Lexical Summary einai: to be, to exist Original Word: εἶναι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance am, was, come, is, there is, to be, was. Present infinitive from eimi; to exist -- am, was. Come, is, X lust after, X please well, there is, to be, was. see GREEK eimi NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originpres. inf. of eimi, q.v. Topical Lexicon Overview of εἶναιThe infinitive εἶναι, “to be,” encapsulates the concept of existence, identity and continued state. Although catalogued separately as Strong’s Greek 1511, the form itself does not appear in the inspired text of the Greek New Testament; nevertheless, the idea it expresses permeates Scripture through cognate forms of εἰμί (Strong’s 1510). From Genesis to Revelation, “being” stands at the center of God’s self-revelation, Christ’s deity, and the believer’s new life in union with Christ. God’s Self-Existence The earliest and clearest declaration of divine self-existence is found in Exodus 3:14, “I AM WHO I AM.” The Septuagint renders this with ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ὤν (“I am the One who is”), grounding the Hebrew verb הָיָה (to be) in Greek terminology related to εἶναι. Scripture repeatedly affirms that God’s being is eternal and independent (Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 41:4). Christological Significance Jesus of Nazareth employed the absolute “I am” (ἐγώ εἰμι) to assert His divine identity: • John 8:24 – “For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” These statements connect Christ directly to the covenant Name revealed at the burning bush, establishing the deity and eternal existence of the Son (Colossians 2:9). Human Existence Dependent on God Acts 17:28 records Paul’s address in Athens: “For in Him we live and move and have our being”. Human existence (εἶναι) is derivative—entirely dependent on the sustaining power of the Creator (Hebrews 1:3; Job 12:10). Believers’ New Being in Christ Union with Christ transforms identity and status: • 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” Sanctification flows from this new state of being, calling believers to “be holy” (1 Peter 1:15–16) and to “be imitators of God” (Ephesians 5:1). Ethical and Pastoral Implications Christian ethics emphasizes being before doing. The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3–12) describe the character traits of those who are blessed, not merely their actions. Ministerial instruction therefore focuses first on identity in Christ—establishing believers in who they are—so that service arises from a secure relation to God (Romans 12:1). Historical and Exegetical Observations 1. Septuagint Usage: εἶναι frequently translates the Hebrew infinitive לִהְיוֹת, underscoring ontological statements about God and covenant realities (e.g., Exodus 6:7; Leviticus 26:12). Apologetic Value In an age that questions absolute truth, the biblical doctrine of being provides a fixed reference point: God is, and His Word is a faithful revelation of reality (Hebrews 11:6; John 17:17). Christians proclaim a worldview in which existence is neither random nor self-generated but grounded in the eternal “I AM.” Summary Though εἶναι itself is unlisted in the New Testament’s text block, its theological weight is immense. It anchors the revelation of God’s self-existent nature, validates the deity of Jesus Christ, and supplies the foundation for the believer’s new identity and ethical life. Ministries that root teaching and discipleship in the reality of who God is and who believers are in Christ will invariably produce enduring fruit. Forms and Transliterations ειναι ἐιναι ιν einaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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