Quick Definition
I carry out fully, fully convince
Strong's Definition
to carry out fully (in evidence), i.e. completely assure (or convince), entirely accomplish
Derivation: from G4134 (πλήρης) and G5409 (φορέω);
KJV Usage: most surely believe, fully know (persuade), make full proof of
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
πληροφορέω, πληροφόρω: (1 aorist imperative πληροφόρησον, infinitive πληροφορησαι (Rom_15:13 L marginal reading); passive, present imperative πληροθορείσθω; perfect participle πεπληροφορημενος; 1 aorist participle πληροφορηθείς); (from the unused adjective πληροθορος, and this from πλήρης and φέρω); to bear or bring full, to make full;
a. to cause a thing to be shown to the full: τήν διακονίαν, i. e. to fulfil the ministry in every respect, 2Ti_4:5 (cf. πληροῦν τήν διακονίαν, Act_12:25); also τό κήρυγμα, 2Ti_4:17.
b. "to carry through to the end, accomplish: πράγματα πεπληροφορημενα, things that have been accomplished (Itala and Vulg.completae), Luk_1:1 (cf. ὡς ἐπληρώθη ταῦτα, Act_19:21) (cf. Meyer edition Weiss at the passage).
c. τινα, to fill one with any thought, conviction, or inclination: (Rom_15:13 L marginal reading (followed by ἐν with the dative of thing): others, πληρόω, which see, 1); hence, to make one certain, to persuade, convince, one (πολλαῖς οὖν λόγοις καί ὅρκοις πληροθορησαντες Μεγαβυζον, extracted from Ctesias () in Photius, p. 41, 29 ((edited by Bekker); but on this passive, see Lightfoot as below)); passive, to be persuaded, Rom_14:5; πληροθορηθεις, persuaded, fully convinced or assured, Rom_4:21; also πεπληροθορήμενοι, Col_4:12 L T Tr WH; οἱ ἀπόστολοι ... πληροθορηθεντες διά τῆς ἀναστάσεως τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ καί πιστωθενθες ἐν τῷ λόγῳ τοῦ Θεοῦ, Clement of Rome, 1 Cor. 42, 3 [ET]; frequent so in ecclesiastical writings; to render inclined or bent on, ἐπληροθορηθη καρδία ... τοῦ ποιῆσαι τό πονηρόν, Ecc_8:11 (cf. Test xii. Patr., test. Gad 2). The word is treated of fully by Bleek, Brief an d. Heb_2:2, p. 233ff; Grimm in the Jahrbb. f. Deutsche TheoI. for 1871, p. 38ff; (Lightfoot's Commentary on Col_4:12. Cf. also Sophocles' Lexicon, under the word.)
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
πληροφορέω plē rophoreō 6 x
to bring full measure, to give in full;
to carry out fully, to discharge completely, 2Ti_4:5 ; 2Ti_4:17 ;
pass. of things, to be fully established as a matter of certainty, Luk_1:1 ;
of persons, to be fully convinced, assured, Rom_4:21 ; Rom_14:15 ; Col_4:12
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
† πληροφορέω , -ῶ ,
[in LXX : Ecc_8:11 ( H4390 ) * ;]
1. to bring in full measure , hence, to fulfil, accomplish: Luk_1:1 , 2Ti_4:5 ; 2Ti_4:17 .
2. to persuade, assure or satisfy fully (so in Papyri; v. Deiss., LAE , 82 f .; M , Th., 9): pass ., Rom_4:21 ; Rom_14:5 , Col_4:12 ( v. Lft ., in l ).
3. to fill: Rom_15:13 , L, mg . (Cl. Ro., 1Co_5:4 ); metaph ., pass ., to be filled with , hence, fully bent on (Ec, l.c .).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
πληροφορέω [page 519]
This verb occurs very rarely outside Biblical Greek, where its earliest occurrence is LXX Ecc_8:11 . It is used of accomplishing, settling legal matters in such a passage as P Amh II. 66 .42 (A.D. 124), where the complainer is invited by the strategus to bring forward his witnesses, ἵνα δὲ καὶ νῦν πληροφορήσω , in order that I may finish off the matter. Similarly in BGU III. 747 i. 22 (A.D. 139) αἰ [τ ]ούμ [ε ]νο [ς ] π [λ ]η [ρ ]οφορε [ῖ ]ν , the reference seems to be to a collector desiring to get in certain monies in full. This prepares us for the verb in connexion with paying off debts, as in P Oxy III. 509 .10 (late ii/A.D.) τυγ̣[χά ]νω δὲ πεπλροφρημένος τοῖς ὀφειλομένοις μοι , but it happens that I have been paid the debt in full (Edd.), and P Lond 1164( g ) .11 (A.D. 212) (= III. p. 163) πεπληροφόρηται δὲ καὶ τῶν τόκων κατὰ μέρος διὰ χειρὸς πάντα εἰς περίλυσιν . Cf. also the expressive BGU II. 665 ii. 2 (i/A.D.) ἐπληροφόρησα αὐτόν , the idea apparently being that the man to whom money has been entrusted satisfies the investor by the return he makes, and the magic P Lond 121 .910 (iii/A.D.) (= I. p. 113) πληροφοροῦσα ἀγαπῶσα στέργουσα ἐμέ , pointing to an affection which is fully reciprocated. See further Whitaker Exp VIII. xx. p. 380 ff., and xxi. p. 239 f., where it is contended that πληροφορεῖσθαι denotes not a conviction or assurance of the mind, but the result of such an assurance in life and conduct, the rich fruitfulness for which the conviction prepares the way. Hence in Rom_14:5 the thought is that every Christian is to be fully fruitful in following out the course which his own mind shows him to be right.
The verb is also discussed by Deissmann LAE p. 82 f., and by Lagrange Bulletin d ancienne littιrature et d archιologie chrιtiennes ii. (1912), p. 96 ff.
[Supplemental from 1930 edition]
πληροφορέω . Cf. P Lond 1075 .18 (vii/A.D.) (= III. p. 282) πεπληροφόρημαι γὰρ σαφῶς ὅτι οὐ θέλετε αὐτὸν εἶναι ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον ἀνεγκέφαλον , for I am fully persuaded that you do not wish him to be so brainless.
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
πληροφορέω πληρο-φορέω, [Etym: φέρω] "to fulfil", NTest. in Pass., of persons, "to have full satisfaction, to be fully assured", id=NTest. ; of things, "to be fully believed", id=NTest.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
πληροφορέω, -ῶ
[in LXX: Ecc.8:11 (מָלֵא) * ;]
__1. to bring in full measure, hence, to fulfil, accomplish: Luk.1:1, 2Ti.4:5 4:17.
__2. to persuade, assure or satisfy fully (so in π.; see Deiss., LAE, 82 f.; M, Th., 9): pass., Rom.4:21 14:5, Col.4:12 (see Lft., in l).
__3. to fill: Rom.15:13, L, mg. (Cl. Ro., 1Co.5:4); metaphorically, pass., to be filled with, hence, fully bent on (Ec, l.with).†
(AS)
📖 In-Depth Word Study
Accomplished (4135) plerophoreo
Being fully assured (4135) (plerophoreo from pleres = full + phero = to bear or bring) means literally to carry fully and so to bring to fullness or to bring to a full measure. To fill completely. To satisfy fully. To be completely certain or absolutely sure as here in Romans 4:21 which speaks of Abraham's faith. To fulfill or fully accomplish as in (2 Timothy 4:5)
This verb is frequently used in the papyri in the sense of finishing off.
All of the meanings in the NT are figurative and can be divided into either (1) to fulfill, accomplish or achieve, carry out fully or (2) to be fully convinced, to be wholly certain or to be persuaded as in the present verse. The primary idea is, being filled with a thought or conviction.
Plerophoreo pictures Abraham filled to the brim with no room for doubt.
Vine writes that plerophoreo...
is used of the accomplished work of the Lord Jesus, Luke 1:1; of the preaching of the gospel, 2 Timothy 4:5, 17; this is the objective use of the word, in these places it is concerned with external things. In Romans 4:21 it describes the grasp by the mind of the promises of God and of His ability to make them good; in 14:5 it is used of the apprehension of the will of God for one’s conduct, see also Colossians 4:12; this is the subjective use of the word, in these places it is concerned with an effect upon the mind (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson )
Plerophoreo is used 5 times in the NT...
Luke 1:1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished (plerophoreo - here speaking of what is carried through to completion) among us,
Colossians 4:12 (note) Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured (plerophoreo - here means to be brought to full measure - referring to the apprehension of the will of God) in all the will of God.
Romans 14:5 (note) One man regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind.
2 Timothy 4:5 (note) But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill (aorist imperative - bring to fulness or to a full measure) your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:17 (note) But the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me, in order that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished (plerophoreo), and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the lion's mouth.
There is a single use of plerophoreo in the Septuagint (LXX)...
Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully (LXX = plerophoreo) to do evil.
Paul though suffering in a Roman prison cell and doomed to soon be executed (as best we can discern from secular writings) was fully assured unto the end of his life writing to Timothy...
For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. (see note 2 Timothy 1:12) (Play and sing the great hymn I Know Whom I Have Believed)
Hebrews 11 records a list of men and women (read Hebrews 11:1-12) who were fully assured and then sums it up writing...
All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. (Hebrews 11:13)
Faith grounds us on the truth, as it did Abraham. He was fully persuaded. This is the faith that was credited to him as righteousness. Faith grasps the promise. Faith lays hold of what God has offered. As Abraham's faith grew, he grasped the promise and found himself a friend of God.
THAT WHAT HE HAD PROMISED HE WAS ABLE ALSO TO PERFORM: hoti o epeggeltai (3SRMI) dunatos estin (3SPAI) kai poiesai (AAN): (Ro 14:4; Ge 18:14; Ps 115:3; Jer 32:17,27; Mt 19:26; Lu 1:37,45; 2Cor 9:8; Heb 11:19)
Promised (1861) (epaggello from epà = intensifies meaning + aggéllo = to announce, to report, to tell, to declare) means to announce with certainty as to what one will do.
Promised is perfect tense which speaks of the finality and permanence of God's promise.
Morris adds that
The essence of saving faith is taking God at His Word, no matter how difficult it may seem. God's promise to Abraham was beyond all reason and human experience, but Abraham believed it. This should be our example with regard to the promises that are yet to be fulfilled. (Morris, Henry: Defenders Study Bible. World Publishing)
Able (1415) (dunatos from dunamai = be able, have power by virtue of inherent ability and resources) means to possess the ability to perform some function. Abraham was not just wistfully hoping that God might be able to fulfill His promise. Abraham knew what the Bible clearly teaches, that what God promises, He always performs! Abraham's faith in God was complete and unqualified. But note that Abraham’s faith was not merely in what had been promised, but was faith in the God Who had promised (He is able).
This verse reiterates the thought in Genesis 18...
"Is anything too difficult for the LORD? (Clearly not for) At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son." (Ge 18:14)
As MacDonald points out...
Abraham did not know how God would fulfill His word, but that was incidental. He knew God and had every confidence that God was fully able to do what He had promised. In one way it was wonderful faith, but in another way it was the most reasonable thing to do, because God’s word is the surest thing in the universe, and for Abraham there was no risk in believing it! (MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. Nashville: Thomas Nelson)
Matthew Henry writing on the phrase "He was able to perform" notes that...
Our waverings rise mainly from our distrust of the divine power; and therefore to fix us it is requisite we believe not only that he is faithful, but that he is able, that hath promised.