139. hairesis
Lexicon
hairesis: Sect, faction, heresy

Original Word: αἵρεσις
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: hairesis
Pronunciation: hah'-ee-res-is
Phonetic Spelling: (hah'-ee-res-is)
Definition: Sect, faction, heresy
Meaning: a self-chosen opinion, a religious or philosophical sect, discord or contention.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
heresy, sect.

From haireomai; properly, a choice, i.e. (specially) a party or (abstractly) disunion -- heresy (which is the Greek word itself), sect.

see GREEK haireomai

HELPS Word-studies

139 haíresis (a feminine noun derived from 138 /hairéomai, "personally select, choose") – properly, a personal (decisive) choice.

139 /haíresis ("a strong, distinctive opinion") is used in the NT of individual "parties (sects)" that operated within Judaism. The term stresses the personal aspect of choice – and hence how being a Sadducee (Ac 5:17) was sharply distinguished from being a Pharisee (Ac 15:5; 26:5).

[As a feminine noun, 139 (haíresis) highlights the subjective (individual) nature of a specific (divisive) opinion.]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from haireó
Definition
choice, opinion
NASB Translation
factions (2), heresies (1), sect (6).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 139: αἵρεσις

αἵρεσις, (εως, ;

1. (from αἱρέω), act of taking, capture: τῆς πόλεως, the storming of a city; in secular authors.

2. (from ἁιρέομαι), choosing, choice, very often in secular writings: the Sept. Leviticus 22:18; 1 Macc. 8:30.

3. that which is chosen, a chosen course of thought and action; hence one's chosen opinion, tenet; according to the context, an opinion varying from the true exposition of the Christian faith (heresy): 2 Peter 2:1 (cf. DeWette at the passage), and in ecclesiastical writings (cf. Sophocles' Lexicon, under the word).

4. a body of men separating themselves from others and following their own tenets (a sect or party): as the Sadducees, Acts 5:17; the Pharisees, Acts 15:5; Acts 26:5; the Christians, Acts 24:5, 14 (in both instances with a suggestion of reproach); (in Diogenes Laërtius 1 (13) 18f, others, used of the schools of philosophy).

5. dissensions arising from diversity of opinions and aims: Galatians 5:20; 1 Corinthians 11:19. (Cf. Meyer, at the passages cited; B. D. American edition under the word ; Burton, Bampt. Lect. for 1829; Campbell, Diss. on the Gospels, diss. iv., part iv.)

Topical Lexicon
Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb αἱρέομαι (haireomai), meaning "to choose" or "to take for oneself."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for αἵρεσις, the concept of division or sect can be related to terms like מַחֲלֹקֶת (machloqeth, Strong's Hebrew 4256), meaning "division" or "dispute," and קָט (qat, Strong's Hebrew 6984), meaning "small" or "insignificant," often used in the context of a small group or faction.

Usage: In the New Testament, αἵρεσις is used to describe groups or factions, particularly those that deviate from orthodox teachings. It is often translated as "sect" or "heresy."

Context: The term αἵρεσις appears several times in the New Testament, reflecting its evolution from a neutral term for a choice or party to a more negative connotation of division or heretical group. In the context of the early Christian church, αἵρεσις was used to describe groups that held beliefs contrary to the apostolic teachings.

- Acts 5:17 (BSB): "Then the high priest and all his associates, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy." Here, αἵρεσις is translated as "party," referring to the Sadducees as a distinct group within Judaism.

- Acts 24:5 (BSB): "We have found this man to be a pestilent fellow, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes." In this passage, αἵρεσις is translated as "sect," indicating the early Christians as a distinct group perceived as divergent from mainstream Judaism.

- 1 Corinthians 11:19 (BSB): "And indeed, there must be differences among you to show which of you are approved." The word here implies divisions or factions within the church, highlighting the presence of differing beliefs or practices.

- Galatians 5:20 (BSB): "idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions." In this list of works of the flesh, αἵρεσις is translated as "factions," indicating divisive groups within the community.

- 2 Peter 2:1 (BSB): "Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies that will even deny the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves." Here, αἵρεσις is translated as "heresies," referring to false teachings that lead believers astray.

The use of αἵρεσις in the New Testament underscores the early church's struggle with maintaining doctrinal purity and unity. It serves as a warning against the dangers of false teachings and the importance of adhering to the true gospel.

Forms and Transliterations
αιρεσεις αιρέσεις αἱρέσεις αιρεσεως αιρέσεως αἱρέσεως αιρεσιν αίρεσιν αἵρεσιν αιρεσις αίρεσις αἵρεσις aireseis aireseos aireseōs airesin airesis haireseis hairéseis haireseos haireseōs hairéseos hairéseōs hairesin haíresin hairesis haíresis
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Acts 5:17 N-NFS
GRK: ἡ οὖσα αἵρεσις τῶν Σαδδουκαίων
NAS: his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees),
KJV: is the sect of the Sadducees,)
INT: which is [the] sect of the Sadducees

Acts 15:5 N-GFS
GRK: ἀπὸ τῆς αἱρέσεως τῶν Φαρισαίων
NAS: But some of the sect of the Pharisees
KJV: of the sect of the Pharisees
INT: of the sect of the Pharisees

Acts 24:5 N-GFS
GRK: τῶν Ναζωραίων αἱρέσεως
NAS: and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
KJV: a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:
INT: of the Nazarenes sect

Acts 24:14 N-AFS
GRK: ἣν λέγουσιν αἵρεσιν οὕτως λατρεύω
NAS: they call a sect I do serve
KJV: which they call heresy, so worship I
INT: which they call a sect so I serve

Acts 26:5 N-AFS
GRK: τὴν ἀκριβεστάτην αἵρεσιν τῆς ἡμετέρας
NAS: to the strictest sect of our religion.
KJV: the most straitest sect of our
INT: the strictest sect of the of us

Acts 28:22 N-GFS
GRK: γὰρ τῆς αἱρέσεως ταύτης γνωστὸν
NAS: this sect, it is known
KJV: as concerning this sect, we know
INT: indeed the sect this known

1 Corinthians 11:19 N-NFP
GRK: γὰρ καὶ αἱρέσεις ἐν ὑμῖν
NAS: also be factions among
KJV: be also heresies among you,
INT: indeed also factions among you

Galatians 5:20 N-NFP
GRK: ἐριθείαι διχοστασίαι αἱρέσεις
NAS: disputes, dissensions, factions,
KJV: strife, seditions, heresies,
INT: contentions dissentions factions

2 Peter 2:1 N-AFP
GRK: οἵτινες παρεισάξουσιν αἱρέσεις ἀπωλείας καὶ
NAS: destructive heresies, even
KJV: damnable heresies, even
INT: who will bring in stealthily heresies destructive and

Strong's Greek 139
9 Occurrences


αἱρέσεις — 3 Occ.
αἱρέσεως — 3 Occ.
αἵρεσιν — 2 Occ.
αἵρεσις — 1 Occ.















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