Lexical Summary epaggellomai: To promise, to proclaim, to announce Original Word: ἐπαγγέλλομαι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance profess, promise. From epi and the base of aggelos; to announce upon (reflexively), i.e. (by implication) to engage to do something, to assert something respecting oneself -- profess, (make) promise. see GREEK epi see GREEK aggelos HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 1861 epaggéllō (from 1909 /epí, "on, fitting" intensifying aggellō, "announce") – properly, to declare a promise that is fitting (apt), i.e. legitimately applies. God specifically pledges (promises) His Word, and does so in particular situations. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom epi and aggelló Definition to proclaim, to promise NASB Translation made (1), made the promise (1), making a claim (1), professed (1), promise had been made (1), promised (9), promising (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1861: ἐπαγγέλλωἐπαγγέλλω: (present middle ἐπαγγέλλομαι); perfect passive and middle ἐπηγγελμαι; 1 aorist middle ἐπηγγειλαμην; from Homer down; 1. to announce. 2. to promise: passive ἐπήγγελται, to whom the promise hath been made, Galatians 3:19. Middle to announce concerning oneself; i. e.: 1. to announce that one is about to do or to furnish something, i. e. to promise (of one's own accord), to engage (voluntarily): ὁ ἐπαγγειλάμενος, Hebrews 10:23; Hebrews 11:11; ἐπήγγελται, he hath promised, followed by λέγων, Hebrews 12:26; τίνι, to give a promise to one, Hebrews 6:13; τί, Romans 4:21; Titus 1:2; τίνι τί, James 1:12; James 2:5; 2 Peter 2:19; ἐπαγγελίαν, to give a promise, 1 John 2:25 (Esther 4:7; (cf. Winers Grammar, 225 (211); Buttmann, 148 (129))); followed by the infinitive (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 44, 7 c.): Mark 14:11; Acts 7:5. 2. to profess; τί, e. g. an art, to profess oneself skilled in it (τήν ἀρετήν, Xenophon, mem. 1, 2, 7; τήν στρατιάν, Hell. 3, 4, 3; σοφίαν, (Diogenes Laërtius prooem. 12; σωφροσύνην, Clement of Alexandria, paedag. 3, 4, p. 299, 27 edition Klotz; (cf. Liddell and Scott, under the word, 5)): θεοσέβειαν, 1 Timothy 2:10; γνῶσιν, Ἐπαγγέλλομαι (Strong’s Greek 1861) covers both divine “promising” and human “professing.” It highlights covenant fidelity when used of God and tests authenticity when used of people, making it a pivotal word for doctrine, worship, and ethics. Divine Promises Across Redemptive History Acts 7:5 roots the vocabulary in the Abrahamic covenant. Hebrews 6:13–18 links the same promise to the surety of God’s oath, assuring believers “it is impossible for God to lie.” Galatians 3:19 identifies Christ as the Seed to whom the promise was made, showing every earlier pledge aims at Him. Titus 1:2 pushes the horizon back “before time began,” emphasizing that eternal life was determined in God’s pre-temporal counsel. Faith’s Assurance and Perseverance Sarah “judged Him faithful who had promised” (Hebrews 11:11). Abraham was “fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised” (Romans 4:21). Believers are urged: “Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23). James 1:12 locates endurance in the prospect of “the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him,” ensuring perseverance rests on immutable grace. Eschatological Horizon Hebrews 12:26 cites God’s promise of a cosmic shaking, assuring an unshakable kingdom. James 2:5 links that kingdom to the poor who “love Him,” and 1 John 2:25 seals the entire Christian hope: “And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life”. Authentic Versus Hollow Profession True profession (1 Timothy 2:10) produces observable godliness. Counterfeits appear in 1 Timothy 6:21, where some “have professed it and thereby swerved from the faith,” and in 2 Peter 2:19, where false teachers “promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to corruption.” The term thus exposes empty talk and calls for integrity. Pastoral and Ministry Implications • Preaching anchors assurance in God’s sworn word. Historical Reception Patristic writers cited God’s promises to affirm Christ’s two natures and believers’ security. Reformers grounded justification by faith in the reliability of divine promises. Puritan pastors used them for soul-care, urging saints to “plead the promises” in prayer. Key References Mark 14:11; Acts 7:5; Romans 4:21; Galatians 3:19; Hebrews 6:13; Hebrews 10:23; Hebrews 11:11; Hebrews 12:26; 1 Timothy 2:10; 1 Timothy 6:21; 2 Peter 2:19; Titus 1:2; James 1:12; James 2:5; 1 John 2:25. Englishman's Concordance Mark 14:11 V-AIP-3PGRK: ἐχάρησαν καὶ ἐπηγγείλαντο αὐτῷ ἀργύριον NAS: when they heard [this], and promised to give KJV: and promised to give INT: they rejoiced and promised him money Acts 7:5 V-AIM-3S Romans 4:21 V-RIM/P-3S Galatians 3:19 V-RIM/P-3S 1 Timothy 2:10 V-PPM/P-DFP 1 Timothy 6:21 V-PPM/P-NMP Titus 1:2 V-AIM-3S Hebrews 6:13 V-APM-NMS Hebrews 10:23 V-APM-NMS Hebrews 11:11 V-APM-AMS Hebrews 12:26 V-RIM/P-3S James 1:12 V-AIM-3S James 2:5 V-AIM-3S 2 Peter 2:19 V-PPM/P-NMP 1 John 2:25 V-AIM-3S Strong's Greek 1861 |
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