Lexical Summary eleutheria: Freedom, Liberty Original Word: ἐλευθερία Strong's Exhaustive Concordance liberty. From eleutheros; freedom (legitimate or licentious, chiefly moral or ceremonial) -- liberty. see GREEK eleutheros HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 1657 eleuthería – freedom, liberty. See 1658 (eleutheros). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom eleutheros Definition liberty, freedom NASB Translation freedom (7), liberty (4). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1657: ἐλευθερίαἐλευθερία, ἐλευθέρας, ἡ (ἐλεύθερος), liberty, (from Pindar, Herodotus down); in the N. T. a. liberty to do or to omit things having no relation to salvation, 1 Corinthians 10:29; from the yoke of the Mosaic law, Galatians 2:4; Galatians 5:1, 13; 1 Peter 2:16; from Jewish errors so blinding the mental vision that it does not discern the majesty of Christ, 2 Corinthians 3:17; freedom from the dominion of corrupt desires, so that we do by the free impulse of the soul what the will of God requires: ὁ νόμος τῆς ἐλευθερίας, i. e. the Christian religion, which furnishes that rule of right living by which the liberty just mentioned is attained, James 1:25; James 2:12; freedom from the restraints and miseries of earthly frailty: so in the expression ἡ ἐλευθερία τῆς δόξης (epexegetical genitive (Winer's Grammar, 531 (494))), manifested in the glorious condition of the future life, Romans 8:21. b. fancied liberty, i. e. license, the liberty to do as one pleases, 2 Peter 2:19. J. C. Erler, Commentatio exeg. de libertatis christianae notione in N. T. libris obvia, 1830 (an essay I have never had the good fortune to see). Summary of Concept Eleutheria signifies the liberating reality that believers possess in Christ. More than political emancipation or philosophical autonomy, it is the God-given release from every form of spiritual bondage so that the redeemed may serve the Lord willingly, joyfully, and fruitfully. Old Testament Background Although the term is Greek, its roots reach back to decisive Old Testament moments: the Exodus, the Year of Jubilee, the prophetic calls to “proclaim liberty to the captives,” and the promise of a new covenant written on the heart. These themes prepare the way for the fuller revelation of freedom in the New Covenant. New Testament Usage 1. Freedom from Law-based Bondage 2. Freedom in the Spirit 3. Freedom of Conscience 4. Freedom from Sin and Decay 5. Freedom Misused or Counterfeited 6. Freedom as the Law of Liberty Theological Significance • Justification: Liberty flows from a once-for-all acquittal in Christ; the penalty of the law no longer hangs over the believer. Pastoral and Ministry Applications • Teaching: Stress both the gift and the responsibility of liberty—freedom to obey, not freedom from obedience. Historical Reception • Early Church: Apologists contrasted the liberating power of Christ with the bondage of paganism. Related Terms and Concepts • Eleutheros – a free person, especially in contrast with doulos, “slave.” Key Verses 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:1; Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 2:16; James 1:25 See Also Freedom in Christ; Law and Gospel; Conscience; Spirit-led Living Englishman's Concordance Romans 8:21 N-AFSGRK: εἰς τὴν ἐλευθερίαν τῆς δόξης NAS: to corruption into the freedom of the glory KJV: the glorious liberty of the children INT: into the freedom of the glory 1 Corinthians 10:29 N-NFS 2 Corinthians 3:17 N-NFS Galatians 2:4 N-AFS Galatians 5:1 N-DFS Galatians 5:13 N-DFS Galatians 5:13 N-AFS James 1:25 N-GFS James 2:12 N-GFS 1 Peter 2:16 N-AFS 2 Peter 2:19 N-AFS Strong's Greek 1657 |