Lexical Summary emmenó: To remain, to abide, to continue in Original Word: ἐμμένω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance continue. From en and meno; to stay in the same place, i.e. (figuratively) persevere -- continue. see GREEK en see GREEK meno HELPS Word-studies 1696 emménō (from 1772 /énnomos, "in a sphere" and 3306 /ménō, "remain, abide with") – properly, remain in a condition, steadfastly abide. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom en and menó Definition to abide in, fig. to be true to, to persevere NASB Translation abide (1), continue (2), stayed (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1696: ἐμμένωἐμμένω (Tdf. ἐνμένω, Acts 14:22; see ἐν, III. 3); 1 aorist ἐνεμεινα; from Aeschylus and Herodotus down; (Augustine,immaneo), to remain in, continue; a. properly, in a place: ἐν τίνι, Acts 28:30 T Tr WH. b. to persevere in anything, a state of mind, etc.; to hold fast, be true to, abide by, keep: τῇ πίστει, Acts 14:22 (νόμῳ, ὅρκοις, etc. in the Greek writings); ἐν τίνι (more rarely so in the classics, as ἐν ταῖς σπονδαις, Thucydides 4, 118; ἐν τῇ πίστει, Polybius 3, 70, 4): ἐν (so R G only) τοῖς γεγραμμένοις, Galatians 3:10 from Deuteronomy 27:26; ἐν τῇ διαθήκη, Hebrews 8:9 from Jeremiah 38:32 STRONGS NT 1696a: ἐμμέσῳἐμμέσῳ, equivalent to ἐν μέσῳ (see μέσος, 2): Revelation 1:13; Revelation 2:1; Revelation 4:6; Revelation 5:6; Revelation 22:2, in Tdf. edition 7; (see his Proleg., p. xlviii. (but nowhere in edition 8, see the Proleg., p. 76f); cf. WHs Appendix, p. 150; B. 8). The verb expresses steadfast continuance. It pictures a conscious choice to stay within a prescribed sphere—whether blessing, faith, covenant obligation, or physical location—rather than to depart. New Testament Distribution The Spirit guided four writers to employ the word in four distinct settings: Galatians 3:10, Acts 14:22, Hebrews 8:9, and Acts 28:30. Together they trace a line from law-keeping that fails, to faith that endures, to covenant faithlessness that grieves God, and finally to apostolic perseverance that advances the gospel. Continuance and Covenant Justice (Galatians 3:10) Paul cites Deuteronomy to expose the futility of self-reliance: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the book of the law.” (Galatians 3:10) “Continue” (ἐμμένει) highlights the law’s unyielding standard—total, lifelong compliance. Because no sinner can remain flawlessly inside that standard, the verse prepares the reader for justification by faith in Christ alone (Galatians 3:11-14). The term thus underlines both divine justice and humanity’s need for grace. Perseverance in Affliction (Acts 14:22) Paul and Barnabas revisit fledgling congregations, “strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith.” (Acts 14:22) Here ἐμμένω frames Christian perseverance not as grim stoicism but as faith empowered by the gospel. Tribulations are not anomalies; they are predicted pathways into the kingdom. The word rebukes any notion that hardships nullify God’s favor; rather, believers abide because grace keeps them. Covenant Failure and Divine Forbearance (Hebrews 8:9) Regarding the Sinai covenant the writer records, “they did not remain faithful to My covenant, and I turned away from them.” (Hebrews 8:9) Israel’s history illustrates the opposite of ἐμμένω. By failing to stay inside God’s covenant parameters, the nation forfeited blessing and exposed the need for the promised new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34). The contrast between human instability and divine initiative magnifies the sufficiency of Christ’s priesthood (Hebrews 8:6). Missionary Residence and Open-Door Ministry (Acts 28:30) “Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him.” (Acts 28:30) Luke closes Acts with ἐμμένω describing a literal stay. House arrest could have restricted proclamation; instead, it became a base for unhindered gospel witness (Acts 28:31). The word therefore models how remaining in God-appointed circumstances, even constrained ones, advances His purposes. Theological Threads 1. Divine Standard: ἐμμένω reveals that God’s law is not negotiable (Galatians 3:10). Pastoral Applications • Preach the whole counsel of God so that hearers grasp both the impossibility of law-based righteousness and the necessity of abiding faith. Contemporary Challenges In an age of transient commitments, ἐμμένω calls the church to doctrinal stability and relational fidelity. It rebukes consumer Christianity and summons believers to remain within scriptural boundaries, trusting that God’s grace will sustain them until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. Englishman's Concordance Acts 14:22 V-PNAGRK: μαθητῶν παρακαλοῦντες ἐμμένειν τῇ πίστει NAS: encouraging them to continue in the faith, KJV: [and] exhorting them to continue in the faith, INT: disciples exhorting [them] to continue in the faith Acts 28:30 V-AIA-3S Galatians 3:10 V-PIA-3S Hebrews 8:9 V-AIA-3P Strong's Greek 1696 |
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