Lexical Summary enteuxis: Intercession, petition, prayer Original Word: ἔντευξις Strong's Exhaustive Concordance intercession, prayer. From entugchano; an interview, i.e. (specially) supplication -- intercession, prayer. see GREEK entugchano HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 1783 énteuksis – properly, intervention (intersection which literally "hits the mark"); intervention led by God, marking intersection between heaven and earth as it reflects the Lord's specific will. See 1793 (entygxanō). [The root of this term is 5177 (tygxánō) which means "to strike, hit the bulls-eye" ("spot on"). Accordingly, it is used in classical Greek as the antonym of harmartia ("to miss the mark, sin"), so Lucian, Xenophon, Homer, etc. (see Thayer, 5177 /tygxánō). Thus biblical intercession centers in waiting upon the Lord to learn what hits the mark (is His will) – i.e. guiding the believer to act as His agent. Intercession is not "the tool in and of itself" to act according to the mark, of the intercessor! It always builds on faith (learning God's persuasion).] 1783 /énteuksis ("Spirit-directed intervention") refers to the petitions (intercessions) of believers as they "fall in line with" God's will – revealing how the one intervening should get involved after drawing near to God and agreeing with His revealed will. True intercession (1783 /énteuksis) seeks to act only as the Lord directs, i.e. following His will to act as His hand extended (cf. 1 Jn 4:17). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom entugchanó Definition a petition, i.e. spec. supplication NASB Translation petitions (1), prayer (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1783: ἔντευξιςἔντευξις, ἐντεύξεως, ἡ (ἐντυγχάνω, which see), a falling in with, meeting with (αἱ τοῖς λῃσταῖς ἐντεύξεις, Plato, politic., p. 298 d.); an interview, a coming together, to visit, converse, or for any other cause; that for which an interview is held, a conference or conversation (Polybius, Diodorus, others), a petition, supplication (Diodorus 16, 55; Josephus, Antiquities 15, 3, 8; Plutarch, Tib. Gracch. 11); used of prayer to God: 1 Timothy 4:5; plural (A. V. intercessions), 1 Timothy 2:1 (Plutarch, Numbers 14 ποιεῖσθαι τάς πρός τό θεῖον ἐντεύξεις). (Synonym: see δέησις, at the end.) Topical Lexicon Root Meaning and Biblical Background ἐντεύξις carries the idea of drawing near for a face-to-face request. In Scripture the nuance is never casual; it pictures earnest, deliberate engagement with God on behalf of oneself or others, an activity that belongs to priestly service (Exodus 28:29), prophetic burden (Jeremiah 27:18), and messianic ministry (Isaiah 53:12). Occurrences in the New Testament • 1 Timothy 2:1 ― Paul ranks ἐντεύξεις among the four foundational expressions of corporate prayer: “First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone”. Theological Significance of Intercession 1. Mediation undergirds the redemptive story. As Moses bridged God and Israel (Exodus 32:11-14), so the Son now “always lives to intercede” (Hebrews 7:25), and the Spirit “intercedes for us with groans too deep for words” (Romans 8:26-27). Believers join that divine dialogue; ἐντεύξις makes real their priestly identity (1 Peter 2:5). Pastoral Context in the Pastoral Epistles Timothy shepherded a church struggling with false teaching and civic pressures. Paul’s antidote begins not with polemics but with ἐντεύξεις. Right doctrine must be wrapped in right intercession, cultivating humility and reliance on God’s sovereign rule over rulers (1 Timothy 2:2; 1 Timothy 6:15). Christological Dimension Intercession is anchored in the unique mediatorship of Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5). Christian ἐντεύξις is never an independent work; it joins the ongoing heavenly ministry of the risen Lord, who “appears in the presence of God for us” (Hebrews 9:24). Ecclesial and Liturgical Application • Public worship: Early church manuals (Didache 8-10) reflect set times of intercession for authorities and for the spread of the Word, echoing 1 Timothy 2:1-2. Historical Witness in the Early Church The Apology of Aristides (early second century) notes that Christians “petition [προσεύχονται] for their enemies” and “give thanks” at every meal. Tertullian (Apology 30) testifies that believers prayed for emperors, administrations, and the peace of the empire—direct fruit of the Pauline mandate. Practical Ministry Implications 1. Cultivate breadth: Pray for rulers you support and those you resist (1 Timothy 2:2). Intercession and Spiritual Warfare Paul frames prayer as a chief weapon of the believer’s armor (Ephesians 6:18). ἐντεύξις penetrates spiritual strongholds, aligning earthly circumstances with heaven’s decrees. Daniel’s twenty-one-day intercession (Daniel 10:2-14) unveils the cosmic dimension of such engagement. Models for Contemporary Believers • Jacob in Peniel: Persistent, wrestling prayer (Genesis 32:24-30). Summary Strong’s Greek 1783 highlights intercession as a distinct, active, communal, and personal engagement with God. Its two appearances in 1 Timothy sketch a comprehensive vision: ἐντεύξις shapes public worship and private practice, undergirds gospel proclamation, sanctifies daily life, and mirrors the mediating heart of Christ Himself. Forms and Transliterations ενέθηκεν ένθεσθε εντακήσεσθε εντακήσονται εντευξεις εντεύξεις ἐντεύξεις εντευξεως εντεύξεως ἐντεύξεως εντίθεται εντιμωθήτω enteuxeis enteúxeis enteuxeos enteuxeōs enteúxeos enteúxeōsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Timothy 2:1 N-AFPGRK: δεήσεις προσευχάς ἐντεύξεις εὐχαριστίας ὑπὲρ NAS: [and] prayers, petitions [and] thanksgivings, KJV: prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks, INT: entreaties prayers intercessions thanksgivings for 1 Timothy 4:5 N-GFS Strong's Greek 1783 |
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