Quick Definition
θεός, οῦ, ὁ n.f. & n.m. God, a god
Strong's Definition
of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very
KJV Usage: X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward)
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, m. | -οῦ | ἄθεος · θεά · θεῖος · θειότης · θεοδίδακτος · θεομάχος · θεόπνευστος · θεοσέβεια · θεοσεβής · θεοστυγής · θεότης · φιλόθεος
12.1 · Supernatural Beings and Powers · Supernatural Beings
God the one supreme supernatural being as creator and sustainer of the universe The componential features of θεός involve a basic, underlying ambivalence. On the one hand, θεός is regarded as unique to the exclusion of all other gods: οὐδεὶς θεὸς εἰ μὴ εἷς ‘there is no God but one’ 1CO 8:4. This is strictly a monotheistic view of θεός. On the other hand, there occur such expressions as εἴπερ εἰσὶν λεγόμενοι θεοί ‘even if there are so-called gods’ (1CO 8:5), and in the OT the Lord is described as being ‘far above all gods’ (PSA 97:9), ‘the God of gods’ (PSA 136:2), and the ‘great King above all gods’ (PSA 95:3), which is essentially a henotheistic view of θεός. Fundamentally, however, the NT view may be most succinctly reflected in GAL 4:8, τοῖς φύσει μὴ οὖσιν θεοῖς ‘those who by nature are not really gods.’ In other words, the gods of the pagans (see 12.22) are not to be viewed in the same category as θεός[a] .
A further semantic problem is involved in the use of θεός[a] in reference to Christ. In JHN 1:1, the ‘the Word was God,’ the meaning of θεός may be described on the basis that all the componential features of θεός[a] are applied to the referent λόγος, which is in turn identified with ‘Christ.’ This is not to be interpreted as indicating that the two referents are identical (which was, of course, the position of those who maintained the so-called patropassian heresy), but that the distinctive features of θεός[a] are also fully applicable to another referent, namely, the λόγος or Christ; that is to say, it is legitimate to interpret JHN 1:1 as ‘the Word was God’ but not as ‘God was the Word.’
Translational equivalents of ‘God’ are of three major types: (1) proper names, (2) descriptive titles, and (3) borrowed terms. There are a number of problems involved in each of these types of translational equivalents.
If translators wish to employ in the biblical text a proper name in the receptor language, it is essential that the characteristics of the referent of such a name be sufficiently close to those which characterize the biblical God, so that the message may not be unduly distorted. In fact, the equivalent should be sufficiently close that ready identification can be made. The essential features of such a receptor language term should include (1) benevolent disposition and behavior, (2) creative and sustaining activity in the world, and (3) supreme power. In most instances it has not been found necessary for such a term to refer to a strictly monotheistic view (that is to say, having an existence which precludes the existence of any other gods), but it is essential that the name apply to a referent who is regarded as supreme over all others.
There may, however, be a number of difficulties involved in the use of an indigenous expression for θεός[a], since the views concerning such a god may involve such factors as (1) psychological distance (the idea that such a god, though all powerful, is still very remote from mankind) and (2) the necessity for constant propitiation (as though such a god needs to be constantly entreated or sustained by means of gifts in order to make him favorably disposed toward mankind).
In some instances problems have arisen in the use of an indigenous term for God because such a name may be perfectly appropriate in one area in which a language is spoken, but have quite a different meaning or value in another part of the language area. For example, in one area of East Africa the name for ‘God’ in one tribe is the name for the devil in a nearby, closely related tribe.
Descriptive titles for God (which often become essentially names) may focus upon a number of different features or characteristics. In some instances such descriptive titles are traditional for certain receptor languages. In other instances they have been constructed by translators on the basis of indigenous models. The following are illustrative examples of various types of descriptive titles: ‘he who made us,’ ‘the supreme powerful one,’ ‘the one who performs miracles,’ ‘the owner of all,’ ‘he who is sufficient,’ ‘our great father,’ ‘the highest one,’ ‘the great spirit,’ ‘the unending spirit,’ ‘the commanding spirit,’ ‘the great chief,’ ‘the self-existing one,’ and ‘the truly sacred one.’
Some Bible translators have attempted to avoid semantic complications by borrowing a term from a dominant language. In Latin America, for example, many early missionaries borrowed the Spanish term Dios, but in explaining the meaning of Dios as the great and all-powerful creator, they simply provided another name for what people already understood to be the sun. The difficulty with borrowed proper names is that they are essentially zero in meaning, that is to say, they are words with a significant absence of meaning which must be filled in one way or another, and this is usually done merely by equating the meaning of such a zero term with already existing concepts. Hence, rather than avoiding wrong views of God, borrowed terms often perpetuate wrong views indirectly.
There may also be additional complications in the use of a borrowed term, since it may not provide a basis for certain syntactic or morphological modifications. For example, some missionaries have borrowed the term Allah for ‘God,’ but in speaking of ‘gods’ they have attempted to add a plural to the underlying form Allah. In most instances this procedure has resulted in something which is not only conceptually and grammatically impossible, but also highly offensive to receptors.
One special problem involving θεός[a] results from the occurrence of ‘God’ in expressions of possession, for example, ‘my God’ or ‘our God.’ In a number of languages one simply cannot say ‘my God,’ for one cannot ‘possess God.’ Rather, one must say ‘the God whom I worship’ or ‘the God in whom I trust.’ Similarly, it may be impossible to speak of ‘the God of Abraham’ without implying that such a God would only be an idol, that is to say, ‘the God that Abraham personally possessed.’ Under such circumstances it may be necessary to translate ‘the God of Abraham’ as ‘the God in whom Abraham trusted.’
Ideally, one should employ a well known receptor-language term for ‘God’ which would be applicable not only to the one supreme being, but could also refer to the ‘gods of the heathen,’ that is to say, a rendering of θεός[a] should be a generic expression which could be made particular and even exclusive by some such qualifier as ‘the’ or ‘the one’ or ‘the unique.’ Sometimes this can only be done by a qualifier such as ‘the great’ or even ‘the supreme.’
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1:8 · LUK 1:16 · LUK 1:19 · LUK 1:26 · LUK 1:30 · LUK 1:32 · LUK 1:37 · LUK 1:47 · LUK 1:64 · LUK 1:68 · LUK 1:78 · LUK 2:13 · LUK 2:14 · LUK 2:20 · LUK 2:28 · LUK 2:38 · LUK 2:40 · LUK 2:52 · LUK 3:2 · LUK 3:6 · LUK 3:8 · LUK 3:38 · LUK 4:8 · LUK 4:12 · LUK 4:34 · LUK 4:43 · LUK 5:1 · LUK 5:21 · LUK 5:25 · LUK 5:26 · LUK 6:4 · LUK 6:12 · LUK 6:20 · LUK 7:16 · LUK 7:16 · LUK 7:28 · LUK 7:29 · LUK 7:30 · LUK 8:1 · LUK 8:10 · LUK 8:11 · LUK 8:21 · LUK 8:39 · LUK 9:2 · LUK 9:11 · LUK 9:20 · LUK 9:27 · LUK 9:43 · LUK 9:60 · LUK 9:62 · LUK 10:9 · LUK 10:11 · LUK 10:27 · LUK 11:20 · LUK 11:20 · LUK 11:28 · LUK 11:42 · LUK 11:49 · LUK 12:6 · LUK 12:8 · LUK 12:9 · LUK 12:20 · LUK 12:21 · LUK 12:24 · LUK 12:28 · LUK 13:13 · LUK 13:18 · LUK 13:20 · LUK 13:28 · LUK 13:29 · LUK 14:15 · LUK 15:10 · LUK 16:13 · LUK 16:15 · LUK 16:15 · LUK 16:16 · LUK 17:15 · LUK 17:18 · LUK 17:20 · LUK 17:20 · LUK 17:21 · LUK 18:2 · LUK 18:4 · LUK 18:7 · LUK 18:11 · LUK 18:13 · LUK 18:16 · LUK 18:17 · LUK 18:19 · 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13:32 · JHN 14:1 · JHN 16:2 · JHN 16:27 · JHN 16:30 · JHN 17:3 · JHN 20:17 · JHN 20:17 · JHN 20:28 · JHN 21:19 · ACT 1:3 · ACT 2:11 · ACT 2:17 · ACT 2:22 · ACT 2:22 · ACT 2:23 · ACT 2:24 · ACT 2:30 · ACT 2:32 · ACT 2:33 · ACT 2:36 · ACT 2:39 · ACT 2:47 · ACT 3:8 · ACT 3:9 · ACT 3:13 · ACT 3:13 · ACT 3:15 · ACT 3:18 · ACT 3:21 · ACT 3:22 · ACT 3:25 · ACT 3:26 · ACT 4:10 · ACT 4:19 · ACT 4:19 · ACT 4:21 · ACT 4:24 · ACT 4:31 · ACT 5:4 · ACT 5:29 · ACT 5:30 · ACT 5:31 · ACT 5:32 · ACT 5:39 · ACT 6:2 · ACT 6:7 · ACT 6:11 · ACT 7:2 · ACT 7:6 · ACT 7:7 · ACT 7:9 · ACT 7:17 · ACT 7:20 · ACT 7:25 · ACT 7:32 · ACT 7:32 · ACT 7:35 · ACT 7:37 · ACT 7:42 · ACT 7:45 · ACT 7:46 · ACT 7:55 · ACT 7:55 · ACT 7:56 · ACT 8:10 · ACT 8:12 · ACT 8:14 · ACT 8:20 · ACT 8:21 · ACT 10:2 · ACT 10:2 · ACT 10:3 · ACT 10:4 · ACT 10:15 · ACT 10:22 · ACT 10:28 · ACT 10:31 · ACT 10:33 · ACT 10:34 · ACT 10:38 · ACT 10:38 · ACT 10:40 · ACT 10:41 · ACT 10:42 · ACT 10:46 · ACT 11:1 · ACT 11:9 · ACT 11:17 · ACT 11:17 · ACT 11:18 · ACT 11:18 · ACT 11:23 · ACT 12:5 · ACT 12:23 · ACT 12:24 · ACT 13:5 · ACT 13:7 · ACT 13:16 · ACT 13:17 · ACT 13:21 · ACT 13:23 · ACT 13:26 · ACT 13:30 · ACT 13:33 · ACT 13:36 · ACT 13:37 · ACT 13:43 · ACT 13:46 · ACT 14:15 · ACT 14:22 · ACT 14:26 · ACT 14:27 · ACT 15:4 · ACT 15:7 · ACT 15:8 · ACT 15:10 · ACT 15:12 · ACT 15:14 · ACT 15:19 · ACT 16:10 · ACT 16:14 · ACT 16:17 · ACT 16:25 · ACT 16:34 · ACT 17:13 · ACT 17:24 · ACT 17:27 · ACT 17:29 · ACT 17:30 · ACT 18:7 · ACT 18:11 · ACT 18:13 · ACT 18:21 · ACT 18:26 · ACT 19:8 · ACT 19:11 · ACT 20:21 · ACT 20:24 · ACT 20:27 · ACT 20:28 · ACT 20:32 · ACT 21:19 · ACT 21:20 · ACT 22:3 · ACT 22:14 · ACT 23:1 · ACT 23:3 · ACT 23:4 · ACT 24:14 · ACT 24:15 · ACT 24:16 · ACT 26:6 · ACT 26:8 · ACT 26:18 · ACT 26:20 · ACT 26:22 · ACT 26:29 · ACT 27:23 · ACT 27:24 · ACT 27:25 · ACT 27:35 · ACT 28:15 · ACT 28:23 · ACT 28:28 · ACT 28:31 · ROM 1:1 · ROM 1:7 · ROM 1:7 · ROM 1:8 · ROM 1:9 · ROM 1:10 · ROM 1:16 · ROM 1:17 · ROM 1:18 · ROM 1:19 · 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10:9 · ROM 11:1 · ROM 11:2 · ROM 11:2 · ROM 11:8 · ROM 11:21 · ROM 11:22 · ROM 11:22 · ROM 11:23 · ROM 11:29 · ROM 11:30 · ROM 11:32 · ROM 11:33 · ROM 12:1 · ROM 12:1 · ROM 12:2 · ROM 12:3 · ROM 13:1 · ROM 13:1 · ROM 13:2 · ROM 13:4 · ROM 13:4 · ROM 13:6 · ROM 14:3 · ROM 14:6 · ROM 14:6 · ROM 14:10 · ROM 14:11 · ROM 14:17 · ROM 14:18 · ROM 14:20 · ROM 14:22 · ROM 15:5 · ROM 15:6 · ROM 15:7 · ROM 15:8 · ROM 15:9 · ROM 15:13 · ROM 15:15 · ROM 15:16 · ROM 15:17 · ROM 15:30 · ROM 15:32 · ROM 15:33 · ROM 16:20 · 1CO 1:1 · 1CO 1:2 · 1CO 1:3 · 1CO 1:4 · 1CO 1:4 · 1CO 1:9 · 1CO 1:18 · 1CO 1:20 · 1CO 1:21 · 1CO 1:21 · 1CO 1:21 · 1CO 1:24 · 1CO 1:24 · 1CO 1:25 · 1CO 1:25 · 1CO 1:27 · 1CO 1:27 · 1CO 1:28 · 1CO 1:29 · 1CO 1:30 · 1CO 2:1 · 1CO 2:5 · 1CO 2:7 · 1CO 2:7 · 1CO 2:9 · 1CO 2:10 · 1CO 2:10 · 1CO 2:11 · 1CO 2:11 · 1CO 2:12 · 1CO 2:12 · 1CO 2:14 · 1CO 3:6 · 1CO 3:7 · 1CO 3:9 · 1CO 3:9 · 1CO 3:9 · 1CO 3:10 · 1CO 3:16 · 1CO 3:16 · 1CO 3:17 · 1CO 3:17 · 1CO 3:17 · 1CO 3:19 · 1CO 3:23 · 1CO 4:1 · 1CO 4:5 · 1CO 4:9 · 1CO 4:20 · 1CO 5:13 · 1CO 6:9 · 1CO 6:10 · 1CO 6:11 · 1CO 6:13 · 1CO 6:14 · 1CO 6:19 · 1CO 6:20 · 1CO 7:7 · 1CO 7:15 · 1CO 7:17 · 1CO 7:19 · 1CO 7:24 · 1CO 7:40 · 1CO 8:3 · 1CO 8:4 · 1CO 8:6 · 1CO 8:8 · 1CO 9:9 · 1CO 9:21 · 1CO 10:5 · 1CO 10:13 · 1CO 10:20 · 1CO 10:31 · 1CO 10:32 · 1CO 11:3 · 1CO 11:7 · 1CO 11:12 · 1CO 11:13 · 1CO 11:16 · 1CO 11:22 · 1CO 12:3 · 1CO 12:6 · 1CO 12:18 · 1CO 12:24 · 1CO 12:28 · 1CO 14:2 · 1CO 14:18 · 1CO 14:25 · 1CO 14:25 · 1CO 14:28 · 1CO 14:33 · 1CO 14:36 · 1CO 15:9 · 1CO 15:10 · 1CO 15:10 · 1CO 15:15 · 1CO 15:15 · 1CO 15:24 · 1CO 15:28 · 1CO 15:34 · 1CO 15:38 · 1CO 15:50 · 1CO 15:57 · 2CO 1:1 · 2CO 1:1 · 2CO 1:2 · 2CO 1:3 · 2CO 1:3 · 2CO 1:4 · 2CO 1:9 · 2CO 1:12 · 2CO 1:12 · 2CO 1:18 · 2CO 1:20 · 2CO 1:20 · 2CO 1:21 · 2CO 1:23 · 2CO 2:14 · 2CO 2:15 · 2CO 2:17 · 2CO 2:17 · 2CO 2:17 · 2CO 3:3 · 2CO 3:4 · 2CO 3:5 · 2CO 4:2 · 2CO 4:2 · 2CO 4:4 · 2CO 4:6 · 2CO 4:6 · 2CO 4:7 · 2CO 4:15 · 2CO 5:1 · 2CO 5:5 · 2CO 5:11 · 2CO 5:13 · 2CO 5:18 · 2CO 5:19 · 2CO 5:20 · 2CO 5:20 · 2CO 5:21 · 2CO 6:1 · 2CO 6:4 · 2CO 6:7 · 2CO 6:16 · 2CO 6:16 · 2CO 6:16 · 2CO 6:16 · 2CO 7:1 · 2CO 7:6 · 2CO 7:9 · 2CO 7:10 · 2CO 7:11 · 2CO 7:12 · 2CO 8:1 · 2CO 8:5 · 2CO 8:16 · 2CO 9:7 · 2CO 9:8 · 2CO 9:11 · 2CO 9:12 · 2CO 9:13 · 2CO 9:14 · 2CO 9:15 · 2CO 10:4 · 2CO 10:5 · 2CO 10:13 · 2CO 11:2 · 2CO 11:7 · 2CO 11:11 · 2CO 11:31 · 2CO 12:2 · 2CO 12:3 · 2CO 12:19 · 2CO 12:21 · 2CO 13:4 · 2CO 13:4 · 2CO 13:7 · 2CO 13:11 · 2CO 13:13 · GAL 1:1 · GAL 1:3 · GAL 1:4 · GAL 1:10 · GAL 1:13 · GAL 1:20 · GAL 1:24 · GAL 2:6 · GAL 2:19 · GAL 2:21 · GAL 3:6 · GAL 3:8 · GAL 3:11 · GAL 3:17 · GAL 3:18 · GAL 3:20 · GAL 3:21 · GAL 3:26 · GAL 4:4 · GAL 4:6 · GAL 4:7 · GAL 4:8 · GAL 4:9 · GAL 4:9 · GAL 4:14 · GAL 5:21 · GAL 6:7 · GAL 6:16 · EPH 1:1 · EPH 1:2 · EPH 1:3 · EPH 1:17 · EPH 2:4 · EPH 2:8 · EPH 2:10 · EPH 2:16 · EPH 2:19 · EPH 2:22 · EPH 3:2 · EPH 3:7 · EPH 3:9 · EPH 3:10 · EPH 3:19 · EPH 4:6 · EPH 4:18 · EPH 4:24 · EPH 4:30 · EPH 4:32 · EPH 5:1 · EPH 5:2 · EPH 5:5 · EPH 5:6 · EPH 5:20 · EPH 6:6 · EPH 6:11 · EPH 6:13 · EPH 6:17 · EPH 6:23 · PHP 1:2 · PHP 1:3 · PHP 1:8 · PHP 1:11 · PHP 1:28 · PHP 2:6 · PHP 2:6 · PHP 2:9 · PHP 2:11 · PHP 2:13 · PHP 2:15 · PHP 2:27 · PHP 3:3 · PHP 3:9 · PHP 3:14 · PHP 3:15 · PHP 4:6 · PHP 4:7 · PHP 4:9 · PHP 4:18 · PHP 4:19 · PHP 4:20 · COL 1:1 · COL 1:2 · COL 1:3 · COL 1:6 · COL 1:10 · COL 1:15 · COL 1:25 · COL 1:25 · COL 1:27 · COL 2:2 · COL 2:12 · COL 2:19 · COL 3:1 · COL 3:3 · COL 3:6 · COL 3:12 · COL 3:16 · COL 3:17 · COL 4:3 · COL 4:11 · COL 4:12 · 1TH 1:1 · 1TH 1:2 · 1TH 1:3 · 1TH 1:4 · 1TH 1:8 · 1TH 1:9 · 1TH 1:9 · 1TH 2:2 · 1TH 2:2 · 1TH 2:4 · 1TH 2:4 · 1TH 2:5 · 1TH 2:8 · 1TH 2:9 · 1TH 2:10 · 1TH 2:12 · 1TH 2:13 · 1TH 2:13 · 1TH 2:13 · 1TH 2:14 · 1TH 2:15 · 1TH 3:2 · 1TH 3:9 · 1TH 3:9 · 1TH 3:11 · 1TH 3:13 · 1TH 4:1 · 1TH 4:3 · 1TH 4:5 · 1TH 4:7 · 1TH 4:8 · 1TH 4:14 · 1TH 4:16 · 1TH 5:9 · 1TH 5:18 · 1TH 5:23 · 2TH 1:1 · 2TH 1:2 · 2TH 1:3 · 2TH 1:4 · 2TH 1:5 · 2TH 1:5 · 2TH 1:6 · 2TH 1:8 · 2TH 1:11 · 2TH 1:12 · 2TH 2:4 · 2TH 2:4 · 2TH 2:11 · 2TH 2:13 · 2TH 2:13 · 2TH 2:16 · 2TH 3:5 · 1TI 1:1 · 1TI 1:2 · 1TI 1:4 · 1TI 1:11 · 1TI 1:17 · 1TI 2:3 · 1TI 2:5 · 1TI 2:5 · 1TI 3:5 · 1TI 3:15 · 1TI 3:15 · 1TI 4:3 · 1TI 4:4 · 1TI 4:5 · 1TI 4:10 · 1TI 5:4 · 1TI 5:5 · 1TI 5:21 · 1TI 6:1 · 1TI 6:11 · 1TI 6:13 · 1TI 6:17 · 2TI 1:1 · 2TI 1:2 · 2TI 1:3 · 2TI 1:6 · 2TI 1:7 · 2TI 1:8 · 2TI 2:9 · 2TI 2:15 · 2TI 2:19 · 2TI 2:25 · 2TI 3:17 · 2TI 4:1 · TIT 1:1 · TIT 1:1 · TIT 1:2 · TIT 1:3 · TIT 1:4 · TIT 1:7 · TIT 1:16 · TIT 2:5 · TIT 2:10 · TIT 2:11 · TIT 2:13 · TIT 3:4 · TIT 3:8 · PHM 1:3 · PHM 1:4 · HEB 1:1 · HEB 1:6 · HEB 1:8 · HEB 1:9 · HEB 1:9 · HEB 2:4 · HEB 2:9 · HEB 2:13 · HEB 2:17 · HEB 3:4 · HEB 3:12 · HEB 4:4 · HEB 4:9 · HEB 4:10 · HEB 4:12 · HEB 5:1 · HEB 5:4 · HEB 5:10 · HEB 5:12 · HEB 6:1 · HEB 6:3 · HEB 6:5 · HEB 6:7 · HEB 6:10 · HEB 6:13 · HEB 6:17 · HEB 6:18 · HEB 7:1 · HEB 7:19 · HEB 7:25 · HEB 8:10 · HEB 9:14 · HEB 9:14 · HEB 9:20 · HEB 9:24 · HEB 10:7 · HEB 10:12 · HEB 10:21 · HEB 10:31 · HEB 10:36 · HEB 11:3 · HEB 11:4 · HEB 11:4 · HEB 11:5 · HEB 11:5 · HEB 11:6 · HEB 11:10 · HEB 11:16 · HEB 11:16 · HEB 11:19 · HEB 11:25 · HEB 11:40 · HEB 12:2 · HEB 12:7 · HEB 12:15 · HEB 12:22 · HEB 12:23 · HEB 12:28 · HEB 12:29 · HEB 13:4 · HEB 13:7 · HEB 13:15 · HEB 13:16 · HEB 13:20 · JAS 1:1 · JAS 1:5 · JAS 1:13 · JAS 1:13 · JAS 1:20 · JAS 1:27 · JAS 2:5 · JAS 2:19 · JAS 2:23 · JAS 2:23 · JAS 3:9 · JAS 4:4 · JAS 4:4 · JAS 4:6 · JAS 4:7 · JAS 4:8 · 1PE 1:2 · 1PE 1:3 · 1PE 1:5 · 1PE 1:21 · 1PE 1:21 · 1PE 1:23 · 1PE 2:4 · 1PE 2:5 · 1PE 2:10 · 1PE 2:12 · 1PE 2:15 · 1PE 2:16 · 1PE 2:17 · 1PE 2:19 · 1PE 2:20 · 1PE 3:4 · 1PE 3:5 · 1PE 3:17 · 1PE 3:18 · 1PE 3:20 · 1PE 3:21 · 1PE 3:22 · 1PE 4:2 · 1PE 4:6 · 1PE 4:10 · 1PE 4:11 · 1PE 4:11 · 1PE 4:11 · 1PE 4:14 · 1PE 4:16 · 1PE 4:17 · 1PE 4:17 · 1PE 4:19 · 1PE 5:2 · 1PE 5:2 · 1PE 5:5 · 1PE 5:6 · 1PE 5:10 · 1PE 5:12 · 2PE 1:1 · 2PE 1:2 · 2PE 1:17 · 2PE 1:21 · 2PE 2:4 · 2PE 3:5 · 2PE 3:12 · 1JN 1:5 · 1JN 2:5 · 1JN 2:14 · 1JN 2:17 · 1JN 3:1 · 1JN 3:2 · 1JN 3:9 · 1JN 3:9 · 1JN 3:10 · 1JN 3:10 · 1JN 3:17 · 1JN 3:20 · 1JN 3:21 · 1JN 4:1 · 1JN 4:2 · 1JN 4:2 · 1JN 4:3 · 1JN 4:4 · 1JN 4:6 · 1JN 4:6 · 1JN 4:6 · 1JN 4:7 · 1JN 4:7 · 1JN 4:7 · 1JN 4:8 · 1JN 4:8 · 1JN 4:9 · 1JN 4:9 · 1JN 4:10 · 1JN 4:11 · 1JN 4:12 · 1JN 4:12 · 1JN 4:15 · 1JN 4:15 · 1JN 4:16 · 1JN 4:16 · 1JN 4:16 · 1JN 4:16 · 1JN 4:20 · 1JN 4:20 · 1JN 4:21 · 1JN 5:1 · 1JN 5:2 · 1JN 5:2 · 1JN 5:3 · 1JN 5:4 · 1JN 5:9 · 1JN 5:9 · 1JN 5:10 · 1JN 5:10 · 1JN 5:11 · 1JN 5:18 · 1JN 5:18 · 1JN 5:19 · 1JN 5:20 · 2JN 1:3 · 2JN 1:9 · 3JN 1:6 · 3JN 1:11 · 3JN 1:11 · JUD 1:1 · JUD 1:4 · JUD 1:21 · JUD 1:25 · REV 1:1 · REV 1:2 · REV 1:6 · REV 1:8 · REV 1:9 · REV 2:7 · REV 3:1 · REV 3:2 · REV 3:12 · REV 3:12 · REV 3:12 · REV 3:12 · REV 3:14 · REV 4:5 · REV 4:8 · REV 4:11 · REV 5:6 · REV 5:9 · REV 5:10 · REV 6:9 · REV 7:2 · REV 7:3 · REV 7:10 · REV 7:11 · REV 7:12 · REV 7:15 · REV 7:17 · REV 8:2 · REV 8:4 · REV 9:4 · REV 9:13 · REV 10:7 · REV 11:1 · REV 11:11 · REV 11:13 · REV 11:16 · REV 11:16 · REV 11:17 · REV 11:19 · REV 12:5 · REV 12:6 · REV 12:10 · REV 12:10 · REV 12:17 · REV 13:6 · REV 14:4 · REV 14:7 · REV 14:10 · REV 14:12 · REV 14:19 · REV 15:1 · REV 15:2 · REV 15:3 · REV 15:3 · REV 15:7 · REV 15:8 · REV 16:1 · REV 16:7 · REV 16:9 · REV 16:11 · REV 16:14 · REV 16:19 · REV 16:21 · REV 17:17 · REV 17:17 · REV 18:5 · REV 18:8 · REV 18:20 · REV 19:1 · REV 19:4 · REV 19:5 · REV 19:6 · REV 19:9 · REV 19:10 · REV 19:13 · REV 19:15 · REV 19:17 · REV 20:4 · REV 20:6 · REV 21:2 · REV 21:3 · REV 21:3 · REV 21:7 · REV 21:10 · REV 21:11 · REV 21:22 · REV 21:23 · REV 22:1 · REV 22:3 · REV 22:5 · REV 22:6 · REV 22:9 · REV 22:18 · REV 22:19
12.22 · Supernatural Beings and Powers · Supernatural Beings
god any one of many different supernatural beings regarded as having authority or control over some aspect of the universe or human activity Some translators have made a practice of trying to render the meaning of θεός[b] by terms which mean essentially demons or evil spirits, but this is a mistake, for though the gods of the ancient pagans may be regarded as having had no existence at all, nevertheless, the NT does not speak of them as being evil.
In those languages in which there is no contrast between ‘gods’ and ‘spirits,’ that is to say, in instances in which people believe only in indwelling spirits rather than in supernatural beings who have control over natural phenomena, it may be possible to distinguish ‘gods’ by speaking of them as ‘powerful spirits.’ In certain instances, therefore, the equivalent of ‘God’ (12.1) is ‘the all-powerful Spirit.’
JHN 10:34 · JHN 10:35 · ACT 7:40 · ACT 7:43 · ACT 12:22 · ACT 14:11 · ACT 17:23 · ACT 19:26 · ACT 28:6 · 1CO 8:5 · 1CO 8:5 · 2CO 4:4 · GAL 4:8 · PHP 3:19 · 2TH 2:4
12.25 · (θεά) · Supernatural Beings and Powers · Supernatural Beings
goddess a female deity In some languages it may seem quite strange to attribute female sex to a divine being. However, one can almost always say ‘a woman god’ or ‘a spirit like a woman’ or ‘a spirit thought of as being like a woman.’
12.15 · Supernatural Beings and Powers · Supernatural Beings
Collocation: υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ
Son of God (a title applied to Jesus, literally: son of God, parallel in semantic structure to phrases consisting of υἱός followed by the genitive of class or kind; compare 9.4) one who has the essential characteristics and nature of God Before adopting a translation of υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ such as ‘Son of God,’ one must always investigate the extent to which such an expression might already be used in a particular language. For example, in the Tarahumara language of Mexico mankind is divided into two classes: (1) ‘sons of God,’ who are Tarahumaras and (2) ‘sons of the devil,’ all other people. In these circumstances it is necessary in translating υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ to use an expression which will identify ‘the unique Son of God’ or ‘the one who is truly the Son of God.’
MAT 4:3 · MAT 4:6 · MAT 8:29 · MAT 14:33 · MAT 16:16 · MAT 26:63 · MAT 27:40 · MAT 27:43 · MAT 27:54 · MRK 3:11 · MRK 5:7 · MRK 15:39 · LUK 1:35 · LUK 4:3 · LUK 4:9 · LUK 4:41 · LUK 8:28 · LUK 22:70 · JHN 1:34 · JHN 1:49 · JHN 3:18 · JHN 5:25 · JHN 10:36 · JHN 11:4 · JHN 11:27 · JHN 19:7 · JHN 20:31 · ACT 9:20 · ROM 1:4 · 2CO 1:19 · GAL 2:20 · EPH 4:13 · HEB 4:14 · HEB 6:6 · HEB 7:3 · HEB 10:29 · 1JN 3:8 · 1JN 4:15 · 1JN 5:5 · 1JN 5:10 · 1JN 5:12 · 1JN 5:13 · 1JN 5:20 · REV 2:18
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
θεός, -οὔ, ὁ and ἡ, voc. θεέ, once in the N. T., Mt. xxvii. 46; besides in Deut. iii. 24; Judg. [xvi. 28;] xxi. 3; [2 S. vii. 25; Is. xxxviii. 20]; Sir. xxiii. 4; Sap. ix. 1; 3 Mace. vi. 3; 4 Mace. vi. 27; Act. Thom. 44 sq. 57; Eus. h. 6. 2, 23,16; [5, 20,7; vit. Const. 2,55, 1.59]; ef. W. §8, 2 ο.; [B. 12 (11)]; ({on the eight or more proposed derivations see Vaniéek p. 386, who follows Curtius (after Doderlein) p. 513 sqq. in connecting it with a root meaning to supplicate, implore; hence the implored ; per contra cf. Max Miiller, Chips ete. iv. 227 sq.; L. and 8. s. v. fin.]); [fr. Hom. down]; Sept. for 58, ΟΝ and m7; a god, a goddess; 1. a general appellation of deities or divinities: Acts xxviii. 6; 1 Co. viii. 4; 2 Th. ii. 4; once ἡ θεός, Acts xix. 37 G LT Tr WH; θεοῦ φωνὴ καὶ οὐκ ἀνθρώπου, Acts xii. 22; ἄνθρωπος ὧν ποιεῖς σεαυτὸν θεόν, Jn. x. 33; plur., of the gods of the Gentiles: Acts xiv. 11; xix. 26; λεγόμενοι θεοί, 1 Co. viii. 58; of φύσει μὴ ὄντες θεοί, Gal.iv. 8; τοῦ θεοῦ Ῥεφάν [q. v.], Acts vii. 43 ; of angels: εἰσὶ θεοὶ πολλοί, 1 Co. viii. δὴ (on which cf. Philo de somn. i. § 39 6 μὲν ἀληθείᾳ θεὸς εἷς ἐστιν, of δ᾽ ἐν καταχρήσει λεγόμενοι πλείους). [On the use of the sing. θεός (and Lat. deus) as a generic term by (later) heathen writ., see Norton, Genuinen. of the Gosp. 2d ed. iii. addit. note D; ef. Dr. Ezra Abbot in Chris. Exam. for Nov. 1848, p. 389 sqq-; Huidekoper, Judaism at Rome, ch. i. Sii.; see Bib. Sacr. for July 1856, p.666 sq., and for addit. exx. Nagelsbach, Homer. Theol. p. 129; also his Nachhomerische Theol. p. 139 sq.; Stephanus, Thes. s. v.; and reff. (by Prof. Abbot) in Journ. Soc. Bibl. Lit. and Exeg. i. p. 120 note.] 2. Whether Christ is called God must be determined from Jn. i.1; xx. 28; 1Jn.v. 20; Ro. ix. 5; Tit.ii.13; Heb. i. 8 sq., ete. ; the matter is still in dispute among theologians; ef. Grimm, Institutio theologiae dogmaticae, ed. 2, p. 228 sqq- [and the discussion (on Ro. ix. 5) by Professors Dwight and Abbot in Journ. Soc. Bib. Lit. ete. τι. s., esp. pp. 42 sqq. 113 sqq-]. 3. spoken of the only and true Gop: with the article, Mt. iii. 9; Mk. xiii. 19; Lk. ii. 13; Acts ii. 11, and very often; with prepositions: ἐκ τοῦ θ. Jn. viii. 42, 47 and often in John’s writ.; ὑπὸ τοῦ θ. Lk. i. 26 [Τ Tr WH ἀπό]; Acts xxvi. 6; παρὰ τοῦ 6. Jn. viii. 40; ix. 16 [L T Tr WH here om. art.]; παρὰ τῷ 6. Ro. ii. 13 [Tr txt. om. and L WH Tr mrg. br. the art.]; ix. 14; ἐν τῷ 6. Col. iii. 3; ἐπὶ τῷ 6. Lk. i. 47; eis τὸν 6. Acts xxiv. 15 [Tdf. πρός] ; ἐπὶ τὸν θ. Acts xv. 19; xxvi. 18, 20; πρὸς τὸν 6. Jn. i. 2; Acts xxiv. [15 Tdf.], 16, and many other exx. without the article: Mt. vi. 24; Lk. iii. 2; xx. 38; Ro. viii. 8, 33; 2 Co. i. 21; v.19; vi. 7; 1 Th. ii. 5, ete.; with prepositions: ἀπὸ θεοῦ, Jn. iii. 2; xvi. 30; Ro. xiii. 1 [LT Tr WH ὑπό]: παρὰ θεοῦ, Jn. 3. 6; Geos ἐκ θεοῦ, Acts v. 39; 2 Co. v. 1; Phil. iii. 9; mapa θεῷ, 2 Th. i. 6; 1 Pet. ii. 4; κατὰ θεόν, Ro. viii. 27; 2 Co. vii. 9sq.; ef. W. § 19 5. ν. ὁ θεός τινος (gen. of pers.), the (guardian) God of any one, blessing and protecting him: Mt. xxii. 32; Mk. xii. 26 sq. [29 WH mrg. (see below) ]; Lk. xx. 37; Jn. xx. 17; Acts iii. 13; xiii. 17; 2 Co. vi. 16; Heb. xi. 16; Rey. xxi. 3 [without 6; but GT Tr WH txt.om. the phrase]; ὁ θεύς μου, i. q. οὗ εἰμί, ᾧ καὶ λατρεύω (Acts xxvii. 23): Ro. i. 8; 1 Co. i. 4 [Tr mrg. br. the gen.]; 2 Co. xii. 21; Phil. i. 3; iv. 19; Philem. 4 ; κύριος ὁ θεός σου, ἡμῶν, ὑμῶν, αὐτῶν (in imit. of Hebr. PAIS WM, wx”, oToN “5, DPT): Mt. iv. 75 xxii. 37; Mk. xii. 29 [see above]; Lk. iv. 8,12; x. 27; Acts ii. 39; ef. Thilo, Cod. apocr. Nov. Test. p. 169; [and Bp. Lehtft. as quoted 5. v. κύριος, 6. a. init.]; ὁ θεὸς x. πατὴρ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ : Ro. xv. 6; 2 Co.i. 3; xi. 31 (LT Tr WH om. ἡμ. and Xp.J; Eph. i. 3; Col. i. 3 (L WH om. cai]; 1 Pet. i. 3; in which combination of words the gen. depends on 6 θεύς as well as on πατήρ, οἴ. Fritzsche on Rom. iii. p. 232 sq.; [Oltramare on Ro. l.c.; Bp. Lehtft. on Gal. i. 4; but some would restrict it to the latter; cf. e. σ. Meyer on Ro. ]. ¢., Eph. l.e.; Ellie. on Gal. l.¢., Eph. 1. 6.7; ὁ θεὸς τοῦ κυρ. nu. Ino. Xp. Eph. i. 17; ὁ θεὸς x. πατὴρ ἡμῶν, Gal. i. 4; Phil. iv. 20; 1 Th. i. 3; iii. 11, 13; θεὸς 6 πατήρ, 1 Co. viii. 6 ; ὁ θεὸς x. πατήρ, 1 Co. xv. 24; Eph. v. 20; Jas. i. 27; iii. 9 [Ree. ; al. κύριος x. π.]; ἀπὸ θεοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν, Ro. i. 7; 1 Co.i.3; 2 Co.i. 2; Eph. i. 2; Phil. i. 2; Col. i. 2; 2 Th. i. 2; 1 Tim.i. 2 [Ree., al. om. ἡμ.7; Philem.3; [ὁ θεὸς πατήρ, Col. iii. 17 LT Tr WH (ef. Bp. Leghtft. ad loc.) ; elsewhere without the art. as] θεοῦ πατρός (in which phrase the two words have blended as it were into one, equiv. to a prop. name, Germ. Gottvater [A. V. God the Father]): Phil. ii. 11; 1 Pet. i. 2; ἀπὸ θεοῦ πατρός, Gal. i. 3; Eph. vi. 23; 2 Tim. i. 2; Tit. i. 4; mapa θεοῦ πατρός, 2 Pet. i. 17; 2 Jn. 3; ef. Wieseler, Com. ub. d. Brief a. d. Galat. p. 10 sqq- ὁ θεύς w. gen. of the thing of which God is the author [ef. W. § 30,1]: τῆς ὑπομονῆς x. τῆς παρακλήσεως, Ro. xv. 53; τῆς ἐλπίδος, ib. 13; τῆς εἰρήνης, 33; 1 Th. v. 23; τῆς παρακλήσεως, 2 Co.i. 3. τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, the things of God,i.e. a. hiscounsels,1Co.ii.11. β. his interests, Mt. xvi. 23; Mk. viii. 33. sy. things due to God, Mt. xxii. 21; Mk. xii. 17; Lk. xx. 25. Ta πρὸς τὸν θεόν, things respecting, pertaining to, God, — contextually i. α. the sacrificial business of the priest, Ro. xv. 17; Heb. ii. 17; v. 1; ef. Xen. rep. Lac. 13, 11; Fritzsche on Rom. iii. p. 262sq. Nom. ὁ θεός for the voc.: Mk. xv. 34; Lk. xviii. 11,13; Jn. xx. 28; Actsiv.24[RG; Heb.i. 8?]; x. 7; ef. W.§ 29, 2; [B. 140 (123)]. τῷ θεῷ, God being judge [cf. W. § 31, 4 a.; 248 (232 sq.); B. § 133, 14]: after δυνατός, 2 Co. x. 4; after ἀστεῖος, Acts vii. 20, (after ἄμεμπτος, Sap. x. 5; after μέγας, Jon. iii. 3; see ἀστεῖος, 2). For the expressions ἄνθρωπος θεοῦ, δύναμις θεοῦ. vids θεοῦ, etc., θεὸς τῆς ἐλπίδος etc., ὁ ζῶν θεός οἴο., see under ἄνθρωπος 6, δύναμις a., υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ, ἐλπίς 2, ζάω 1. 1, ete. 4. θεός is used of whatever can in any respect be likened to God, or resembles him in any way: Hebraistically i. q. God’s representative or vicegerent, of magistrates and judges, Jn. x. 84 sq. after Ps. Ixxxi. (Ixxxii.) 6, (of the wise man, Philo de mut. nom. § 22; quod omn. prob. lib. 8 7; [ὁ σοφὸς λέγεται θεὸς τοῦ ἄφρονος . . . θεὸς πρὸς har τασίαν x. δόκησιν, quod det. pot. insid. § 44]; πατὴρ x. μήτηρ ἐμφανεῖς εἰσι θεοὶ, μιμούμενοι τὸν ἀγέννητον ἐν τῷ ζωοπλαστεῖν, de decal. 8 23; ὠνομάσθη (i. e. Moses) ὅλου τοῦ ἔθνους θεὸς x. βασιλεύς, de vita Moys. i. § 28; [de migr. Abr. § 15; de alleg. leg. i. 8.187); of the devil, ὁ δεὸς τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου (see αἰών, 3), 2 Co. iv. 4; the pers. or thing to which one is wholly devoted, for which alone he lives, 6. g. ἡ κοιλία, Phil. iii. 19.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
θεός theos 1x
a deity, Acts 7:43; 1 Cor. 8:5; an idol, Acts 7:40; God, the true God, Mt. 3:9, et al. freq.; God, possessed of true godhead, Jn. 1:1; Rom. 9:5; from the Hebrew, applied to potentates, Jn. 10:34, 35; τῷ θεῷ, an intensive term, from the Hebrew, exceedingly, Acts 7:20, and, perhaps, 2 Cor. 10:4
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
θεός, -οῦ, ὁ, ἡ (Ac 19:37 only; v. M, Pr., 60, 244), late voc., θεέ (Mt 27:46; cf. De 3:24, al.),
[in LXX chiefly for אֱלֹהִים, also for אֵל and other cognate forms, יהוה, etc.;]
a god or deity, God. In polytheistic sense, a god or deity: Ac 28:6, I Co 8:4, II Th 2:4, al.; pl., Ac. 14:11 19:26, Ga 4:8, al.
Of the one true God; anarthrous: Mt 6:24, Lk 20:38, al.; esp. c. prep. (Kühner3, iii, 605), ἀπὸ θ., Jo 3:2; ἐκ, Ac 5:39, II Co 5:1, Phl 3:9; ὑπό, Ro 13:1; παρὰ θεοῦ, Jo 1:6; παρὰ θεῷ, II Th 1:6, I Pe 2:4; κατὰ θεόν, Ro 8:27, II Co 7:9, 10; also when in gen. dependent on an anarth. noun (Bl., §46, 6), Mt 27:43, Lk 3:2, Ro 1:17, I Th 2:13; as pred., Lk 20:38, Jo 1:1, and when the nature and character rather than the person of God is meant, Ac 5:29, Ga 2:6, al. (M, Th., 14);
more freq., c. art.: Mt 1:23, Mk 2:7, al. mult.; c. prep., ἀπὸ τ. θ., Lk 1:26; ἐκ, Jo 8:42, al.; παρὰ τοῦ θ., Jo 8:40; π. τῷ θ., Ro 9:14; ἐν, Col 3:3; ἐπὶ τῷ θ., Lk 1:47; ἐπὶ τὸν θ., Ac 15:19; εἰς τ. θ., Ac 24:15; πρὸς τ. θ., Jo 1:2; c. gen. pers., Mt 22:32, Mk 12:26, 27, Lk 20:37, Jo 20:17, al.; ὁ θ. μου, Ro 1:8, Phl 1:3, al.; ὁ θ. καὶ πατήρ κ. τ. λ., Ro 15:6, Eph 1:3, Phl 4:20, al.; c. gen. rei, Ro 15:5, 13, 33, II Co 1:3, I Th 5:23; τὰ τ. θεοῦ, Mt 16:23, Mk 12:17, I Co 2:11; τὰ πρὸς τὸν θ., Ro 15:17, He 2:17 5:1; τ. θεῷ, as a superl. (LXX, Jos 3:3), Ac 7:20, II Co 10:4; Hebraistically, of judges (Ps 81(82):6), Jo 10:34(LXX), 35.
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
θεός. For the application of the title θεός to the Ptolemaic kings it is sufficient to recall Brit. Mus. Inscrr. IV. 1 No. 906% (B.C. 284-273) where a votive offering is dedicated in honour of Πτολεμαίου τοῦ σωτῆρος καὶ θεοῦ, and the description of Ptolemy V. (Epiphanes) on the Rosetta stone—OG/S gol? (B.C. 196) ὑπάρχων θεὸς ἐκ θεοῦ Kal θεᾶς : cf. Deissmann LAE, p. 348 and the full discussion by E. Kornemann ‘‘ Zur Geschichte der antiken Herrscherkulte” in Beztrdge zur alten Geschichte [Klio] i., p. 51 ff. (Leipzig, 1902). The same practice is still more strikingly illustrated in the Imperial period, as when in an inscr. from the Fayum district, dated March 17th, B.c. 24, Augustus is described as θεὸς ἐκ θεοῦ (OG/S 6557), or as when a votive inscr. is addressed to Nero—daya0a(t) θεῶ(ι) (Cos 927): see Deissmann 7s. p. 349. With this may be compared the frequent use for Augustus of the title υἱὸς θεοῦ, corresponding to the dzvz filius of the Latin inscrr., e.g. BGU I. 174? (A.D. 7) ἔτους ἕϊκ]του καὶ τριακοστοῦ [τῆς] Καίσαρος κρατήσεως θεοῦ υἱ[ὸδ]ν (1. υἱοῦ), and, interesting as coming from the Emperor himself, the letter, 7274ὲ ILI. 174 (A.p. 5), which begins—Katcoap θεοῦ vids Σεβαστός. Other examples will be found in Deissmann 2.5, p. 166 f., LAZ, p- 350 f., where the bearing of this usage upon the early Christian title of Christ is discussed: cf. also Harnack History of Dogma i. p. 118 ff. Mention should also be made of the Imperial oath, in which, following Ptolemaic practice, the person of the Emperor is directly invoked. A very early example is BGU II. 543! (B.c. 27) ὄμνυμι Καίσαρα Αὐτοκράτορα θεοῦ vidv: cf. Chrest. I. 111% (A.D. 6) ὄμνυμι] [Καίσαρα] Αὐτοκράτορα θεοῦ υ[ἱὸν] Δία ’Edevθέριον [Σεβαστόν] with Wilcken’s important note. It gives one a thrill to find the very combination of Jn 2078 applied in BGU IV. 11971 (B.C. 4) to Asclepiades, apparently a high official—r@ θεῶι kal κυρίωι : the same designation recurs in 26. 12011 (A.D. 2) with reference to a priest, but the editor knows of no other exx. of this use of θεός. From pagan letters we may cite a few instances of constantly recurring expressions—P Hib I. 798 (c. B.c. 260) Tots θεοῖς πολλὴ χά[ρι]ς, P Giss I. 17% (time of Hadrian) (= Chrest. 1. p. 566) χάρις Tots θεοῖς πᾶσι ὅτι σε διαφυλάσσουσι ἀπρόσκοπον, P Lond 425 (Β.Ο. 168) (=I. p. 30, Selections, p. 9) ὡς τοῖς θεοῖς εὐχομένη διατελῶ, BGU I. 2484 (ii/A.D.) θεῶν δὲ βουλομένων, 26. I. 27}} (ii/A.D.) (= Selections, p. 101) ὡς 6 θεὸς ἤθελεν, 2. 11. 4519 (i/ii A.D.) θεῶν ἐπιτρεπόν[τ]ων, and P Oxy VI. 935° (ili/A.p.) θεῶν συνλαμβανόντων, cf. 19 συνλαμβ[ά]νοίυσι] yap ἡμεῖν ἀεὶ gt] π[άτ]ριοι θεοὶ ἡμῶν δ[ιδό)ντες ἡμεῖν ὑγία[ν καὶ] σω[τ]ηρίαν. With this last may be compared the soldier’s letter to his sister, BGU II. 6325 (ii/A.D.), in which he assures her that he is μνίαν σου ποιούμενος (cf. Rom 1° a/.) mapa τοῖς [ἐνθάδε θεοῖς, showing that for the time being he has transferred his allegiance to the gods of the place where he is garrisoned (cf. Deissmann ZAZ, p. 173). For prepositional phrases see P Petr II. 13(19)? (mid. iii/ B.C.) (= Witkowski, p. 19) Kal ζῶντός σου Kal εἰς θεοὺς ἀπελθόντος, P Tebt 1. 58 recto 85 (B.c. 111) σὺν τοῖς θεοῖς, ““by the grace of the gods,” P Ryl II. 2438 (ii/a.p.) ἐλπίfovtes σὺν θεῷ τὸ πεδείον σπαρῆναι, “hoping that with God’s help the field will be sown,” where, as the editors point out, the use of θεῷ alone does not imply that the writer was a Christian (cf. Archiv i. p. 436), and, for an undoubtedly Christian ex., the letter of the presbyter Psenosiris, P Grenf II. 7318 (late iii/A.D.) (= Se/ections, p. 118) ὅταν ἔλθῃ σὺν Θεῷ, with the corresponding use of ἐν Θ(ε)ῷ ἴῃ ®& In P Jand 11? (iii/A.p.) ἐλπίδω yap eis θεόν, the writer may well be a Christian (or a Jew), cf. Ac 2415, 1 Pet 3°; and the same may perhaps be said regarding BGU I. 246% (ii/iii A.D.) νυκτὸς Kal ἡμέρας ἐντυνχάνω τῷ θεῴ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν, cf. 1 Th 31°. A iv/a.p. letter of a Christian servant to his master, which abounds in echoes of NT language, has—as ἐν ἄλ]λοις πλείστοις viv ἔτι μᾶλλον ἡ πρὸς ot [τοῦ δεσπό]του θεοῦ γνῶσις ἀνεφάνη (cf. Lk 1011) ἅπασιν ἡμῖν, “as on many other occasions so now still more plainly the favour of the Lord God towards you has been revealed to all of us” (P Oxy VI. 9394 = Selections, p. 128) : cf. also P Oxy I. 1208 (iv/A.D.) μὴ dpa παρέλκομαι ἢ Kal εἴργομαι ἔστ᾽ ἂν ὁ θεὸς ἡμᾶς αἰλαιήσῃ (/. ἐλεήσῃ), ‘Sam I to be distracted and oppressed until Heaven takes pity on me?” For the voc. θεέ, which is found in Mt 274°, cf. the magical P Lond 12159 (ili/A.D.) (=I. p. τοι) κύριε θεὲ μέγιστε, which is reinforced by a Pisidian inscr., unfortunately undated, /’S 1902, p. 355, θέ. See also s.v. ἄγνωστος, ἄξιος, κύριος, παντοκράτωρ, σωτήρ, ὕψιστος, and for the Pauline usage Slaten Qualetative Nouns, p. 64 ff.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
θεός (theos) — God. θεός, ὁ, Boeotian dialect θιός, Laconian dialect σιός (see. below), [Refs 5th c.AD+], Cretan dialect θιός [Refs], Doric dialect also θεύς [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; vocative (only late) θεός, also θεέ [LXX+NT]; but classical in compound names, Ἀμφίθεε, Τιμόθεε:—God, the Deity, in general sense, both singular and plural (εἰ καὶ ἐπὶ θεοὺς καὶ ἔτι μᾶλλον ἐπὶ θεὸν ἁρμόζει μεταφέρειν [Refs 8th c.BC+]; σὺν θ. εἰρημένον [Refs 5th c.BC+]: so in plural, σύν γε θεοῖσιν [Refs 8th c.BC+]; οὐ θεῶν ἄτερ pi.[Refs 8th c.BC+]; ὑπὲρ θεόν against his will,[Refs 4th c.BC+]; θεῶν συνεθελόντων, βουλομένων, [Refs 5th c.BC+]bless you! good heavens! for heaven's sake! [Refs 8th c.BC+]: doubled in poets, θεὸν θεόν τις ἀγλαϊζέτω [Refs 5th c.BC+]; θεοί (Cretan dialect θιοί) as an opening formula in Inscrr. (i.e. τύχην ἀγαθὴν διδοῖεν), [Refs].1, etc.: in Prose also with the Article, ὁ θ. πάντων ἂν εἴη αἴτιος [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰ πρὸς τοὺς θ., τὰ παρὰ τῶν θ., [Refs 5th c.BC+] __b θεοί, opposed to ἄνδρες, πατὴρ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε [Refs 8th c.BC+]; also in singular, θεῷ ἐναλίγκιος αὐδήν [Refs 8th c.BC+], of an 'angel's visit', [Refs 3rd c.BC+] __c of special divinities, νέρτεροι θ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐνέρτεροι θ. [Refs 8th c.BC+]; οἱ κάτωθεν θ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἱ δώδεκα θ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μὰ τοὺς δώδεκα θ. [Refs 4th c.BC+]; in dual, τὼ σιώ (Laconian dialect), of Castor and Pollux, ναὶ τὼ σ. [Refs 5th c.BC+] __d ὁ θ., of natural phenomena, ὁ θ. ὕει (i.e. Ζεύς) [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἔσεισεν ὁ θ. (i.e. Ποσειδῶν) [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of the sun, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; δύνοντος τοῦ θ. [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; the weather, τί δοκεῖ τὰ τοῦ θεο; [Refs 4th c.BC+] __e Astrology texts, θεοί,= ἀστέρες, [Refs 4th c.AD+] __f θεός (i.e. Ἥλιος), name of the 9th τόπος, Rhetor.[Refs]
2. metaphorically, of abstract things, τὸ δ᾽ εὐτυχεῖν τόδ᾽ ἐν βροτοῖς θεός τε καὶ θεοῦ πλέον [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὁ πλοῦτος τοῖς σοφοῖς θ. [Refs]; φθόνος κάκιστος θ. [Refs]
3. as title of rulers, θεῶν ἀδελφῶν (i.e. Ptolemy Il and Arsinoe), [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; Ἀντίοχος ὅτῳ θεὸς ἐπώνυμον γίγνεται [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; θεὸς ἐκ θεοῦ, of Augustus, [Refs 1st c.BC+]
3. b = Latin Divus, [Refs 1st c.BC+]; οἱ ἐν θεοῖς αὐτοκράτορες,= divi Imperatores, [Refs]
3. c generally of the dead, καὶ ζῶντός σου καὶ εἰς θεοὺς ἀπελθόντος [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; θεοῖς χθονίοις,= Latin Dis Manibus, [Refs]
4. one set in authority, judge, τὸ κριτήριον τοῦ θ., ἐνώπιον τοῦ θ., [LXX]
II. θεός feminine, goddess, μήτε θήλεια θεός, μήτε τις ἄρσην [Refs 8th c.BC+]; especially at Athens, of Athena, Decrees cited in [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἁ Διὸς θεός, Ζηνὸς ἡ θ., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of other goddesses, ποντία θεός [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἡ νερτέρα θ.,= Περσεφόνη, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of Thetis, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of Niobe, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: in dual, of Demeter and Persephone, τὰ τοῖν θεοῖν ψηφίσματα [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III. as adjective in comparative θεώτερος, divine, θύραι θ., opposed to καταιβαταὶ ἀνθρώποισιν, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; χορὸς θ. [Refs 5th c.BC+] (κόσμῳ θέντες τὰ πρήγματα), by [Refs 5th c.BC+] [In Epic dialect (twice in [Refs 8th c.BC+], as monosyllable by synizesis, θεοί [Refs 8th c.BC+]
