116. Athénai

Lexicon

Athénai: Athens

Original Word: Ἀθῆναι
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: Athénai
Pronunciation: ah-THAY-nai
Phonetic Spelling: (ath-ay-nahee)
Definition: Athens
Meaning: Athens, the intellectual capital of Greece.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Athens.

Plural of Athene (the goddess of wisdom, who was reputed to have founded the city); Athenoe, the capitol of Greece -- Athens.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from Athéné (Athena Gr. goddess of wisdom)
Definition
Athens, capital of Attica in Greece
NASB Translation
Athens (4).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 116: Ἀθῆναι

Ἀθῆναι, , αἱ (on the plural cf. Winers Grammar, 176 (166)), Athens, the most celebrated city of Greece: Acts 17:15; Acts 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 3:1.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the name of the Greek goddess Athena, the patroness of the city.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There are no direct Hebrew equivalents for the Greek term Ἀθῆναι, as it refers specifically to the city of Athens, which is not mentioned in the Hebrew Bible.

Usage: The term Ἀθῆναι is used in the New Testament to refer to the city of Athens, particularly in the context of Paul's missionary journeys.

Context: Athens, referred to as Ἀθῆναι in the Greek New Testament, was a prominent city in ancient Greece, renowned for its intellectual and cultural achievements. It was the center of classical Greek philosophy, home to philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. By the time of the New Testament, Athens was part of the Roman Empire but retained its status as a hub of learning and culture.

In the New Testament, Athens is most notably mentioned in the Book of Acts. The Apostle Paul visited Athens during his second missionary journey. Acts 17:16-34 provides a detailed account of Paul's time in the city. While waiting for Silas and Timothy, Paul was deeply troubled by the idolatry he observed in Athens. He engaged with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks in the synagogue and conversed daily in the marketplace with those who happened to be there.

Paul's encounter with the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers led to his famous speech at the Areopagus, where he presented the gospel of Jesus Christ. He began by acknowledging the Athenians' religiosity and introduced them to the "unknown god" they worshiped in ignorance, proclaiming the one true God who created the world and everything in it. Paul's message emphasized repentance and the resurrection of Jesus, which elicited mixed reactions from his audience. Some mocked, others were intrigued, and a few believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris.

The account of Paul's visit to Athens highlights the city's role as a center of philosophical thought and the challenges of preaching the gospel in a context steeped in intellectualism and polytheism. It also underscores the universal nature of the Christian message, which transcends cultural and philosophical boundaries.

Forms and Transliterations

Αθηναις Ἀθήναις Αθηνων Ἀθηνῶν Athenais Athēnais Athḗnais Athenon Athenôn Athēnōn Athēnō̂n

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 17:15 N-GFP
GRK: ἤγαγον ἕως Ἀθηνῶν καὶ λαβόντες
NAS: him as far as Athens; and receiving
KJV: him unto Athens: and receiving
INT: brought [him] unto Athens and having received

Acts 17:16 N-DFP
GRK: δὲ ταῖς Ἀθήναις ἐκδεχομένου αὐτοὺς
NAS: was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit
KJV: them at Athens, his spirit
INT: moreover Athens waiting for them

Acts 18:1 N-GFP
GRK: ἐκ τῶν Ἀθηνῶν ἦλθεν εἰς
NAS: he left Athens and went
KJV: departed from Athens, and came to
INT: from Athens he came to

1 Thessalonians 3:1 N-DFP
GRK: καταλειφθῆναι ἐν Ἀθήναις μόνοι
NAS: to be left behind at Athens alone,
KJV: to be left at Athens alone;
INT: to be left in Athens alone

Strong's Greek 116
4 Occurrences

Ἀθήναις — 2 Occ.
Ἀθηνῶν — 2 Occ.