Category Archives: logos

Synantilambanomai or Helps

Posted on by
1

Synantilambanomai is a related post of Wonderful Counselor and with the help of Mounce, Strong, and Biblehub.com we will look at the two times it is used in the New Testament. You will find synantilambanomai in Romans 8:26 (8:27 will be added) and Luke 10:40. To help, aid, or support someone are the terms that will assist us with the verses.

This word and the verses in Romans are great examples of low-use, single-use, or added prefixes and suffixes highlighting an important thought. The online Strong’s Concordance and Mounce Dictionary may list the verses where they are found, and that allows for easy comparisons.  

I will provide a connection between our two verses as a loose example of synantilambanomai. In Romans, the Spirit is the One who helps us, by praying through us when we can’t do it ourselves. In Luke, Martha is “praying to Jesus” asking for Mary to come to her aid, so she does not have to do all the work by herself.

Our keyword has two prefixes and a suffix. This is my simple explanation for Romans. We come together with the Spirit against the problem to take or get an answer/help.  

References:

Romans 8: 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (KJV) Thank you Bible Gateway.

Yes, there is a translation difference because of variations in word meanings. (These are not in order.) When I used a parallel function, I found it interesting how the different translations chose to interpret and footnote this verse. All of them did proclaim a divine act of the Spirit. Some left a little “wiggle room” for what it may look like in the believer’s life and practice.

Intercedes

In the above verses, interceding is the main thought. In verse 26 we see the role of the Holy Spirit being our Counselor and praying through us. In verse 27 we see Jesus doing His intercession before the Father on our behalf. Of the five times the second word is used three of them refer to Jesus, two are in Romans and one in Hebrews. The other two uses are examples (I think) of how that intercession may have sounded (the intensity) or have been done. The word in verse 27 is entynchano.

In verse 26, the one that is associated with the Holy Spirit, the word is hyperentynchano; it is only used once. The prefix hyper should speak volumes to you. Combine this word and the thought of the Spirit’s help and we can understand how special that ministry is for us.

On a personal note, when I have experienced the type of intercession as described in Romans 8:26 it is profound and intense. It is more than (hyper) speaking in tongues. Since it is the Holy Spirit praying through me, I have no understanding of what I am saying and cannot control it, other than to stop. Can this be different in other people? Yes. I will not put the Holy Spirit in a box, He will work with us where we are, but He is still God. While musing on this act of the Holy Spirit, I believe that when the problem is too big for my mind or faith level, He has taken over and prayed as needed. This ministry of the Holy Spirit is more than a promise, it is why He is our paraclete and synantilambanomai.  

Hyperballo

Posted on by
Reply

Hyperballo is not an adjective for a sporting contest where you beat your opponent. According to Mounce and Strong, it is used five times in the New Testament. NASB translates it as “surpassing” in 2 Corinthians 3:10, which is where it caught my attention, again. (See Ephesians 1:19)

Surpass is a nice word, but I cannot say I use it very much in my day-to-day communication. After paraphrasing the verses below and taking a Muse Moment it may be that my writing and focus could use some adjusting.  

2 Corinthians 3:10 The glory of the New Covenant surpasses the glory of the Old.

2 Corinthians 9:14 The amount of grace from God on the people in the Church.

Ephesians 1:19 The above and beyond power of God that is available to us.

Ephesians 2:7 Because of Christ Jesus (God-Man) the Father will have a testimony of the rich grace He gave us.

Ephesians 3:19 The love of Christ is far greater than knowledge and we should be filled up with it.

ὑπερβάλλω | Free Online Greek Dictionary | billmounce.com

Strong’s Greek: 5235. ὑπερβάλλω (huperballó) — to throw over or beyond, to run beyond (biblehub.com)

Hyper G5228 above, beyond

Ballo G906 to throw past

There are many “hypers” in the New Testament, just look on either side of hyperballo in the concordance. Okay, I think it is beyond the intended use of the word, but hyperballo could be a slang term for winning a game.

Begged in Mark 5

Posted on by
Reply

Mark 5 has five uses of the Greek word parakaleo or beg. This chapter has the story of the Man of Gerasenes, the Woman with the issue of blood, and Jairus and his daughter. The Gospel of John does not use parakaleo but John does use parakletos (See Our Wonderful Counselor). Luke makes use of this word, parakaleo, many times in telling the story to Theophilus.

παρακαλέω | Free Online Greek Dictionary | billmounce.com

Strong’s Greek: 3870. παρακαλέω (parakaleó) — to call to or for, to exhort, to encourage (biblehub.com)

I learned recently that Strong’s Concordance and other reference works will first focus on the root word. That is why it is good to use several references if you are “digging deep” into a word or passage.

These words are used in a variety of ways, but both parakaleo and parakletos carry a “legal” air about them. The legal aspect can be read in the first three entries of Mark.

  • 5:10 – Here and in verse 12 the “he” and “unclean spirits” are understood from verse 2. I have heard that demons are territorial.
  • 5:12 – If they go into the pigs they could stay in the area. That must have been an interesting conversation.
  • 5:17 – The people of the region were upset and confused and wanted Jesus to leave. I have to wonder if the “freed” demons were agitating the crowd.
  • 5:18 – The Man begged to go with Jesus. Jesus sent him out as the first missionary to the Gentiles.
  • 5:23 – Jarius, an official of the synagogue begged for Jesus to follow him to his house.

The other times Mark uses the word are in 1:40, 6:56, 7:32, and 8:22. These are all healings. Every time in Mark when someone parakaleo Jesus, even the demons, He complied with the request. Except for the Gentile to follow Him, it was just too early for that to happen.

“Let Us”

Posted on by
Reply

With “Let Us” I am adding another leaf to the post, Salad Bowl Christianity. I have been using different Greek Interlinears and text analysis websites during my studies. So, when I read Hebrews 10:22-25 I had to learn more about the “Let Us” that is part of the text. God bless translators.

Proserchomai is in verse 22 and provides the let us with the continue to draw near. Hebrews has this word seven times in it. προσέρχομαι | Free Online Greek Dictionary | billmounce.com During this study I found that Matthew used it in forty-nine verses, sometimes more than once.

In verse 23 the let us is in katecho, it appears three times in Hebrews. κατέχω | Free Online Greek Dictionary | billmounce.com

Katanoeo gives us the third let us while taking thought. It is used two times. κατανοέω | Free Online Greek Dictionary | billmounce.com

Hebrews 10:22 Greek Text Analysis (biblehub.com)  Use the blue arrows to look at 23 and 24. This site renders these words “we should”.

Studies like this one help you root yourself in the Word. I like to see the first and last times a word is used in the New Testament, and which Book uses it the most. Try substituting different definitions/translations of the word from the concordance and get a taste of what it is like to be a translator, by comparing how the text sounds.

Born Again, Born Anew, Born from Above

Posted on by
5

This post, Born Again, Born Anew, Born from Above was an “Easter Present” from Father God. The phrase “born again” in Greek is gennao anothen and may be better translated born from above.

John 3:3 is the conversation Jesus had with Nicodemus where Jesus said, “No can see the kingdom of God unless you are born again” (NIV). Anothen, G 509, is the word that has been translated as “again”. In the other places, John uses this word in 3:31, 19:11, and 23, it is rendered “from above or from the top”.

  • 3:31 – one who comes from above
  • 19:11 – Jesus tells Pilate he would have no authority unless it came from above
  • 19:23 – Jesus’s robe was woven from the top down

 ἄνωθεν | Free Online Greek Dictionary | billmounce.com

John uses the word palin in the places where we expect to see the “again”. (Strong’s G3825)

My non-Greek scholarly observation of the different translations of again comes from Nicodemus’ answer. He ignores Jesus’ “from above” and focuses on going into the womb for a SECOND TIME or again. It would not surprise me if Jesus had pointed upward when He said it.

Born Again, Born Anew, or Born from Above reflects John 1:13 where when we believe and become children of God, we are born of God. It may be time to change terminology.

John 3:3 Greek Text Analysis (biblehub.com)  born from above

Gennao is the Greek word for born. It is Strong’s G1080.

The OJB has a reference note in John 3:3 where the born-again phrase is viewed as a circumcised heart. I think that is a good thought.