Lexical Summary eite: whether, if, or Original Word: εἴτε Strong's Exhaustive Concordance if, or, whether. From ei and te; if too -- if, or, whether. see GREEK ei see GREEK te HELPS Word-studies 1535 eíte (from 1487 /ei, "if" and 5037 /té, "both-and") – properly, "if both . . . "; "whether, if also . . . ". Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1535: εἴτεεἴτε, see εἰ, III. 15. Topical Lexicon Overview εἴτε (Strong’s 1535) functions as a coordinating conjunction meaning “whether,” introducing alternative or mutually inclusive conditions. Its sixty-five New Testament occurrences, concentrated in Pauline writing, serve a theological, pastoral, and rhetorical purpose: they bind every possible circumstance, rank, or action to Christ’s supremacy, to the unity of His body, and to the believer’s all-encompassing obligation to glorify God. Grammatical Function and Literary Rhetoric 1. Conditional parallelism: εἴτε introduces paired or multiple possibilities to create an exhaustive statement (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 3:22). Key Theological Themes Christocentric Lordship Colossians 1:16-17: “For in Him all things were created—things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities….” εἴτε underscores that no sphere of power lies outside Christ’s creative and sustaining authority. Philippians 1:20: “so now also Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.” Life-and-death alternatives dissolve before the singular aim of magnifying Christ. Unity of the Body Romans 12:6-8 lists gifts introduced by εἴτε, illustrating diversity coordinated for one purpose. 1 Corinthians 12:13, 26: “whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free… whether one part suffers, every part suffers with it,” using εἴτε to abolish ethnic and social divisions within the Spirit-baptized church. Freedom and Responsibility 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Everyday choices are enveloped by a single motive—God’s glory. 2 Corinthians 5:9-10: “Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or away, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ….” The conjunction ties present ambition to future accountability. Cosmic Scope of Redemption Colossians 1:20: “and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.” εἴτε turns local reconciliation into universal proclamation. Perseverance amid Uncertainty 1 Thessalonians 5:10: “so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.” The believer’s union with Christ transcends temporal states. 2 Corinthians 5:13: “For if we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.” εἴτε frames ministry perceptions within a single gospel devotion. Submission to Authority 1 Peter 2:13-14: “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the king as supreme, or to governors sent by him….” The dual εἴτε affirms Christian civic duty regardless of the governmental tier. Representative Passages Romans 12:6-8: “We have different gifts according to the grace given us: if prophecy… if service… if teaching… if exhorting… if giving… if leadership… if showing mercy, let him do so with cheerfulness.” 1 Corinthians 3:22: “whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours.” Colossians 1:16-17: quoted above. Philippians 1:18: “What then is the issue? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed.” 2 Corinthians 1:6: “If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort….” Ephesians 6:8: “because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.” Historical Context in the Early Church In Hellenistic rhetoric, catalogues introduced by εἴτε were common. Paul sanctifies the form: Stoic indifference becomes Christ-centered assurance; legalistic dichotomies are recast into gospel unity. Early fathers (e.g., Chrysostom, Theodoret) highlighted these constructions to emphasize catholicity of grace and the believer’s comprehensive duty. Ministry and Pastoral Application 1. Preaching: εἴτε invites all-inclusive calls—“Whatever your circumstance, glorify Christ.” Summary Wherever εἴτε appears, Scripture gathers the full range of possible conditions into a single orbit around Christ’s supremacy, the church’s unity, and the believer’s vocation to glorify God. The conjunction’s theological weight far exceeds its size, turning “whether” into a bridge uniting every circumstance with the sovereign purpose of the triune God. Forms and Transliterations ειτε είτε εἴτε eite eíteLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Romans 12:6 ConjGRK: ἡμῖν διάφορα εἴτε προφητείαν κατὰ NAS: given to us, [each of us is to exercise them accordingly]: if prophecy, KJV: to us, whether prophecy, INT: to us different whether prophecy according to Romans 12:7 Conj Romans 12:7 Conj Romans 12:8 Conj 1 Corinthians 3:22 Conj 1 Corinthians 3:22 Conj 1 Corinthians 3:22 Conj 1 Corinthians 3:22 Conj 1 Corinthians 3:22 Conj 1 Corinthians 3:22 Conj 1 Corinthians 3:22 Conj 1 Corinthians 3:22 Conj 1 Corinthians 8:5 Conj 1 Corinthians 8:5 Conj 1 Corinthians 10:31 Conj 1 Corinthians 10:31 Conj 1 Corinthians 10:31 Conj 1 Corinthians 12:13 Conj 1 Corinthians 12:13 Conj 1 Corinthians 12:13 Conj 1 Corinthians 12:13 Conj 1 Corinthians 12:26 Conj 1 Corinthians 12:26 Conj 1 Corinthians 13:8 Conj 1 Corinthians 13:8 Conj |
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