Lexical Summary éremos: Desert, wilderness, solitary place, desolate Original Word: ἔρημος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance quiet. Perhaps by transposition from eremos (through the idea of stillness); tranquil -- quiet. see GREEK eremos HELPS Word-studies 2263 ḗremos (an adjective) – properly, undisturbed (placid); (figuratively) quiet; free from outward disturbance; tranquil; without needless commotion or disturbances (used only in 1 Tim 2:2). 2263 /ḗremos ("undisturbed") is used of the tranquil lifestyle of someone who is composed ("self-contained, discreet"). [2263 (ḗremos) figuratively refers to being composed (quiet), avoiding what is flamboyant (ostentatious).] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain origin Definition quiet NASB Translation tranquil (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2263: ἤρεμοςἤρεμος, ἤρεμον, quiet, tranquil: ἤρεμον καί ἡσύχιον βίον, 1 Timothy 2:2. (Lucian, trag. 207; Eustathius, Hesychius; comparative ἠρεμεστερος, from an unused ἠρεμης, Xenophon, Cyril 7, 5, 63; more common in the earlier Greek writings is the adverb ἠρέμα. (Cf. Winers Grammar, § 11 at the end; Buttmann, 28 (24).)) Topical Lexicon Canonical Usage This adjective appears once in the Greek New Testament, in 1 Timothy 2:2, where Paul exhorts that prayers be offered “for kings and all those in authority, so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity”. Its singular occurrence highlights a precise pastoral goal: believers are to pursue an undisturbed environment that encourages reverent living and gospel advance. Literary Setting Within Paul’s instructions for corporate worship (1 Timothy 2:1-8), the term stands beside ἡσύχιον (“quiet”), linking outward calm with inward composure. The Ephesian congregation, facing civic pressures and false teaching, needed both elements to sustain orderly worship and effective witness. Theological Significance 1. Divine Providence and Government Tranquility is sought under the conviction that “there is no authority except from God” (Romans 13:1). Stable governance restrains evil, preserves justice, and grants the church space for mission. 2. Fruit of Godliness Paul couples tranquility with “godliness,” echoing Isaiah 32:17: “The work of righteousness will be peace, and the service of righteousness will be quietness and security forever”. Lasting peace flows from lives aligned with God’s character. 3. Missional Purpose The immediate context (1 Timothy 2:3-4) shows that peaceful conditions facilitate the spread of salvation. Social chaos can obscure the gospel; tranquility allows its unimpeded proclamation. Historical Background Composed during Nero’s volatile reign, the epistle addresses believers accustomed to civic unrest. Early Christians, though powerless politically, wielded spiritual influence by prayer. Tertullian later wrote that rulers “receive the blessings which are from the true God” through the petitions of the church, reflecting Paul’s strategy. Practical Implications • Persistent intercession for leaders fosters conditions where the church may thrive (Jeremiah 29:7). Related Biblical Concepts • Peace (εἰρήνη) – comprehensive well-being in Christ (John 14:27). Warnings Craving peace at the expense of truth invites judgment (Jeremiah 6:14). When rulers oppose God’s commands, believers must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29), accepting any loss of outward tranquility. Summary Strong’s Greek 2263 portrays the serene climate—both societal and personal—that arises when God’s people pray, pursue righteousness, and honor rightful authority. Such tranquility is not an end in itself but a divinely intended environment for worship, discipleship, and the unhindered spread of the gospel. Forms and Transliterations ηρεμον ήρεμον ἤρεμον eremon ēremon ḗremonLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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