1946. Epikoureios

Lexicon

Epikoureios: Epicurean

Original Word: Ἐπικουρεῖος
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Epikoureios
Pronunciation: ep-ee-koo-RAY-os
Phonetic Spelling: (ep-ee-koo'-ri-os)
Definition: Epicurean
Meaning: an Epicurean, one who holds the tenets of Epicurus.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Epicurean.

From Epikouros (compare epikouria) (a noted philosopher); an Epicurean or follower of Epicurus -- Epicurean.

see GREEK epikouria

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1946: Ἐπικούρειος

Ἐπικούρειος (Ἐπικουριος T WH; see Iota), Ἐπικουρειου, ὁ, Epicurean, belonging to the sect of Epicurus, the philosopher: Acts 17:18.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the name of the Greek philosopher Epicurus, who founded the school of philosophy known as Epicureanism.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There are no direct Hebrew equivalents for Ἐπικουρεῖος, as it is a term specific to Greek philosophy and culture. However, the concept of philosophical schools and debates can be loosely related to the broader Hebrew understanding of wisdom and learning, as seen in the wisdom literature of the Old Testament.

Usage: The term is used in the New Testament to refer to followers of the Epicurean philosophy. It appears in the context of philosophical discussions and debates.

Context: • The term Ἐπικουρεῖος is found in the New Testament in Acts 17:18, where it describes a group of philosophers who encountered the Apostle Paul in Athens. The verse reads: "Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also began to debate with him. Some of them asked, 'What is this babbler trying to say?' Others said, 'He seems to be advocating foreign gods.' They said this because Paul was proclaiming the good news of Jesus and the resurrection." (BSB)
• Epicureanism, founded by Epicurus in the 4th century BC, was a system of philosophy that taught the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain as the highest good. However, it emphasized intellectual pleasures over physical ones and advocated for a life of moderation and tranquility.
• In the context of Acts 17, the Epicureans, along with the Stoics, represent the diverse philosophical landscape of ancient Athens. Their encounter with Paul highlights the clash between Greek philosophical thought and the emerging Christian doctrine.
• The Epicureans were skeptical of divine intervention and the afterlife, which contrasted sharply with Paul's message of the resurrection of Jesus. This philosophical difference is evident in their reaction to Paul's teachings, as they perceived his message as strange and foreign.
• The mention of Epicureans in Acts underscores the early Christian engagement with contemporary philosophical ideas and the challenges faced in communicating the gospel to a diverse audience.

Forms and Transliterations

Ἐπικουρείων Επικουριων Ἐπικουρίων Epikoureion Epikoureiōn Epikoureíon Epikoureíōn

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 17:18 N-GMP
GRK: καὶ τῶν Ἐπικουρείων καὶ Στοϊκῶν
NAS: some of the Epicurean and Stoic
KJV: philosophers of the Epicureans, and
INT: also of the Epicureans and Stoics

Strong's Greek 1946
1 Occurrence

Ἐπικουρείων — 1 Occ.