Lexical Summary ekpalai: Long ago, from of old Original Word: ἐκπαλαι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of a long time, of old. From ek and palai; long ago, for a long while -- of a long time, of old. see GREEK ek see GREEK palai NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ek and palai Definition long ago, for a long while NASB Translation long ago (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1597: ἔκπαλαιἔκπαλαι, adverb (from ἐκ and πάλαι, formed like ἐκτοτε (cf. Winers Grammar, 24 (23); 422 (393); Buttmann, 321 (275))), from of old; of a long time: 2 Peter 2:3; 2 Peter 3:5. (A later Greek word, from Philo down; see Lob. ad Phryn., p. 45ff.) Topical Lexicon Meaning and Nuance in Biblical ContextἜκπαλαι stresses the antiquity of an event, truth, or pronouncement. It does more than say “long ago”; it points to realities that were set in motion deep in God’s redemptive timeline and that remain relevant. Peter employs the term to remind believers that neither heresy nor divine judgment is a recent idea, and that God’s creative word is no novelty. The adverb functions rhetorically to anchor Peter’s argument in the unchanging counsel of God revealed throughout Scripture. Occurrences in Scripture • 2 Peter 2:3 – In warning of false teachers, Peter declares that “their condemnation has been hanging over them ἔκπαλαι, and their destruction does not sleep”. Here the word frames judgment as something decreed in ages past. Even if impostors appear successful for a season, the sentence against them was written into God’s courtroom record long before they arose. • 2 Peter 3:5 – Referring to scoffers who willfully forget the Flood, Peter says, “For they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago (ἔκπαλαι) by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water”. The adverb links creation to an ancient, authoritative testimony that scoffers ignore at their peril. Connection to Old Testament Revelation Peter’s use of ἔκπαλαι resonates with the prophets’ repeated appeal to “ancient paths” (Jeremiah 6:16) and to statutes “from of old” (Isaiah 44:7–8). It underscores continuity between the apostolic proclamation and the foundational narratives of Genesis and the Flood (Genesis 1–9). By rooting his warnings and affirmations in what God had done and spoken “long ago,” Peter aligns himself with a long prophetic tradition that interprets present events in light of God’s historic acts. Theological Significance 1. Divine Timelessness and Certainty: Judgment and creation are not provisional ideas. They originate in God’s eternal counsel. The surety of divine judgment against falsehood mirrors the irrevocable nature of God’s creative decree. 2. Continuity of Revelation: The same word that established the cosmos (2 Peter 3:5) also announces final judgment (2 Peter 3:7). Ἔκπαλαι underscores Scripture’s unified storyline, binding Genesis to eschatology. 3. Human Accountability: Because condemnation is “from of old,” the moral order is fixed. No cultural shift or philosophical trend can nullify verdicts already issued in God’s court. Implications for Ministry and Faith • Apologetics: When facing modern skepticism, believers can appeal to the consistent testimony “from long ago.” The Christian faith is anchored in ancient, historically attested acts of God. • Pastoral Warning: Leaders who distort the gospel should be confronted with the reality that their condemnation is not speculative but decreed ἔκπαλαι. This lends gravity to church discipline (cf. Jude 4). • Assurance for the Faithful: Just as judgment is certain, so is deliverance (2 Peter 2:9). Knowing that God’s promises originate ἔκπαλαι fortifies believers amid opposition. Expositional Insights • Literary Strategy: Peter places ἔκπαλαι near the front of each clause, making antiquity the controlling idea. This rhetorical choice counters the claim that apostolic teaching is novel (cf. 2 Peter 1:16). • Intertextual Echoes: The creation reference in 2 Peter 3:5 mirrors Genesis 1:6–10 and Psalm 33:6–7, while the judgment motif in 2 Peter 2:3 echoes Deuteronomy 32:35 and Nahum 1:3. Both usages rely on established canonical testimony. Practical Application Remembering that God’s verdicts and creative acts are ἔκπαλαι equips the church to: • Stand firm against doctrinal novelty. Related Terms and Concepts • “From of old” (Hebrew qedem) – Psalm 74:12; Micah 5:2. Forms and Transliterations εκπαλαι έκπαλαι ἔκπαλαι ekpalai ékpalaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Peter 2:3 AdvGRK: τὸ κρίμα ἔκπαλαι οὐκ ἀργεῖ NAS: their judgment from long ago is not idle, KJV: judgment now of a long time lingereth INT: the judgment of old not is idle 2 Peter 3:5 Adv |
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