. acc. of pers. and inf. foll. (SIG 695, 43 [129 B.C.]) 11:23; 27:33f; Ro 12:1 (EKäsemann, Gottesdienst im Alltag, ’60 [Beih. ZNW], 165–71); 15:30; 16:17; 2 Cor 2:8; 6:1; Eph 4:1; Phil 4:2; Tit 2:6; 1 Pt 2:11 (cp. Phlegon: 257 Fgm. 36 II, 4 Jac. p. 1172, 19; ELohse, ZNW 45, ’54, 68–89); Jd 3 (the acc. is found in the immediate context, as Philo, Poster Cai. 138); ITr 6:1; IPhld 8:2; IPol 1:2a; Pol 9:1 al. W. inf. (acc. in the context), continued by καὶ ὅτι (s. B-D-F §397, 6; Rob. 1047) Ac 14:22. W. acc. of pers. and ἵνα foll. (PRyl 229, 17 [38 A.D.]; EpArist 318; Jos., Ant. 14, 168.—B-D-F §392, 1c; Rob. 1046) 1 Cor 1:10; 16:15f; 2 Cor 8:6; 1 Th 4:1 (π. w. ἐρωτάω as BGU 1141, 10; POxy 294, 29) 2 Th 3:12; Hm 12, 3, 2; AcPl Ha 7, 32. The ἵνα-clause expresses not the content of the appeal, as in the pass. referred to above, but its aim: πάντας παρακαλεῖν, ἵνα σῴζωνται IPol 1:2b.—Without acc. of pers.: w. direct discourse foll. ὡς τοῦ θεοῦ παρακαλοῦντος διʼ ἡμῶν• δεόμεθα since God as it were makes his appeal through us: ‘We beg’ 2 Cor 5:20. Paul serves as God’s agent (like a ‘legate of Caesar’ Dssm. LO 320 [LAE 374]) and functions as mediator (like Alexander the Great, Plut., Mor. 329c διαλλακτής; cp. also the mediatorial role of a judge IPriene 53, esp. 10f; s. also CBreytenbach, Versöhnung ’89, 64–66). W. inf. foll. 1 Ti 2:1. Abs. Ro 12:8 (mng. 4 is also poss.); 2 Ti 4:2; Tit 1:9; Hb 10:25; 1 Pt 5:12 (w. ἐπιμαρτυρεῖν); B 19:10.—W. acc. of thing impress upon someone, urge, exhort πολλὰ ἕτερα Lk 3:18. ταῦτα δίδασκε καὶ παρακάλει 1 Ti 6:2. ταῦτα λάλει καὶ παρακάλει καὶ ἔλεγχε Tit 2:15. In the case of several of the passages dealt with in this section, it is poss. that they could as well be classed under

③ to make a strong request for someth., request, implore, entreat (H. Gk.: Polyb., Diod S, Epict., Plut., ins, pap, LXX, EpArist, Philo; Jos., Ant. 6, 143; 11, 338) w. acc. of pers. Mt 8:5; 18:32; Mk 1:40; 2 Cor 12:18. πολλά implore urgently (4 Macc 10:1) Mk 5:23. τινὰ περί τινος someone concerning someone or for someone Phlm 10 (for the constr. w. περί cp. POxy 1070, 8). Acc. w. direct discourse foll. (s. BGU 846, 10 παρακαλῶ σαι [= σε], μήτηρ• διαλλάγηθί μοι; PGiss 12, 4; ParJer 1:4 al.), introduced w. λέγων: Mt 8:31; 18:29; Mk 5:12; Lk 7:4 (v.l. ἠρώτων). W. acc. of pers. and inf. foll. (PTebt 12, 21 [II B.C.]; 1 Macc 9:35; Jos., Ant. 6, 25) Mk 5:17; cp. Ac 19:31. Pass. Ac 28:14. W. acc. of pers. (easily supplied fr. the context, if not expressed) and ὅπως foll. (Plut., Demetr. 907 [38, 11]; SIG 563, 4; 577, 44f [200/199 B.C.]; UPZ 109, 9 [98 B.C.]; PFlor 303, 3; 4 Macc 4:11; Jos., Ant. 13, 76) Mt 8:34 (v.l. ἵνα); Ac 25:2; IEph 3:2. W. acc. of pers. and ἵνα foll. (Epict. 2, 7, 11; PRyl 229, 17; EpArist 318.—B-D-F §392, 1c; Rob. 1046) Mt 14:36; Mk 5:18; 6:56; 7:32; 8:22; Lk 8:31f; 2 Cor 9:5. πολλά τινα, ἵνα beg someone earnestly to (cp. TestNapht 9:1) Mk 5:10; 1 Cor 16:12. W. acc. of pers. and μή w. subj. foll. IRo 4:1. W. acc. and inf. foll. Ac 24:4; pass. 13:42 (Just., D. 58, 1). Foll. by subst. inf. w. acc. (B-D-F §400, 7; 409, 5; Rob. 1068; 1085) 21:12. παρεκάλεσα ὑμᾶς ἰδεῖν I have requested to be permitted to see you 28:20 (but s. 1a above). Abs., but in such a way that the acc. is easily restored fr. the context Phlm 9 (ParJer 9:4; Just., D. 46, 2; 74, 2 [always παρακαλῶ ‘please’]; cp. New Docs 8 p. 24 ln. 7 [I B.C.]).

④ to instill someone with courage or cheer, comfort, encourage, cheer up (Plut., Otho 1074 [16, 2]; Gen 37:35; Ps 118:50; Job 4:3) w. acc. of pers. (Sir 48:24; Jos., Bell. 1, 667; TestReub 4:4) 2 Cor 1:4b; 7:6a; 1 Cl 59:4; B 14:9 (Is 61:2); Hm 8:10. παρακαλεῖν τινα ἔν τινι comfort someone with someth. 2 Cor 7:6b. π. τινα ἐπί τινι comfort someone w. regard to someth. 1:4a. π. τινα ὑπέρ τινος encourage someone in someth. 1 Th 3:2. παρακαλεῖτε ἀλλήλους ἐν τοῖς λόγοις τούτοις comfort one another w. these words 4:18.—Pass. be comforted, receive comfort through words, or a favorable change in the situation Mt 5:4; Lk 16:25; Ac 20:12; 2 Cor 1:6; 7:13; 13:11; let oneself be comforted Mt 2:18 (Jer 38:15 v.l.). παρεκλήθημεν ἐφʼ ὑμῖν we have been comforted concerning you 1 Th 3:7. ἐν τῇ παρακλήσει ᾗ παρεκλήθη ἐφʼ ὑμῖν 2 Cor 7:7. διά τῆς παρακλήσεως, ἧς (on attraction, for ᾗ, s. B-D-F §294, 2; Rob. 716) παρακαλούμεθα αὐτοί by the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted 1:4c.—W. acc. of thing τὰς καρδίας Eph 6:22; Col 4:8; 2 Th 2:17; pass. Col 2:2.—Abs. 2 Cor 2:7; Ro 12:8 (but s. 2 above). παρακαλεῖν ἐν τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ encourage (others) with the teaching Tit 1:9.—ἐλθόντες παραεκάλεσαν αὐτούς (the officials) came and reassured them Ac 16:39 (s. 5 below).

⑤ In several places παρ. appears to mean simply treat someone in an inviting or congenial manner, someth. like our ‘be open to the other, have an open door’: invite in, conciliate, be friendly to or speak to in a friendly manner (cp. 2 Macc 13:23; Ar. 15, 5 [χριστιανοὶ] τοὺς ἀδικοῦντας αὐτοὺς παρακαλοῦσιν) Lk 15:28 (but s. 1b: the father tries repeatedly [impf.] to get the son to join the party); Ac 16:39 (the officials are conciliatory, but ‘apologize to’ may be overinterpretation; s. 4); 1 Cor 4:13 (somewhat like our ‘keep the door open’); 1 Th 2:12; 1 Ti 5:1. These last three pass. may also fit in 1b.—CBjerkelund, Parakalō ’67.—M-M. EDNT. TW.

πράκτωρ, ορος, ὁ (Aeschyl. et al.; Is 3:12) a t.t. designating certain officials, esp. tax-collectors and other finance officials (Antiphon et al.; ins, pap [Dssm., B 152=BS 154; BGU 530, 36; O. Wilck. 1599, II A.D.]. Also oft. Sb [word-list sect. 8 p. 339]). In Lk 12:58ab, the only place where it occurs in our lit., the word refers to a court functionary who is under a judge’s orders, someth. like a bailiff or constable, who is in charge of a debtor’s prison (πρακτόρειον: OGI 669, 15; 17. In UPZ 118, 15; 24 πρ. is the constable; it is his duty, after sentence is passed, to collect [by force, if necessary] debts, under orders fr. the judge. The τοῦ κριτηρίου ὑπηρέτης ‘servant of the court’ ln. 18 is differentiated fr. him).—DELG s.v. πράσσω. M-M. Spicq.

κράτιστος, η, ον (Hom. et al.; IBM III/2, 482A, 6 et al.; pap, LXX, EpArist, Philo, Joseph. Isolated superl. of κρατύς ‘strong, mighty’) strongly affirmative honorary form of address, most noble, most excellent, used in address of pers. of varied social status. Of the governor of Judea (on formula of address to officials, s. Magie 31; 112; Hahn 259; OSeeck in Pauly-W. V 2006f; OHirschfeld, Kleine Schriften 1913, 651, 5; 654; Wilcken, Her. 20, 1885, 469ff; WSchubart, Einf. in d. Papyruskunde 1918, 259. Cp. PHerrmann, Inschriften von Sardeis: Chiron 23, ’93, 236 n. 13.—Jos., Ant. 20, 12; whether the Lat. rendering ‘vir egregius’ was applied in the first cent. to highly placed officials cannot be determined with certainty) Ac 23:26; 24:3; 26:25. In a form of polite address with no official connotation (Theophr., Char. 5; Dionys. Hal., De Orat. Ant. 1 ὦ κράτιστε Ἀμμαῖε; Jos., Vi. 430 κράτιστε ἀνδρῶν Ἐπαφρόδιτε [a freedman of Domitian, to whom Joseph. dedicated his Antiquities and his books against Apion]; likew. C. Ap. 1, 1 [but 2, 1 τιμιώτατέ μοι Ἐ.; 2, 296 simply his name]. κ. is also found in dedications Diosc., Mat. Med. I 3, 1f; Hermog., Inv. 3 p. 126, 2f; Artem. 236, 2f P.; Galen X 78; XIV 295; XIX 8 Kühn.—B-D-F §60, 2) Lk 1:3; Dg 1:1. S. Zahn, Einl. II³ 340; 365; 390, Ev. des Lk.^{3, 4} 1920, 56f; Cadbury, Making of Luke-Acts 314f; LAlexander, The Preface to Luke’s Gospel ’93 132f; 188–90 (the social status of Luke’s addressee remains undetermined).—M-M.

πολύς, πολλή, πολύ, gen. πολλοῦ, ῆς, οῦ (Hom.+; ins, pap, LXX, pseudepigr., Philo, Joseph., apolog.) ‘much’.—Comparative πλείων, πλεῖον (18 times in the NT, 4 times in the Apost. Fathers [including Hv 3, 6, 4; Hs 8, 1, 16] and Ath. 12, 3) or πλέον (Lk 3:13 and Ac 15:28 μηδὲν πλέον; otherwise, πλέον in the NT only J 21:15; 14 times in the Apost. Fathers [incl. μηδὲν πλέον Hs 1, 1, 6]; Ar. twice; Just. 6 times; Tat. once; Ath. 7 times), ονος; pl. πλείονες, and acc. πλείονας contracted πλείους, neut. πλείονα and πλείω (the latter Mt 26:53 [πλεῖον, πλείου vv.ll.]; B-D-F §30, 2; Mlt-H. 82; Thackeray p. 81f; Mayser p. 68f) ‘more’ (Hom.+; ins, pap, LXX; TestAbr B 7 p. 111, 27=Stone p. 70 [πλείον]; TestJob 35:2; TestGad 7:2 [πλεῖον]; AscIs 3:8; [πλέον]; EpArist; apolog. exc. Mel.).—Superlative πλεῖστος, η, ον ‘most’ (Hom.+).

① pert. to being a large number, many, a great number of

ⓐ positive πολύς, πολλή, πολύ

α. adj., preceding or following a noun (or ptc. or adj. used as a noun) in the pl. many, numerous δυνάμεις πολλαί many mighty deeds Mt 7:22b. δαιμονιζόμενοι πολλοί 8:16. Cp. vs. 30; 9:10; 13:17; 24:11; 27:52, 55; Mk 2:15a; 6:13; 12:41; Lk 4:25, 27; 7:21b; 10:24; J 10:32; 14:2; Ac 1:3; 2:43; 8:7b; 14:22; Ro 4:17f (Gen 17:5); 8:29; 12:4; 1 Cor 8:5ab; 11:30; 12:12a, 20; 1 Ti 6:12; 2 Ti 2:2; Hb 2:10; 1J 4:1; 2J 7; Rv 5:11; 9:9; 10:11; 1 Cl 55:3ab. ἔτη πολλά many years: Lk 12:19b (εἰς ἔτη π.); Ac 24:10 (ἐκ π. ἐτῶν); Ro 15:23 (ἀπὸ π. [v.l. ἱκανῶν] ἐτῶν).—αἱ ἁμαρτίαι αἱ πολλαί Lk 7:47a. αἱ εὐεργεσίαι αἱ π. 1 Cl 21:1.—πολλὰ καὶ βαρέα αἰτιώματα many serious charges Ac 25:7 (cp. Ps.-Pla., Sisyph. 1, 387a πολλά τε καὶ καλὰ πράγματα; B-D-F §442, 11; Rob. 655). πολλὰ καὶ ἄλλα σημεῖα J 20:30 (on the form X., Hell. 5, 4, 1 πολλὰ μὲν οὖν … καὶ ἄλλα λέγειν καὶ Ἑλληνικὰ καὶ βαρβαρικά; Dionys. Hal. 2, 67, 5; Ps.-Demetr. 142 πολλὰς κ. ἄλλας χάριτας; Jos., Ant. 3, 318; Tat. 38, 1. On the subject-matter Bultmann 540, 3; also Porphyr., Vi. Pyth. 28 after a miracle-story: μυρία δʼ ἕτερα θαυμαστότερα κ. θειότερα περὶ τἀνδρὸς … εἴρηται κτλ.).—ἄλλοι πολλοί many others IRo 10:1. ἄλλαι πολλαί Mk 15:41. ἄλλα πολλά (Jos., Bell. 6, 169, Ant. 9, 242; Just., D. 8, 1) J 21:25. ἕτεροι πολλοί Ac 15:35. ἕτερα πολλά (Jos., Vi. 39) Lk 22:65.—Predicative: πολλοί εἰσιν οἱ ἐισερχόμενοι Mt 7:13.—Mk 5:9; 6:31; Gal 4:27 (Is 54:1). AcPl Ha 5, 16.—οὐ πολλοί not many=( only) a few οὐ πολλαὶ ἡμέραι (Jos., Ant. 5, 328, Vi. 309) Lk 15:13; J 2:12; Ac 1:5; AcPl Ha 11, 1. οὐ πολλοὶ σοφοί not many wise (people) 1 Cor 1:26a; cp. bc. οὐ πολλοί πατέρες not many fathers 4:15.

β. subst.

א. πολλοί many i.e. persons—without the art. Mt 7:22; 8:11; 12:15; 20:28; 24:5ab; 26:28; Mk 2:2; 3:10 (Mt 12:15 has ascensive πάντας; other passages to be compared in this connection are Mk 10:45=Mt 20:28 πολλῶν and 1 Ti 2:6 πάντων. Cp. the double tradition of the saying of Bias in Clem. of Alex., Strom. 1, 61, 3 πάντες ἄνθρωποι κακοὶ ἢ οἱ πλεῖστοι τ. ἀνθρώπων κακοί.—On Mk 10:45 s. OCullmann, TZ 4, ’48, 471–73); 6:2; 11:8; Lk 1:1 (cp. Herm. Wr. 11, 1, 1b and see JBauer, NovT 4, ’60, 263–66), 14; J 2:23; 8:30; Ac 9:42; Ro 16:2; 2 Cor 11:18; Gal 3:16 (πολλοί= a plurality); Tit 1:10; Hb 12:15; 2 Pt 2:2. AcPl Ha 5, 8; 7, 5; 11, 3. Opp. ὀλίγοι Mt 22:14; 20:16 v.l. (cp. Pla., Phd. 69c ναρθηκοφόροι μὲν πολλοί, βάκχοι δέ τε παῦροι=the thyrsus-bearers [officials] are many, but the truly inspired are few)—W. a partitive gen. πολλοὶ τῶν Φαρισαίων Mt 3:7. π. πῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραήλ Lk 1:16.—J 4:39; 12:11; Ac 4:4; 8:7a; 13:43; 18:8; 19:18; 2 Cor 12:21; Rv 8:11.—W. ἐκ and gen. (AscIs 3:1; Jos., Ant. 11, 151) πολλοὶ ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν J 6:60, 66.—10:20; 11:19, 45; 12:42; Ac 17:12. ἐκ τοῦ ὄχλου πολλοί J 7:31 (Appian, Iber. 78 §337 πολλοὶ ἐκ τοῦ πλήθους).

ב. πολλά—many things, much without the art.: γράφειν write at length B 4:9. διδάσκειν Mk 4:2; 6:34b. λαλεῖν Mt 13:3. μηχανᾶσθαι MPol 3. πάσχειν (Pind., O. 13, 63 al.; Jos., Ant. 13, 268; 403) Mt 16:21; Mk 5:26a; 9:12; Lk 9:22; 17:25; B 7:11; AcPl Ha 8, 19. ποιεῖν Mk 6:20 v.l. United w. another neut. by καί (Lucian, Icar. 20 πολλὰ κ. δεινά; Ael. Aristid. 46 p. 345 D.: πολλὰ κ. καλά; Ps.-Demetr., El. 70 πολλὰ κ. ἄλλα; likew. Appian, Bell. Civ. 5, 13 §53; Arrian, Anab. 6, 11, 2) πολλὰ κ. ἕτερα many other things Lk 3:18. πολλὰ ἂν κ. ἄλλα εἰπεῖν ἔχοιμι Dg 2:10 (Eur., Ep. 3, 2, πολλὰ κ. ἕτερα εἰπεῖν ἔχω; Diod S 17, 38, 3 πολλὰ δὲ καὶ ἄλλα … διαλεχθείς). ἐν πολλοῖς in many ways (Diod S 26, 1, 2; OGI 737, 7 [II B.C.]; Just., D. 124, 4 [of line of proof]) 2 Cor 8:22a. ἐπὶ πολλῶν (opp. ἐπὶ ὀλίγα) over many things Mt 25:21, 23.—W. art. (Pla., Apol. 1, 17a) τὰ πολλὰ πράσσειν transact a great deal of business Hs 4:5b.

γ. elliptical δαρήσεται πολλά (sc. πληγάς) will receive many (lashes) Lk 12:47 (B-D-F §154; 241, 6).

ⓑ comparative πλείων, πλεῖον

α. adj. w. a plural (Diod S 14, 6, 1 μισθοφόρους πλείους=many mercenaries) πλείονας πόνους (opp. οὐχ ἕνα οὐδὲ δύο) 1 Cl 5:4. ἐπὶ ἡμέρας πλείους for a (large) number of days, for many days (Jos., Ant. 4, 277; cp. Theophr. in Apollon. Paradox. 29 πλείονας ἡμ.) Ac 13:31.—21:10 (Jos., Ant. 16, 15); 24:17; 25:14; 27:20. οἱ μὲν πλείονές εἰσιν γεγονότες ἱερεῖς the priests of former times existed in greater numbers Hb 7:23. ἑτέροις λόγοις πλείοσιν in many more words (than have been reported) Ac 2:40. ταῦτα καὶ ἕτερα πλείονα MPol 12:1.—W. a gen. of comparison (Just., A I 53, 3; Tat. 3, 2) ἄλλους δούλους πλείονας τῶν πρώτων other slaves, more than (he had sent) at first Mt 21:36. πλείονα σημεῖα ὧν more signs than those which J 7:31. Also w. ἤ: πλείονας μαθητὰς ἤ more disciples than 4:1. After πλείονες (-α) before numerals the word for ‘than’ is omitted (B-D-F §185, 4; Kühner-G. II 311; Rob. 666; Jos., Ant. 14, 96) ἐτῶν ἦν πλειόνων τεσσεράκοντα ὁ ἄνθρωπος the man was more than 40 years old Ac 4:22. πλείους τεσσεράκοντα 23:13, 21. Cp. 24:11; 25:6 (Jos., Ant. 6, 306 δέκα οὐ πλείους ἡμέρας).—The ref. is to relative extent (cp. 2bα) in τὰ ἔργα σου τὰ ἕσχατα πλείονα τῶν πρώτων your deeds, the latter of which are greater than the former Rv 2:19.

β. subst.

א. (οἱ) πλείονες, (οἱ) πλείους the majority, most (Diog. L. 1, 20; 22; Jos., Ant. 10, 114) Ac 19:32; 27:12. W. ἐξ: ἐξ ὧν οἱ πλείονες most of whom 1 Cor 15:6. W. gen. and a neg. (litotes) οὐκ ἐν τ. πλείοσιν αὐτῶν ηὐδόκησεν ὁ θεός God was pleased with only a few of them 10:5. This is perh. (s. ג below) the place for 1 Cor 9:19; 2 Cor 2:6; 9:2. Phil 1:14; MPol 5:1.

ב. (οἱ) πλείονες, (οἱ) πλείους (even) more πλείονες in even greater numbers Ac 28:23. πολλῷ πλείους ἐπίστευσαν many more came to believe J 4:41.—διὰ τῶν πλειόνων to more and more people=those who are still to be won for Christ 2 Cor 4:15.

ג. (οἱ) πλείονες, (οἱ) πλείους. In contrast to a minority οἱ πλείονες can gain the sense the others, the rest (so τὰ πλείονα Soph., Oed. Col. 36; τὸ πλέον Thu. 4, 30, 4; Jos., Ant. 12, 240; B-D-F §244, 3). So perh. (s. א above) ἵνα τ. πλείονας κερδήσω (opp. the apostle himself) 1 Cor 9:19; 2 Cor 2:6 (opp. the one who has been punished too severely.—In this case [s. א above] his punishment would have been determined by a unanimous vote of the Christian assembly rather than by a majority). Cp. 9:2; Phil 1:14; MPol 5:1.

ד. πλείονα (for πλεῖον) more Mt 20:10 v.l.; various things Lk 11:53. ἐκ τοῦ ἑνὸς πλείονα 1 Cl 24:5 (s. as adv. ParJer 7:26).

ⓒ superl. adj. πλείστη w. a plural most of αἱ πλεῖσται δυνάμεις Mt 11:20 (difft. B-D-F §245, 1).

② pert. to being relatively large in quantity or measure, much, extensive

ⓐ positive πολύς, πολλή, πολύ

α. adj. preceding or following a noun (or ptc. or adj. used as a noun)

א. in the sg. much, large, great πολὺς ἀριθμός Ac 11:21. W. words that in themselves denote a plurality (Appian, Bell. Civ. 5, 80 §338 στρατὸς πολύς) πολὺς ὄχλος (s. ὄχ. 1a) Mt 14:14; 20:29; 26:47; Mk 5:21, 24; 6:34a; 8:1; 9:14; 12:37 (ὁ π. ὄχ.); Lk 5:29; 6:17a; 8:4; J 6:2, 5 (for the expression ὁ ὄχλος πολύς, in which π. follows the noun, J 12:9, 12, cp. Arrian, Anab. 1, 9, 6 ὁ φόνος πολύς); Ac 6:7; Rv 7:9; 19:1, 6. πολὺ πλῆθος (s. pl. 2bα) Mk 3:7f; Lk 5:6; 6:17b; 23:27; Ac 14:1; 17:4; 1 Cl 6:1. λαὸς πολύς many people Ac 18:10. Of money and its value, also used in imagery μισθὸς πολύς Mt 5:12; Lk 6:23, 35 (all three predicative, as Gen 15:1). ἐργασία π. Ac 16:16. π. κεφάλαιον 22:28. χρυσοῦ πολλοῦ … τρυφῆς πολλῆς AcPl Ha 2, 19.—Of things that occur in the mass or in large quantities (Diod S 3, 50, 1 πολλὴ ἄμπελος) γῆ πολλή Mt 13:5; Mk 4:5; θερισμὸς π. Mt 9:37; Lk 10:2 (both pred.). χόρτος π. J 6:10; καρπὸς π. (Cyranides p. 121, 11) 12:24; 15:5, 8.—λόγος π. a long speech (Diod S 13, 1, 2; Just., D. 123, 7) Ac 15:32; 20:2. περὶ οὗ πολὺς ἡμῖν ὁ λόγος about this we have much to say Hb 5:11 (cp. Pla., Phd. 115d).—Of time: πολὺς χρόνος a long time (Hom. et al.; Demetr.(?): 722 Fgm. 7; Jos., Ant. 8, 342; 19, 28; Just., A II, 2, 11) J 5:6 (s. ἔχω 7b); Hs 6, 4, 4 (pred.). μετὰ πολὺν χρόνον (Jos., Ant. 12, 324) Mt 25:19. Differently Mk 6:35ab (s. 3aα).

ב. adj. w. a noun in the pl. many, large, great, extensive, plentiful ὄχλοι πολλοί great crowds or probably better many people (as Diod S 20, 59, 2; Ps.-Clem., Hom. 10, 3. For the corresponding mng. of ὄχλοι s. ὄχλος 1a) Mt 4:25; 8:1; 13:2; 15:30a; 19:2; Lk 5:15; 14:25. κτήματα πολλά a great deal of property Mt 19:22; Mk 10:22 (cp. Da 11:28 χρήματα π.). ὕδατα πολλά much water, many waters (Maximus Tyr. 21, 3g of the Nile ὁ πολὺς ποταμός, likew. Procop. Soph., Ep. 111) J 3:23; Rv 1:15; 14:2; 17:1; 19:6b. θυμιάματα πολλά a great deal of incense 8:3. τὰ πολλὰ γράμματα Ac 26:24. πολλοὶ χρόνοι long periods of time (Plut., Thes. 6, 9). πολλοῖς χρόνοις for long periods of time (SIG 836, 6; pap) Lk 8:29; 1 Cl 44:3. χρόνοις πολλοῖς AcPlCor 2:10. ἐκ πολλῶν χρόνων (Diod S 3, 47, 8; Jos., Ant. 14, 110; 17, 204) 1 Cl 42:5.

β. subst.

א. πολλοί many i.e. pers.—w. the art. οἱ πολλοί the many, of whatever appears in the context Mk 6:2 v.l. (the many people who were present in the synagogue); 9:26b (the whole crowd). Opp. ὁ εἷς Ro 5:15ac, 19ab; the many who form the ἓν σῶμα the one body 12:5; 1 Cor 10:17. Paul pays attention to the interests of the many rather than to his own vs. 33 (cp. Jos., Ant. 3, 212).—The majority, most (X., An. 5, 6, 19; Appian, Maced. 7, Bell. Civ. 4, 73 §309; 2 Macc 1:36; En 104:10; AscIs 3:26; Jos., Ant. 17, 72; Just., D. 4, 3) Mt 24:12; Hb 12:15 v.l. W. a connotation of disapproval most people, the crowd (Socrat., Ep. 6, 2; Dio Chrys. 15 [32], 8; Epict. 1, 3, 4; 2, 1, 22 al.; Plut., Mor. 33a; 470b; Plotinus, Enn. 2, 9, 9; Philo, Rer. Div. Her. 42) 2 Cor 2:17; Pol 2:1; 7:2.—Jeremias, The Eucharistic Words of Jesus³, tr. NPerrin, ’66, 179–82; 226–31, and TW VI 536–45: πολλοί.

ב. πολύ much ᾧ ἐδόθη πολύ, πολὺ ζητηθήσεται παρʼ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ᾧ παρέθεντο πολὺ κτλ. Lk 12:48 (Just., A I, 17, 4 twice πλέον). Cp. 16:10ab; 2 Cl 8:5; καρποφορεῖν π. bear much fruit Hs 2:3. πολὺ κατὰ πάντα τρόπον much in every way Ro 3:2 (Ael. Aristid. 34, 43 K.=50 p. 562 D. gives answer to a sim. quest. asked by himself: πολλὰ καὶ παντοῖα).—Js 5:16.—As gen. of price πολλοῦ for a large sum of money (Menand., Fgm. 197 Kö.; PRyl 244, 10. S. στρουθίον.) Mt 26:9.—Of time: ἐπὶ πολύ ( for) a long time (JosAs 19:3; Ar. 65, 3; s. also ἐπί 18cβ) Ac 28:6; AcPl Ha 10, 21. μετʼ οὐ πολύ soon afterward Ac 27:14 (μετά B 2c).—ἐπὶ πολύ more than once, often (Is 55:7) Hm 4, 1, 8.—Before a comp. (as Hom. et al.; B-D-F §246; Rob. 664) in the acc. πολὺ βέλτιον much better Hs 1:9. π. ἐλάττων v 3, 7, 6 (Ar. 6, 2). π. μᾶλλον much more, to a much greater degree (Dio Chrys. 2, 10; 17; 64 al.; Ael. Aristid. 34, 9 K.=50 p. 549 D.; Just., A II, 8, 3; D. 95, 1 al.) Hb 12:9, 25 (by means of a negative it acquires the mng. much less; cp. Diod S 7, 14, 6 πολὺ μᾶλλον μὴ … =even much less); Dg 2:7b. π. πλέον 2:7a (Ar. 11, 7). π. σπουδαιότερος 2 Cor 8:22b. Cp. π. τιμώτερον 1 Pt 1:7 v.l.; in the dat. of degree of difference πολλῷ μᾶλλον (Thu. 2, 51, 4; UPZ 42, 48 [162 B.C.]; EpArist 7; 24 al.; Sir prol. ln. 14; Jos., Ant. 18, 184; Just., A I, 68, 9; Tat. 17, 4) Mt 6:30; Mk 10:48b; Lk 18:39; Ro 5:9f, 15b, 17; 1 Cor 12:22; 2 Cor 3:9, 11; Phil 2:12. πολλῷ μᾶλλον κρείσσον 1:23 (v.l. without μᾶλλον). πολλῷ πλείους J 4:41. πολλῷ στρουθίων as v.l. Mt 20:31 and Lk 12:7 (both N.²⁵ app.; on the strong ms. support for this rdg. s. RBorger, TRu 52, ’87, 21–24).—W. the art. τὸ πολύ (opp. τὸ ὀλίγον as X., An. 7, 7, 36) 2 Cor 8:15 (cp. Ex 16:18).

ג. πολύς (Diod S 14, 107, 4 πολὺς ἦν ἐπὶ τῇ τιμωρίᾳ=he was strongly inclined toward punishing) μὴ πολὺς ἐν ῥήμασιν γίνου do not be profuse in speech, do not gossip 1 Cl 30:5 (Job 11:3).—Παπίας ὁ πολύς Papias (7), prob. to be understood as ὁ πάνυ; s. πάνυ d.

ⓑ comp. πλείων, πλεῖον; adv. πλειόνως

α. adj., w. a singular (TestJob 35:2 διὰ πλείονος εὐωδίας) καρπὸν πλείονα more fruit J 15:2, 8 P⁶⁶; Hs 5, 2, 4. τὸ πλεῖον μέρος τοῦ ὄχλου the greater part of the throng 8, 1, 16. ἐπὶ πλείονα χρόνον for a longer time (PTebt 6:31 [II B.C.]) Ac 18:20. Foll. by gen. of comparison: πλείονα τιμήν more honor Hb 3:3b.—IPol 1:3a. Foll. by παρά τινα for comparison Hb 3:3a; 11:4; Hs 9, 18, 2. ὅσῳ πλείονος κατηξιώθημεν γνώσεως, τοσούτῳ μᾶλλον 1 Cl 41:4.—τὸ πλεῖον μέρος as adv. acc. for the greater part Hv 3, 6, 4a.

β. as subst. πλεῖον, πλέον more τὸ πλεῖον the greater sum (cp. Diod S 1, 82, 2=the greater part; Ps 89:10) Lk 7:43. πλεῖον λαμβάνειν receive a larger sum Mt 20:10. W. partitive gen. ἐπὶ πλεῖον προκόψουσιν ἀσεβείας they will arrive at an ever greater measure of impiety=become more and more deeply involved in impiety 2 Ti 2:16. W. a gen. of comparison πλεῖον τῆς τροφῆς someth. greater (more important) than food Mt 6:25; Lk 12:23. πλεῖον Ἰωνᾶ Mt 12:41; cp. vs. 42; Lk 11:31, 32. ἡ χήρα πλεῖον πάντων ἔβαλεν the widow put in more than all the rest Mk 12:43; Lk 21:3. μηδὲν πλέον nothing more (Jos., Bell. 1, 43; cp. Just., D. 2, 3 οὐδὲν πλέον); the words than, except following are expressed by παρά and the acc. Lk 3:13 or by πλήν w. gen. Ac 15:28, w. εἰ μή Hs 1:6.—The acc. is used as an adv. more, in greater measure, to a greater degree (Herm. Wr. 13, 21 Nock after the mss.) Lk 7:42; IRo 1:1; IEph 6:2; w. a gen. of comparison Mt 5:20 (περισσεύω 1aβ); J 21:15; IPol 5:2 (s. Ad’Alès, RSR 25, ’35, 489–92). τριετίαν ἢ καὶ πλεῖον for three years or even more Ac 20:18 D (cp. TestAbr B 7 p. 111, 27 [Stone p. 70, 27]).—ἐπὶ πλεῖον any farther (of place) Ac 4:17 (TestGad 7:2; Ath. 12 [ἐπί 4bβ]); (of time) at length Ac 20:9 (ἐπί 18cβ) or any longer, too long 24:4; 1 Cl 55:1 (ἐπί 18cβ); any more, even more (ἐπί 13) 2 Ti 3:9; 1 Cl 18:3 (Ps 50:4). Strengthened πολὺ πλέον much more, much rather (4 Macc 1:8; cp. X., An. 7, 5, 15; BGU 180, 12f [172 A.D.] πολλῷ πλεῖον; Ar. 11, 7 πολλῷ πλεῖον) Dg 2:7; 4:5.—Also w. indications of number (s. 1bα) πλεῖον ἢ ἄρτοι πέντε Lk 9:13 (the words πλ. ἤ outside the constr. as X., An. 1, 2, 11). In πλείω δώδεκα λεγιῶνας ἀγγέλων more than twelve legions of angels Mt 26:53 the text is uncertain (B-D-F §185, 4; s. Rob. 666).—The adv. can also be expressed by πλειόνως (Aeneas Tact. 237; Jos., Ant. 17, 2; Leontios 24, p. 52, 10) more ὅσον … πλειόνως the more … the more IEph 6:1.

ⓒ superl. πλεῖστος, ον

α. adj.

א. superlative proper τὸ πλεῖστον μέρος the greatest part w. partitive gen. Hs 8, 2, 9; 9, 7, 4. As adv. acc. for the greatest part 8, 5, 6; 8, 10, 1 (s. μέρος 1d).

ב. elative (s. Mayser II/1, 1926, 53) very great, very large (ὁ) πλεῖστος ὄχλος Mt 21:8 (ὁ πλεῖστος ὄχλος could also be the greatest part of the crowd, as Thu. 7, 78, 2; Pla., Rep. 3, 397d); Mk 4:1.

β. subst. οἱ πλεῖστοι the majority, most Ac 19:32 D (Just., D. 1, 4; cp. D. 48, 4 πλεῖστοι).

③ pert. to being high on a scale of extent

ⓐ positive πολύς, πολλή, πολύ

α. as simple adj., to denote degree much, great, strong, severe, hard, deep, profound (Diod S 13, 7, 4 πολὺς φόβος; schol. on Apollon. Rhod. 4, 57; 58 p. 265, 3 πολλὴ δικαιοσύνη; Eccl 5:16 θυμὸς π.; Sir 15:18 σοφία; TestAbr A 20 p. 103, 4 [Stone p. 54] ἀθυμία; Just., D. 3, 1 ἠρεμία) ἀγάπη Eph 2:4. ἀγών 1 Th 2:2. ἄθλησις Hb 10:32. ἁπλότης Hv 3, 9, 1. ἀσιτία Ac 27:21. βία 24:6 [7] v.l. γογγυσμός J 7:12. διακονία Lk 10:40. δοκιμή 2 Cor 8:2. δόξα Mt 24:30; Hv 1, 3, 4; 2, 2, 6. δύναμις Mk 13:26. ἐγκράτεια strict self-control Hv 2, 3, 2. εἰρήνη complete or undisturbed peace (Diod S 3, 64, 7; 11, 38, 1) Ac 24:2. ἔλεος 1 Pt 1:3. ἐπιθυμία 1 Th 2:17. ζημία Ac 27:10. ζήτησις 15:7. θλῖψις 2 Cor 2:4a; 1 Th 1:6. καύχησις 2 Cor 7:4b (pred.). μακροθυμία Ro 9:22. ὀδυρμός Mt 2:18. παράκλησις 2 Cor 8:4. παρρησία (Wsd 5:1) 3:12; 7:4a (pred.); 1 Ti 3:13; Phlm 8. πεποίθησις 2 Cor 8:22c. πλάνη 2 Cl 1:7. πληροφορία 1 Th 1:5. πόνος Col 4:13. σιγή a great or general hush (X., Cyr. 7, 1, 25; Arrian, Anab. 5, 28, 4) Ac 21:40. στάσις 23:10. τρόμος 1 Cor 2:3. φαντασία Ac 25:23. χαρά 8:8; Phlm 7. ὥρα πολλή late hour (Polyb. 5, 8, 3; Dionys. Hal. 2, 54; Jos., Ant. 8, 118) Mk 6:35ab.

β. subst. πολλά in the acc. used as adv. greatly, earnestly, strictly, loudly, often etc. (X., Cyr. 1, 5, 14; Diod S 13, 41, 5; Lucian, Dial. Deor. 19, 2; Aelian, VH 1, 23; 4 Km 10:18; Is 23:16; TestSol 1:1; GrBar; ApcMos; Jos., Ant. 14, 348) ἀλαλάζειν πολλά Mk 5:38 (s. ἀλαλάζω). πολλὰ ἁμαρτάνειν Hs 4:5c (ApcMos 32). π. ἀνακρίνειν Ac 28:18 v.l. π. ἀπορεῖν Mk 6:20 (Field, Notes 29). π. ἀσπάζεσθαι 1 Cor 16:19 (s. ἀσπάζομαι 1a). δεηθῆναι π. (GrBar 4:14; Jos., Vi. 173; 343) Hs 5, 4, 1. διαστέλλεσθαι Mk 5:43 (s. διαστέλλω). π. ἐπιτιμᾶν 3:12. π. ἐρωτᾶν earnestly pray Hv 2, 2, 1. κατηγορεῖν π. Mk 15:3 (s. κατηγορέω 1a). κηρύσσειν π. talk freely 1:45. κλαίειν bitterly Ac 8:24 D (ApcMos 39). κοπιᾶν (ApcMos 24; CIG IV 9552, 5 … μοι πολλὰ ἐκοπίασεν, cp. Dssm., LO 266, 5 [LAE 317]) work hard Ro 16:6, 12; 2 Cl 7:1b. νηστεύειν π. fast often Mt 9:14a. ὀμνύναι π. Mk 6:23. παρακαλεῖν Mk 5:10, 23; Ac 20:1 D; 1 Cor 16:12. π. πταίειν make many mistakes Js 3:2. π. σπαράσσειν convulse violently Mk 9:26a.—W. the art. ἐνεκοπτόμην τὰ πολλά I have been hindered these many times (cp. Ro 1:13 πολλάκις) Ro 15:22 (v.l. πολλάκις here too).

γ. subst. πολύ in the acc. used as adv. greatly, very much, strongly (Da 6:15, 24 Theod.) ἀγαπᾶν πολύ show much affection, love greatly Lk 7:47b. κλαίειν π. weep loudly Rv 5:4.—Mk 12:27; Ac 18:27.

ⓑ superlative, the neut. acc. πλεῖστον, α as adv. (sing. Hom. et al.; pl. Pind. et al.)

α. pl. πλεῖστα in the formula of greeting at the beginning of a letter πλεῖστα χαίρειν (POxy 742; 744; 1061 [all three I B.C.]; PTebt 314, 2 [II A.D.] and very oft. in pap.—Griech. pap ed. Ltzm.: Kl. Texte 14², 1910, p. 4, 5, 6, 7 al.; Preis. II s.v. πλεῖστος) heartiest greeting(s) IEph ins; IMg ins; ITr ins; IRo ins; ISm ins; IPol ins.

β. sing. τὸ πλεῖστον at the most (Aristoph., Vesp. 260; Diod S 14, 71, 3 πεμπταῖοι ἢ τὸ πλ. ἑκταῖοι; POxy 58, 17; PGiss 65:9) κατὰ δύο ἢ τὸ πλ. τρεῖς (word for word like Περὶ ὕψους 32, 1) 1 Cor 14:27.—B. 922f. DELG. M-M. EDNT. TW.

πρεσβύτερος, α, ον (Hom.+; comp. of πρέσβυς)

① pert. to being relatively advanced in age, older, old

ⓐ of an individual person older of two ὁ υἱὸς ὁ πρ. (cp. Aelian, VH 9, 42; TestJob 15:2 τῷ ἀδελφῷ τῷ πρεσβυτέρῳ; JosAs; Just., A II, 6, 1) Lk 15:25; of Manasseh (w. Ephraim) B 13:5. In contrast to the younger generation οἱ πρεσβύτεροι the older ones J 8:9. Opp. οἱ νεανίσκοι Ac 2:17 (Jo 3:1). Opp. νεώτεροι (s. νεός 3aβ) 1 Ti 5:1 (similar advice, containing a contrast betw. πρ. and νεώτ., from ins and lit. in MDibelius, Hdb. ad loc.); 1 Pt 5:5 (though here the πρεσβύτεροι are not only the older people, but at the same time, the ‘elders’; s. 2bβ). The same double mng. is found for πρεσβύτεροι in 1 Cl 1:3 beside νέοι, while in 3:3; 21:6, beside the same word, the concept of being old is the dominant one (as Jos., C. Ap. 2, 206). On the disputed pass. Hv 3, 1, 8 (οἱ νεανίσκοι … οἱ πρεσβύτεροι) cp. MDibelius, Hdb. ad loc.—Fem. πρεσβυτέρα old(er) woman (opp. νεωτέρα, as Gen 19:31) 1 Ti 5:2.—With no ref. to younger persons, w. complete disappearance of the comparative aspect: πρεσβύτερος an old man (Jos., Ant. 13, 226; 292 [as a witness of events in the past, as Ps.-Pla., Virt. 3, 377b; 4, 377c]) Hv 3, 12, 2; cp. 3, 11, 3. The personified church is called λίαν πρεσβυτέρα very old 3, 10, 3; cp. 3, 11, 2. She appears as ἡ πρ. the elderly woman 2, 1, 3; 3, 1, 2; 3, 10, 6; 9 and has τὰς τρίχας πρεσβυτέρας the hair of an old woman 3, 10, 4; 5; 3, 12, 1.

ⓑ of a period of time (Petosiris, Fgm. 3 and 4 mention οἱ πρεσβύτεροι and οἱ νεώτεροι. In both instances the context shows that the reference is to astrologers from earlier and more recent times) οἱ πρεσβύτεροι the men of old, our ancestors Hb 11:2. ἡ παράδοσις τῶν πρεσβυτέρων the tradition of the ancients (cp. Iambl., Vi. Pyth. 35, 253 τῶν π. συγγράμματα) Mt 15:2; Mk 7:3, 5 (ELohse, D. Ordination im Spätjudentum u. NT, ’51, 50–56: scholars).

② an official (cp. Lat. senator), elder, presbyter

ⓐ among the Jews (the congregation of a synagogue in Jerusalem used πρεσβύτεροι to denote its officers before 70 A.D.: SEG VIII, 170, 9; cp. Dssm., LO 378–80 [LAE 439–41]).

α. for members of local councils in individual cities (cp. Josh 20:4; Ruth 4:2; 2 Esdr 10:14; Jdth 8:10; 10:6) Lk 7:3; 1 Cl 55:4.—Schürer II, 185.

β. for members of a group in the Sanhedrin (Schürer II, 206–8; JJeremias, Jerusalem z. Zt. Jesu II B 1: Die gesellschaftl. Oberschicht 1929, 88ff). They are mentioned together w. (the) other groups: ἀρχιερεῖς (Ac 4:5 has ἄρχοντες for this), γραμματεῖς, πρεσβύτεροι (the order is not always the same) Mt 16:21; 26:3 v.l.; 27:41; Mk 8:31; 11:27; 14:43, 53; 15:1; Lk 9:22; 20:1.—Only ἀρχιερεῖς (Ac 4:8 has for this ἄρχοντες τοῦ λαοῦ) and πρεσβύτεροι (τοῦ λαοῦ: cp. Ex 19:7; Num 11:16b, 24; 1 Macc 7:33; 12:35; Just., D. 40, 4 al.) Mt 21:23; 26:3, 47, 59 v.l.; 27:1, 3, 12, 20; 28:(11), 12; Lk 22:52 (here, as an exception, οἱ στρατηγοὶ τοῦ ἱεροῦ); Ac 4:23; 23:14; 25:15; cp. 24:1. Also οἱ πρεσβύτεροι καὶ οἱ ἱερεῖς GPt 7:25 (for this combination cp. Jos., Ant. 11, 83; 12, 406).—Only πρεσβύτεροι and γραμματεῖς Mt 26:57; Ac 6:12.—The use of πρεσβύτερος as a title among the Jews of the Diaspora appears quite late, except for the allusions in the LXX (cp. Schürer III/1, 102; MAMA III [Cilicia], 344; 448 [cp. ZNW 31, ’32, 313f]. Whether πρεσβύτερος is to be understood in the older Roman inscriptions [CIJ 378] as a title [so CIJ p. lxxxvi], remains doubtful).

ⓑ among the Christians (for their use of the word as a title one must bear in mind not only the Jewish custom, but also its use as a t.t. among the ἔθνη, in connection w. associations of the ‘old ones’ [FPoland, Geschichte des griech. Vereinswesens 1909, 98ff] and to designate civic as well as religious officials [Dssm., B 153ff=BS 154–57, NB 60ff=BS 233–35, also LO 315, 5; HHausschildt, ZNW 4, 1903, 235ff; MStrack, ibid. 213ff; HLietzmann, ZWT 55, 1914, 116–32 [=Kl. Schr. I ’58, 156–69]; MDibelius, exc. on 1 Ti 5:17ff; RAlastair-Campbell, The Elders, Seniority within Earliest Christianity ’94.].—BGU 16, 6 [159 A.D.] πρεσβύτεροι ἱερεῖς θεοῦ Σοκνοπαίου; 347, 6; PVindBosw 1, 31 [87 A.D.].—As honorary title: Iren. 4, 26, 5 [Harv. II 238, 3]. The Engl. word ‘priest’ comes fr. πρεσβύτερος via Lat. presbyter; later Christian usage is largely, if not entirely, responsible for this development; s. OED s.v. ‘priest’ B).

α. Ac 11:30; 14:23; 15:2, 4, 6, 22f; 16:4 (in all the places in Ac 15 and 16 mention is made of οἱ ἀπόστολοι καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι in the Jerusalem church); 20:17; 21:18; 1 Ti 5:17, 19 (Nicol. Dam.: 90 Fgm. 103a Jac. νεωτέρῳ πρεσβυτέρου καταμαρτυρεῖν οὐκ ἔξεστι); Tit 1:5; Js 5:14; 1 Pt 5:1, 5 (s. 1a above); 1 Cl 44:5; 47:6; 54:2; 57:1. WWrede, Untersuchungen zum 1 Cl 1891, 8ff.—Acc. to 2 Cl 17:3, 5 exhortation and preaching in the church services were among their duties.—In Ign. the πρεσβύτεροι come after the bishop, to whom they are subordinate IMg 2; 3:1; 6:1, or betw. the bishop and the deacons IPhld inscr.; 10:2; IPol 6:1, or the higher rank of the bishop in comparison to them is made plain in some other way ITr 3:1; 12:2 (s. πρεσβυτέριον b; cp. Hippol., Ref. 9, 12, 22).—Polycarp—an ἐπίσκοπος, accord. to the title of the Ep. bearing his name—groups himself w. πρεσβύτεροι in Pol inscr., and further takes the presence of presbyters in Philippi for granted (beside deacons, though no ἐπίσκοπος is mentioned; cp. Hdb. on Pol inscr.) Pol 5:3.

β. Just how we are to understand the words ὁ πρεσβύτερος, applied to himself by the author of the two smallest Johannine letters 2J 1; 3J 1, remains in doubt. But in any case it is meant to indicate a position of great dignity the elder.—HWindisch, exc. on 3J, end; ESchwartz, Über den Tod der Söhne Zebedaei 1904, 47; 51; HWendt, ZNW 23, 1924, 19; EKäsemann, ZTK 48, ’51, 292–311; DWatson, NTS 35, ’89, 104–30, rhetorical analysis of 2J.—ὁ πρ. and οἱ πρ. are mentioned by Papias in these much-discussed passages: 2:3, 4, 5, 7, 14, 15. For some of the lit. s. the note on JKleist’s transl. ’48, p. 207 n. 18.

γ. In Rv there are 24 elders sitting on thrones about the throne of God; they form a heavenly council of elders (cp. Is 24:23) 4:4, 10; 5:5–14; 7:11, 13; 11:16; 14:3; 19:4. The elders have been understood as glorified human beings of some kind or astral deities (or angels) (for the var. views s. RCharles, ICC Rv I 128–33; JMichl, D. 24 Ältesten in d. Apk. d. hl. J. ’38); the number 24 has been referred to the following: the 24 priestly classes of the Jews (1 Ch 24:7–18; Jos., Ant. 7, 365–67) whose heads were called ‘elders’ (Yoma 1, 5; Tamid 1, 1; Middoth 1, 8); the 24 stars which, according to Babylonian belief, stood half on the north and half on the south of the zodiac (Diod S 2, 31, 4; POsl 4, 19: HGunkel, Z. religionsgesch. Verständnis des NT 1903, 42f; Boll 35f); the 24 hours of the day, represented as old men w. shining garments and w. crowns (acc. to the Test. of Adam [ed. CBezold, TNöldeke Festschr. 1906, 893–912]: JWellhausen, Analyse der Offb. Joh. 1907, p. 9, 1; NMorosof, Offb. Joh. 1912, 32); the 24 Yazatas in the state of the gods in heaven, acc. to Persian thought (Bousset). It is certainly an open question whether, or how far, the writer of Rv had any of these things in mind.—On the presbyters, and esp. on the question how ἐπίσκοπος and πρεσβύτερος were originally related to each other (a question which is raised particularly in the pastorals; cp. MDibelius, Hdb. exc. after 1 Ti 3:7 section 2 [w. lit.] and before 5:17), s. the lit. s.v. ἐπίσκοπος.—BEaston, Pastoral Epistles ’47, 188–97; WMichaelis, Das Ältestenamt ’53; GBornkamm, πρεσβύτερος; RCampbell, The Elders ’94.—B. 1472. DELG s.v. πρέσβυς. M-M. EDNT. TW.

στέφανος, ου, ὁ (s. next entry; Hom.+)

① a wreath made of foliage or designed to resemble foliage and worn by one of high status or held in high regard, wreath, crown. Hs 8, 2, 1ab. Jesus’ ‘crown of thorns’ Mt 27:29; Mk 15:17; J 19:2, 5; GPt 3:8 (on the crowning w. thorns and mocking of Jesus s. FCumont, AnalBoll 16, 1897, 3ff; LParmentier, Le roi des Saturnales: RevPhilol, n.s. 21, 1897, 143ff; PWendland, Jesus als Saturnalienkönig: Her 33, 1898, 175–79; WPaton, ZNW 2, 1901, 339–41; SReinach, Le roi supplicié: L’Anthropologie 33, 1902, 621ff; HReich, D. König m. der Dornenkrone 1905 [=NJklA 13, 1904, 705–33]; HVollmer, ZNW 6, 1905, 194–98, 8, 1907, 320f, Jesus u. das Sacäenopfer 1905; KLübeck, Die Dornenkrönung Christi 1906; JGeffcken, Her 41, 1906, 220–29; KKastner, Christi Dornenkrönung u. Verspottung durch die röm. Soldateska: BZ 6, 1908, 378–92, ibid. 9, 1911, 56; TBirt, PJ 137,1909, 92–104; HAllroggen, Die Verspottung Christi: ThGl 1, 1909, 689–708; HZimmern, Zum Streit um die Christusmythe 1910, 38ff, Verh. d. Sächs. Ges. d. W., phil.-Hist. Kl. 70, 5, 1918, Pauly-W. second ser. II 1, 208; LRadermacher, ARW 28, 1930, 31–35; RDelbrueck, Antiquarisches zu den Verspottungen Jesu: ZNW 41, ’42, 124–45). On the wreath for the winner of an athletic contest (Aelian, VH 9, 31; TestJob 4:10; Tat. 11, 1; 23, 1; on the socio-cultural context s. APapathomas, NTS 43, ’97, 225–33), cp. the imagery relating to a heavenly reward 1 Cor 9:25; 2 Cl 7:3 (s. 3 below).—Apart from recognition of athletes and winners of various kinds of competitions, in the Gr-Rom. world the awarding of a crown or wreath signified appreciation for exceptional contributions to the state or groups within it (s. the indexes in ins corpora, and lit. cited at the end of this entry; cp. SEG XXXII, 809, 3f). The recipients were usually public officials or civic-minded pers. serving at their own expense (s. New Docs 7, 240 and the entries beginning λειτουργ-; s. MBlech below). In Rv the (golden) crown is worn by beings of high rank (divine beings w. a golden crown: PGM 4, 698; 1027; the high priest w. the στ. χρύσεος: Jos., Ant. 3, 172; the king 17, 197; MParca, ASP 31, ’91, 41–44 on the radiant crown in antiquity [cp. PKöln VI, 245, 14]): by the 24 elders 4:4, 10 (perh. the gold crowns or wreaths of the 24 elders simply belong to the usual equipment of those who accompany a divine figure. Cp. Athen. 5, 197f the triumphal procession of Dionysus with 40 σάτυροι wearing golden wreaths; also the whole fantastic procession here described; s. also MGuarducci, Epigraphica 35, ’73, 7–23; 39, ’77, 140–42); also by the Human One (Son of Man) 14:14 (who at 19:12 wears the real head-dress of the ruler [s. διάδημα]. But s. 2 Km 12:30; 1 Ch 20:2; SSol 3:11); s. also 6:2; 9:7; 12:1 (στεφ. ἀστέρων δώδεκα, s. Boll. 99). In 1 Cor 9:25 ς. does double duty, first in ref. to an earthly crown and then to a heavenly one (cp. 2 Cl 7:3 and s. 3 below).—Ign. refers metaph. to the presbytery as ἀξιόπλοκος πνευματικὸς στέφανος a worthily-woven spiritual wreath IMg 13:1, but this pass. belongs equally in 2.

② that which serves as adornment or source of pride, adornment, pride, fig. ext. of 1 (Lycurgus 50 of brave Hellenes who died in behalf of freedom and whose ‘souls are the ς. of the homeland’; Hom., Epigr. 13, 1 ἀνδρὸς μὲν στέφανος παῖδες; Eur., Iphig. Aul. 193 Αἴας τᾶς Σαλαμῖνος στέφ.; Pr 12:4; 17:6.—Expr. denoting tender love: HSwoboda et al., Denkmäler aus Lykaonien etc. 1935 p. 78, no. 168) of the Philippians χαρὰ καὶ στέφανός μου Phil 4:1. (χαρὰ ἢ) στέφανος καυχήσεως prize to be proud of (Goodsp.; cp. Pr 16:31) 1 Th 2:19. S. IMg 13:1 at 1 above, end.

③ award or prize for exceptional service or conduct, prize, reward fig. (LXX; ApcEsdr 6:17, 21 p. 31, 26 and 31 Tdf.; as symbol of victory ANock, ClR 38, 1924, 108 n. 11). In 1 Cor 9:25 (ref. to incorruptibility) and 2 Cl 7:3 (s. 1 above) the ref. to crown or wreath is strongly felt, but in the pass. that follow the imagery of the wreath becomes less and less distinct, yet without loss of its primary significance as a symbol of exceptional merit (Ael. Aristid. 27, 36 K.=16 p. 397 D.: τῶν ἀθανάτων στ.; PSI 405, 3 [III B.C.]; Danker, Benefactor 468–71). Obj. gen. τ. δικαιοσύνης for righteousness (recognition of uprightness is a common topic in Gr-Rom. decrees; s. δικαιοσύνη 3a; on the implied exceptional character of the wearer of a crown s. LDeubner, De incubatione capitula duo, 1899, 26) 2 Ti 4:8 (on posthumous award s. New Docs 2, 50; cp. Soph., Phil. 1421f of glory after suffering). W. epexegetical gen. (this is the sense of στ. δικαιοσύνης EpArist 280; TestLevi 8:2) ὁ στέφ. τῆς ζωῆς (s. ζωή 2bβ) Js 1:12; Rv 2:10; cp. 3:11; ὁ τῆς ἀφθαρσίας στ. MPol 17:1; 19:2; ὁ ἀμαράντινος τῆς δόξης στ. 1 Pt 5:4 (cp. Jer 13:18 στ. δόξης; La 2:15; cp. 1QS 4:7; 1QH 9:25; τῆς βασιλείας στ. Hippol., Ref. 9, 17, 4).—ἐλευθέριος στ. AcPl Ha 2, 31.—MBlech, Studien zum Kranz bei den Griechen 1982 (lit.).—Schürer III/1 103f, n. 60 (lit). Pauly-W. XI 1588–1607; Kl. Pauly III 324f; BHHW II 999f.—New Docs 2, 50. DELG s.v. στέφω. M-M. EDNT. TW. Sv.

ἀπόστολος, ου, ὁ (s. ἀποστέλλω). In older Gk. (Lysias, Demosth.) and later (e.g. Posidon.: 87 Fgm. 53 p. 257, 21 Jac. [Strabo 3, 5, 5]) ὁ ἀ. is a naval expedition, prob. also its commander (Anecd. Gr. 217, 26). τὸ ἀπόστολον with (Pla., Ep. 7, 346a) or without (Vi. Hom. 19) πλοῖον means a ship ready for departure. In its single occurrence in Jos. (Ant. 17, 300; it is not found elsewh. in Jewish-Gk. lit.) it prob. means ‘sending out’; in pap mostly ‘bill of lading’ (s. Preisigke, Fachwörter 1915), less freq. ‘certificate of clearance (at a port)’ (BGU V §64 [II A.D.]=Gnomon des Idios Logos). It can also be ‘letter of authorization (relating to shipping)’: Mitt-Wilck. I/2, 443, 10 (15 A.D.); PHerm 6, 11f (cp. Dig. 49, 6, 1 litteras dimissorias sive apostolos). In contrast, in isolated cases it refers to persons who are dispatched for a specific purpose, and the context determines the status or function expressed in such Eng. terms as ‘ambassador, delegate, messenger’ (Hdt. 1, 21; 5, 38; Synesius, Providence 2, 3 p. 122a ἀπόστολοι of ordinary messengers; Sb 7241, 48; BGU 1741, 6 [64 B.C.]; 3 Km 14:6A; Is 18:2 Sym.). Cp. KLake, The Word Ἀ.: Beginn. I 5, ’33, 46–52. It is this isolated usage that is preferred in the NT w. nuances peculiar to its lit. But the extensive use of ἀποστέλλω in documents relating to pers. of merit engaged in administrative service prob. encouraged NT use of the noun, thus in effect disavowing assoc. w. the type of itinerant philosophers that evoked the kind of pejorative term applied by Paul’s audience Ac 17:18.

① of messengers without extraordinary status delegate, envoy, messenger (opp. ὁ πέμψας) J 13:16. Of Epaphroditus, messenger of the Philippians Phil 2:25.—2 Cor 8:23.

② of messengers with extraordinary status, esp. of God’s messenger, envoy (cp. Epict. 3, 22, 23 of Cynic wise men: ἄγγελος ἀπὸ τ. Διὸς ἀπέσταλται).

ⓐ of prophets Lk 11:49; Rv 18:20; cp. 2:2; Eph 3:5.

ⓑ of Christ (w. ἀρχιερεύς) Hb 3:1 (cp. ApcEsdr 2:1 p. 25, 29 T.; Just., A I, 12, 9; the extra-Christian firman Sb 7240, 4f οὐκ ἔστιν θεὸς εἰ μὴ ὁ θεὸς μόνος. Μααμετ ἀπόστολος θεοῦ). GWetter, ‘D. Sohn Gottes’ 1916, 26ff.

ⓒ but predominately in the NT (of the apologists, only Just.) of a group of highly honored believers w. a special function as God’s envoys. Also Judaism had a figure known as apostle (שָׁלִיחַ; Schürer III 124f w. sources and lit.; Billerb. III 1926, 2–4; JTruron, Theology 51, ’48, 166–70; 341–43; GDix, ibid. 249–56; 385f; JBühner, art. ἄ. in EDNT I 142–46). In Christian circles, at first ἀ. denoted one who proclaimed the gospel, and was not strictly limited: Paul freq. calls himself an ἀ.: Ro 1:1; 11:13; 1 Cor 1:1; 9:1f; 15:9; 2 Cor 1:1; Gal 1:1; Eph 1:1; Col 1:1; 1 Ti 1:1; 2:7; 2 Ti 1:1; Tit 1:1.—1 Cl 47:1. Of Barnabas Ac 14:14; 15:2. Of Andronicus and Junia (less prob. Junias, s. Ἰουνία) Ro 16:7. Of James, the Lord’s brother Gal 1:19. Of Peter 1 Pt 1:1; 2 Pt 1:1. Then esp. of the 12 apostles οἱ δώδεκα ἀ. (cp. ParJer 9:20; AscIs 3:21; 4:3) Mt 10:2; Mk 3:14; Lk 22:14 (v.l. οἱ δώδεκα); cp. 6:13; 9:10; 17:5; Ac 1:26 (P-HMenoud, RHPR 37 ’57, 71–80); Rv 21:14; PtK 3 p. 15, 18. Peter and the apostles Ac 2:37; 5:29. Paul and apostles Pol 9:1 (cp. AcPlTh Aa I, 235 app. of Thecla). Gener. the apostles Mk 6:30; Lk 24:10; 1 Cor 4:9; 9:5; 15:7; 2 Cor 11:13; 1 Th 2:7; Ac 1:2; 2:42f; 4:33, 35, 37; 5:2, 12, 18, 34 v.l., 40; 6:6; 8:1, 14, 18; 9:27; 11:1; 14:4; 2 Pt 3:2; Jd 17; IEph 11:2; IMg 7:1; 13:2; ITr 2:2; 3:1; 7:1; IPhld 5:1; ISm 8:1; D ins; 11:3, 6. As a governing board, w. the elders Ac 15:2, 4, 6, 22f; 16:4. As possessors of the most important spiritual gift 1 Cor 12:28f. Proclaimers of the gospel 1 Cl 42:1f; B 5:9; Hs 9, 17, 1. Prophesying strife 1 Cl 44:1. Working miracles 2 Cor 12:12. W. overseers, teachers and attendants Hv 3, 5, 1; Hs 9, 15, 4; w. teachers Hs 9, 25, 2; w. teachers, preaching to those who had fallen asleep Hs 9, 16, 5; w. var. Christian officials IMg 6:1; w. prophets Eph 2:20; D 11:3; Pol 6:3. Christ and the apostles as the foundation of the church IMg 13:1; ITr 12; 2; cp. Eph 2:20. οἱ ἀ. and ἡ ἐκκλησία w. the three patriarchs and the prophets IPhld 9:1. The Holy Scriptures named w. the ap. 2 Cl 14:2 (sim. ApcSed 14:10 p. 136, 17 Ja.). Paul ironically refers to his opponents (or the original apostles; s. s.v. ὑπερλίαν) as οἱ ὑπερλίαν ἀ. the super-apostles 2 Cor 11:5; 12:11. The orig. apostles he calls οἱ πρὸ ἐμοῦ ἀ. Gal 1:17; AcPlCor 2:4.—Harnack, Mission⁴ I 1923, 332ff (Eng. tr. I 319–31). WSeufert, D. Urspr. u. d. Bed. d. Apostolates 1887; EHaupt, Z. Verständnis d. Apostolates im NT 1896; EMonnier, La notion de l’Apostolat des origines à Irénée 1903; PBatiffol, RB n.s. 3, 1906, 520–32; Wlh., Einleitung², 1911, 138–47; EBurton, AJT 16, 1912, 561–88, Gal comm. 1921, 363–84; RSchütz, Apostel u. Jünger 1921; EMeyer I 265ff; III 255ff. HVogelstein, Development of the Apostolate in Judaism, etc.: HUCA 2, 1925, 99–123; JWagenmann, D. Stellg. d. Ap. Pls neben den Zwölf 1926; WMundle, D. Apostelbild der AG: ZNW 27, 1928, 36–54; KRengstorf, TW I 406–46 (s. critique by HConzelmann, The Theol. of St. Luke ’60, 216, n. 1), Apost. u. Predigtamt ’34; J-LLeuba, Rech. exégét. rel. à l’apostolat dans le NT, diss. Neuchâtel ’36; PSaintyves, Deux mythes évangéliques, Les 12 apôtres et les 72 disciples ’38; GSass, Apostelamt u. Kirche … paulin. Apostelbegr. ’39; EKäsemann, ZNW 40, ’41, 33–71; RLiechtenhan, D. urchr. Mission ’46; ESchweizer, D. Leben d. Herrn in d. Gemeinde u. ihren Diensten ’46; AFridrichsen, The Apostle and His Message ’47; HvCampenhausen, D. urchristl. Apostelbegr.: StTh 1, ’47, 96–130; HMosbech, ibid. 2, ’48, 166–200; ELohse, Ursprung u. Prägung des christl. Apostolates: TZ 9, ’53, 259–75; GKlein, Die 12 Apostel, ’60; FHahn, Mission in the NT, tr. FClarke, ’65; WSchmithals, The Office of the Apostle, tr. JSteely, ’69; KKertelge, Das Apostelamt des Paulus, BZ 14, ’70, 161–81. S. also ἐκκλησία end, esp. Holl and Kattenbusch; also HBetz, Hermeneia: Gal ’79, 74f (w. additional lit.); FAgnew, On the Origin of the Term ἀπόστολος: CBQ 38, ’76, 49–53 (survey of debate); KHaacker, NovT 30, ’88, 9–38 (Acts). Ins evidence (s. e.g. SIG index) relating to the verb ἀποστέλλω is almost gener. ignored in debate about the meaning of the noun.—DELG s.v. στέλλω A. EDNT. M-M. TW. Spicq.

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.