Agape
ἀγάπη (Greek)
Self-giving love that wills the good of the other — the love God shows His household.
"Charity suffereth long, and is kind."
— 1 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV)
A WORD A DAY
The early Church spoke Greek, Hebrew, Latin, and Aramaic. Their words still shape ours. A small dictionary of the heart.
ἀγάπη (Greek)
Self-giving love that wills the good of the other — the love God shows His household.
"Charity suffereth long, and is kind."
— 1 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV)
שָׁלוֹם (Hebrew)
Wholeness, completeness, the deep peace of restoration.
"The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."
— Numbers 6:26 (KJV)
חֶסֶד (Hebrew)
Steadfast covenant-keeping love. 'Lovingkindness' in the KJV.
"O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."
— Psalms 136:1 (KJV)
λόγος (Greek)
Word; the eternal expression of God revealed in Christ.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
— John 1:1 (KJV)
אָמֵן (Hebrew)
So be it. A pledge of agreement — God is faithful and true.
"Surely I come quickly. Amen."
— Revelation 22:20 (KJV)
הוֹשַׁע־נָּא (Hebrew)
Save now! A cry for help that became a shout of praise.
"Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord."
— Matthew 21:9 (KJV)
מָרַנָא תָא (Aramaic)
Our Lord, come.
"If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha."
— 1 Corinthians 16:22 (KJV)
סֶלָה (Hebrew)
A pause to consider — let the heart catch up to the words.
"Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah."
— Psalms 3:2 (KJV)
πνεῦμα (Greek)
Spirit, breath, wind — the moving of the Holy Spirit.
"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof."
— John 3:8 (KJV)
θεός (Greek)
God — the supreme Being.
"And the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
— John 1:1 (KJV)
Χριστός (Greek)
The Anointed One — translation of the Hebrew Messiah.
"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
— Matthew 16:16 (KJV)
מָשִׁיחַ (Hebrew)
The Anointed — the promised deliverer.
"Unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks."
— Daniel 9:25 (KJV)
שַׁבָּת (Hebrew)
Rest. A day set apart for worship and renewal.
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."
— Exodus 20:8 (KJV)
הַלְלוּ־יָהּ (Hebrew)
Praise ye the LORD!
"Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God."
— Revelation 19:1 (KJV)
אַבָּא (Aramaic)
Father — the household name a child uses.
"Ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."
— Romans 8:15 (KJV)
εὐχαριστία (Greek)
Thanksgiving — the church's term for the Lord's Supper.
"When he had given thanks, he brake it."
— 1 Corinthians 11:24 (KJV)
δόξα (Greek)
Glory — the visible weight of God's presence.
"We beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father."
— John 1:14 (KJV)
πίστις (Greek)
Faith — trustful confidence in God.
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
— Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
ἐλπίς (Greek)
Hope that does not disappoint.
"Hope maketh not ashamed."
— Romans 5:5 (KJV)
χάρις (Greek)
Grace — unearned favour from God.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith."
— Ephesians 2:8 (KJV)
σωτήρ (Greek)
Saviour — one who rescues.
"Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour."
— Luke 2:11 (KJV)
κύριος (Greek)
Lord — the One who has authority.
"Every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord."
— Philippians 2:11 (KJV)
δοῦλος (Greek)
Bondservant — belonging entirely to another.
"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ."
— Romans 1:1 (KJV)
ἐκκλησία (Greek)
The called-out assembly — the Church.
"Upon this rock I will build my church."
— Matthew 16:18 (KJV)
אָדָם (Hebrew)
Man — the earth-creature breathed into by God.
"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground."
— Genesis 2:7 (KJV)
רוּחַ (Hebrew)
Breath, wind, Spirit — moving and life-giving.
"The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."
— Genesis 1:2 (KJV)
יְהוָה (Hebrew)
The covenant name of God.
"And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM."
— Exodus 3:14 (KJV)
אֲדֹנָי (Hebrew)
My Lord — used in reverent address to God.
"O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name."
— Psalms 8:1 (KJV)
אֵל (Hebrew)
God — the mighty One.
"I am the Almighty God."
— Genesis 17:1 (KJV)
עִמָּנוּאֵל (Hebrew)
God with us.
"They shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."
— Matthew 1:23 (KJV)
יוֹבֵל (Hebrew)
The year of release and freedom.
"Ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land."
— Leviticus 25:10 (KJV)
הַלְלוּ־יָהּ (Hebrew)
Praise to Yah.
"Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD."
— Psalms 150:6 (KJV)
צְדָקָה (Hebrew)
Righteousness — right living within covenant.
"The righteous LORD loveth righteousness."
— Psalms 11:7 (KJV)
מִשְׁכָּן (Hebrew)
Tabernacle — the dwelling place of God among His people.
"Let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them."
— Exodus 25:8 (KJV)
כָּבוֹד (Hebrew)
Glory — weighty presence.
"The heavens declare the glory of God."
— Psalms 19:1 (KJV)
צִיּוֹן (Hebrew)
Zion — the dwelling place of God's people.
"By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion."
— Psalms 137:1 (KJV)
מָן (Hebrew)
Bread from heaven — daily provision.
"It is manna: for they wist not what it was."
— Exodus 16:15 (KJV)
פֶּסַח (Hebrew)
Passover — the night the angel of death passed over.
"It is the LORD'S passover."
— Exodus 12:11 (KJV)
מִצְוָה (Hebrew)
Commandment, good deed.
"This commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee."
— Deuteronomy 30:11 (KJV)
בְּרָכָה (Hebrew)
Blessing.
"I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing."
— Genesis 12:2 (KJV)
עֲבֹדָה (Hebrew)
Service, worship, work.
"Ye shall keep this service."
— Exodus 12:25 (KJV)
הָלַל (Hebrew)
To shine forth, to praise.
"Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD."
— Psalms 113:1 (KJV)
יָשָׁר (Hebrew)
Upright, straight.
"The integrity of the upright shall guide them."
— Proverbs 11:3 (KJV)
טוֹב (Hebrew)
Good — beautiful, useful, fitting.
"God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good."
— Genesis 1:31 (KJV)
אָלֶף (Hebrew)
First letter of the Hebrew alphabet — the head of all things.
"Blessed are the undefiled in the way."
— Psalms 119:1 (KJV)
Ω (Greek)
The last letter — Christ as the End.
"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending."
— Revelation 1:8 (KJV)
σοφία (Greek)
Wisdom — skill in living well.
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God."
— James 1:5 (KJV)
φῶς (Greek)
Light.
"The light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."
— John 1:5 (KJV)
ζωή (Greek)
Life — the unending life that comes from God.
"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
— John 10:10 (KJV)
σῶμα (Greek)
Body — the church as Christ's body.
"For as the body is one, and hath many members."
— 1 Corinthians 12:12 (KJV)
κήρυγμα (Greek)
Proclamation, preaching.
"It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."
— 1 Corinthians 1:21 (KJV)
κοινωνία (Greek)
Fellowship, sharing.
"They continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship."
— Acts 2:42 (KJV)
διακονία (Greek)
Service, ministry.
"We will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word."
— Acts 6:4 (KJV)
ἐπίσκοπος (Greek)
Overseer, bishop.
"If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work."
— 1 Timothy 3:1 (KJV)
πρεσβύτερος (Greek)
Elder.
"Let him call for the elders of the church."
— James 5:14 (KJV)
ἀπόστολος (Greek)
One sent out.
"Now the names of the twelve apostles are these."
— Matthew 10:2 (KJV)
εὐαγγέλιον (Greek)
Good news — the gospel.
"The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ."
— Mark 1:1 (KJV)
σωτηρία (Greek)
Salvation, deliverance.
"It is the power of God unto salvation."
— Romans 1:16 (KJV)
ἅγιος (Greek)
Holy, set apart.
"Be ye holy; for I am holy."
— 1 Peter 1:16 (KJV)
ἁμαρτία (Greek)
Sin — missing the mark.
"All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
— Romans 3:23 (KJV)
μετάνοια (Greek)
Change of mind — repentance.
"Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
— Matthew 3:2 (KJV)
ἄφεσις (Greek)
Release, forgiveness.
"Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name."
— Luke 24:47 (KJV)
σπλάγχνον (Greek)
Tender mercies — the gut-deep compassion of God.
"Through the tender mercy of our God."
— Luke 1:78 (KJV)
εἰρήνη (Greek)
Peace — the gift of Christ.
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you."
— John 14:27 (KJV)
χαρά (Greek)
Joy — full and overflowing.
"That my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full."
— John 15:11 (KJV)
μακροθυμία (Greek)
Longsuffering — patient endurance.
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering."
— Galatians 5:22 (KJV)
ὑπομονή (Greek)
Patient endurance under trial.
"The trying of your faith worketh patience."
— James 1:3 (KJV)
χρηστότης (Greek)
Kindness — useful, gracious, good.
"Gentleness, goodness, faith."
— Galatians 5:22 (KJV)
ἀγαθωσύνη (Greek)
Goodness — actively pursuing the good of others.
"Goodness, faith."
— Galatians 5:22 (KJV)
πραότης (Greek)
Meekness — strength under control.
"Meekness, temperance."
— Galatians 5:23 (KJV)
ἐγκράτεια (Greek)
Self-control.
"Temperance: against such there is no law."
— Galatians 5:23 (KJV)
ἀνάστασις (Greek)
Resurrection.
"I am the resurrection, and the life."
— John 11:25 (KJV)
παρουσία (Greek)
Presence, arrival — the second coming.
"So shall also the coming of the Son of man be."
— Matthew 24:27 (KJV)
δοῦλος Χριστοῦ (Greek)
Servant of Christ — Paul's chosen title.
"For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."
— Galatians 1:10 (KJV)
θεοτόκος (Greek)
God-bearer — title for Mary.
"The mother of my Lord should come to me."
— Luke 1:43 (KJV)
Χριστοτόκος (Greek)
Christ-bearer — a contested but instructive title.
"Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."
— Luke 2:11 (KJV)
παράκλητος (Greek)
Helper, Advocate — the Holy Spirit.
"The Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name."
— John 14:26 (KJV)
מָרַנָא תָא (Aramaic)
Our Lord, come!
"Anathema Maranatha."
— 1 Corinthians 16:22 (KJV)
הוֹשַׁע־נָּא (Hebrew)
Save us, we pray.
"Hosanna to the Son of David."
— Matthew 21:9 (KJV)
טַלִיתָא קוּמִי (Aramaic)
Little girl, arise.
"Damsel, I say unto thee, arise."
— Mark 5:41 (KJV)
אִתְפַּתַּח (Aramaic)
Be opened.
"That is, Be opened."
— Mark 7:34 (KJV)
אֵלִי אֵלִי (Aramaic)
My God, my God.
"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
— Matthew 27:46 (KJV)
רַבּוּנִי (Aramaic)
My great Teacher — Mary's word at the empty tomb.
"She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master."
— John 20:16 (KJV)
κένωσις (Greek)
Self-emptying — Christ's humility.
"He made himself of no reputation."
— Philippians 2:7 (KJV)
θέωσις (Greek)
Being made like God by grace.
"Partakers of the divine nature."
— 2 Peter 1:4 (KJV)
ἀνάμνησις (Greek)
Remembrance — making present what God has done.
"This do in remembrance of me."
— Luke 22:19 (KJV)
ἐπιφάνεια (Greek)
Appearing, manifestation.
"The appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ."
— 2 Timothy 1:10 (KJV)
adoratio (Latin)
Worship — the heart turned toward God.
"When they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him."
— Matthew 2:11 (KJV)
magnificat (Latin)
My soul magnifies — Mary's song.
"My soul doth magnify the Lord."
— Luke 1:46 (KJV)
benedictus (Latin)
Blessed — Zacharias's song.
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel."
— Luke 1:68 (KJV)
nunc dimittis (Latin)
Now you let — Simeon's song.
"Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace."
— Luke 2:29 (KJV)
sursum corda (Latin)
Lift up your hearts — ancient liturgical call.
"Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens."
— Lamentations 3:41 (KJV)
te deum (Latin)
We praise thee, O God.
"I will extol thee, my God, O king."
— Psalms 145:1 (KJV)
gloria (Latin)
Glory.
"Glory to God in the highest."
— Luke 2:14 (KJV)
sanctus (Latin)
Holy.
"Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts."
— Isaiah 6:3 (KJV)
agnus dei (Latin)
Lamb of God.
"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
— John 1:29 (KJV)
pater noster (Latin)
Our Father.
"Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name."
— Matthew 6:9 (KJV)
credo (Latin)
I believe — first word of the Creed.
"Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."
— Mark 9:24 (KJV)
מָרַנָא תָא (Aramaic)
Come, Lord.
"Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
— Revelation 22:20 (KJV)
δοξολογία (Greek)
Words of glory — short hymn of praise.
"Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him."
— Revelation 5:13 (KJV)
אָמֵן (Hebrew)
Truly, truly — Jesus's solemn affirmation.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you."
— John 5:24 (KJV)
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