Lexical Summary goneus: Parent Original Word: γονεύς Strong's Exhaustive Concordance parent. From the base of ginomai; a parent -- parent. see GREEK ginomai NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ginomai Definition a parent NASB Translation parents (20). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1118: γονεύςγονεύς, γονεως, ὁ (ΓΑΝΩ, γέγονα) (Homer h. Cer., Hesiod, others); a begetter, parent; plural οἱ γονεῖς the parents: Luke 2:41, 43 L text T Tr WH; ( Topical Lexicon OverviewStrong’s 1118 designates the natural parents of a child. Across the New Testament the word appears twenty times, spanning narrative, teaching, exhortation and prophecy. The range of contexts provides a panoramic view of the biblical theology of parenthood: its privileges, its responsibilities, its vulnerability in times of persecution, and its significance for discipleship and church life. Usage in the Infancy Narrative of Luke Luke highlights parental devotion and covenant faithfulness. Joseph and Mary bring Jesus to the temple: “And the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what was customary under the Law” (Luke 2:27). Their annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem (Luke 2:41-42) and their anxious search for the missing twelve-year-old (Luke 2:43-48) reveal a model of godly stewardship. Luke’s emphasis grounds the incarnational mystery in an ordinary Jewish household, affirming both the sanctity of the family and the humanity of Christ. Miracles and Compassion In Luke 8:56 the raising of Jairus’s daughter climaxes with the line, “Her parents were astonished, but He instructed them to tell no one what had happened.” The grief and subsequent joy of father and mother frame the miracle, underscoring that the Lord’s power touches families, not merely individuals. In John 9 the healing of the man born blind repeatedly references “his parents.” Their fear of expulsion from the synagogue (John 9:22) exposes the social cost of confessing Jesus, yet their testimony confirms the reality of the miracle. Parental witness thus becomes part of the evidentiary material authenticating the signs ministry of Christ. Eschatological Warnings Both Matthew 10:21 and Mark 13:12 warn of the end-time fracturing of natural ties: “Brother will deliver brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death.” Luke intensifies the prediction: “You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends” (Luke 21:16). The passages soberly remind disciples that allegiance to Christ may override the strongest earthly bonds. Yet by making parents one category among several, Scripture balances family loyalty with ultimate fidelity to God. Pauline Exhortations to Children Paul twice addresses children directly, granting them moral agency within the Christian household: • “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1). These commands establish obedience as the first lesson in practical righteousness. The grounding “in the Lord” and “to the Lord” elevates parental authority above mere social convention, locating it within divine order. The comprehensive “in everything” is tempered by the higher principle of obedience to God, preventing misuse of authority. Parental Obligation Toward Children While children must obey, parents also owe provision. Paul appeals to natural instinct: “For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children” (2 Corinthians 12:14). By employing a commonplace truism, the apostle illustrates his self-sacrificial leadership toward the Corinthian church. Biological parenthood therefore becomes an analogy for pastoral care, demonstrating that leaders give rather than take. Depravity in the Last Days Romans 1:30 and 2 Timothy 3:2 list “disobedient to parents” among vices characteristic of human rebellion. Disregard for parental authority serves as an ethical barometer: when children reject the first authority they encounter, society unravels. Apostolic teaching thereby links the fifth commandment to cultural stability. Theology of Parenthood 1. Rooted in Creation: Parenthood participates in God’s mandate to “be fruitful and multiply,” reflecting His life-giving nature. Historical Context First-century Greco-Roman society legally invested fathers (patria potestas) with sweeping control; Judaism embedded honoring parents within the Decalogue. New Testament writers affirm the command while challenging abuses. Jesus relativizes, but never nullifies, parental claims when they conflict with discipleship (cf. Matthew 10:37). Ministry Applications • Family Ministry: Churches should resource fathers and mothers for spiritual formation, recognizing them as frontline disciplers. Conclusion The New Testament’s twenty uses of Strong’s 1118 present a robust portrait of parenthood that balances honor, responsibility, sacrifice and eschatological tension. In every context the family becomes a theater for the revelation of divine grace, whether through quiet nurture in Nazareth, the anguish of Jairus, the controversy of Jerusalem, or the house-churches of the Pauline mission. Rightly understood, the term invites believers to cherish God-given family ties while holding them in joyful subordination to the supreme lordship of Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations γονεις γονείς γονεῖς γονεύσι γονευσιν γονεύσιν γονεῦσιν γονεων γονέων γόνον γονορρυή γονορρυής γονορρυούς goneis goneîs goneon goneōn gonéon gonéōn goneusin goneûsinLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 10:21 N-AMPGRK: τέκνα ἐπὶ γονεῖς καὶ θανατώσουσιν NAS: up against parents and cause them to be put to death. KJV: against [their] parents, and INT: children against parents and will put to death Mark 13:12 N-AMP Luke 2:27 N-AMP Luke 2:41 N-NMP Luke 2:43 N-NMP Luke 8:56 N-NMP Luke 18:29 N-AMP Luke 21:16 N-GMP John 9:2 N-NMP John 9:3 N-NMP John 9:18 N-AMP John 9:20 N-NMP John 9:22 N-NMP John 9:23 N-NMP Romans 1:30 N-DMP 2 Corinthians 12:14 N-DMP 2 Corinthians 12:14 N-NMP Ephesians 6:1 N-DMP Colossians 3:20 N-DMP 2 Timothy 3:2 N-DMP Strong's Greek 1118 |
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