Lexical Summary theios: Divine, godly Original Word: θεῖος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance godlike, divine, godhead. From theos; godlike (neuter as noun, divinity): - divine, godhead. see GREEK theos HELPS Word-studies 2304 theíos (an adjective, derived from 2316 /theós, "God") – divine, manifesting the characteristics of God's nature. 2304 /theíos ("divine nature") ties God's essence to His self-manifestation, permitting all people to know Him by observing His attributes. [See also the discussion of: general revelation (cf. 2304 /theíos) and special revelation (cf. 2320 /theótēs) at 601 /apokalýptō ("reveal") and 602 /apokálypsis ("revelation").] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom theos Definition divine NASB Translation divine (2), divine nature (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2304: θεῖοςθεῖος, θεία, θεῖον (Θεός) (from Homer down), divine: ἡ θεία δύναμις, 2 Peter 1:3; φύσις (Diodorus 5, 31), 2 Peter 1:4; neuter τό θεῖον, divinity, deity (Latinnumendivinum), not only used by the Greeks to denote the divine nature, power, providence, in the general, without reference to any individual deity (as Herodotus 3, 108; Thucydides 5, 70; Xenophon, Cyril 4, 2, 15; Hell. 7, 5, 13; mem. 1,4, 18; Plato, Phaedr., p. 242c.; Polybius 32, 25, 7; Diodorus 1, 6; 13, 3; 12; 16, 60; Lucian, de sacrif. 1; pro imagg. 13, 17. 28), but also by Philo (as in mundi opff. § 61; de agric. 17; leg. ad Galatians 1), and by Josephus (Antiquities, 1, 3, 4; 11, 1; 2, 12, 4; 5, 2, 7; 11, 5, 1; 12, 6, 3; 7, 3; 13, 8, 2; 10, 7; 14, 9, 5; 17, 2, 4; 20, 11, 2; b. j. 3, 8, 3; 4, 3, 10), of the one, true God; hence, most appositely employed by Paul, out of regard for Gentile usage, in Acts 17:29. Topical Lexicon OverviewThe adjective translated “divine” appears only three times in the Greek New Testament and serves as a compact witness to the majesty, sufficiency, and otherness of God as revealed in His Son and proclaimed by His apostles. In each context it draws a line between the Creator and the creature, while simultaneously declaring that the saving work of Christ brings believers into genuine participation in the life and character of God. Scriptural Occurrences 1. 2 Peter 1:3 – “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” Divine Power and the Sufficiency of Grace (2 Peter 1:3) The term underscores the inexhaustible power resident in God alone. Peter grounds all spiritual life and practical godliness in what God Himself has supplied, not in human effort. Because this power is “divine,” it is inherently unlimited, trustworthy, and effective for every circumstance the believer faces. Ministry that rests on this sufficiency avoids both legalistic self-reliance and passive fatalism; it calls Christians to pursue holiness with confidence that provision has already been made. Participation in the Divine Nature (2 Peter 1:4) Peter’s assertion that believers become “partakers of the divine nature” proclaims a gracious sharing of God’s moral qualities—His holiness, love, and righteousness—through union with Christ and the indwelling Spirit. The verse has historically guarded two extremes: Properly held, the verse undergirds sanctification: what regeneration implants, sanctification develops, and glorification completes. The Divine Essence versus Idolatry (Acts 17:29) In Athens, Paul contrasts the living God with pagan idols. By calling God’s essence “divine,” he declares that the true God cannot be reduced to material form. The same adjective that promises participation to believers simultaneously forbids any attempt to domesticate or represent God by human craftsmanship, safeguarding His transcendence while supporting the missionary proclamation that all peoples are accountable to the Creator. Systematic Theology Connections • Theology Proper: Affirms God’s self-existence, independence, and supremacy. Pastoral and Missionary Application 1. Assurance of Provision – Comforts believers struggling with temptation or inadequacy by pointing to God’s “divine power” already at work within them. Historical Reception Early church fathers such as Athanasius and Irenaeus cited 2 Peter 1:4 to defend the real transformation wrought by the incarnate Word. The Reformers emphasized 2 Peter 1:3 to teach sola gratia, grounding Christian life in the divine initiative. In modern missions, Acts 17:29 continues to shape approaches to folk religion and cultural artifacts. Intertextual Echoes Old Testament declarations of God’s uniqueness (Exodus 15:11; Isaiah 40:18) and promises of His Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27) anticipate the New Testament’s concise use of the adjective. The creation mandate to bear God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27) and its renewal in Christ (Romans 8:29) converge with the hope of becoming “partakers of the divine nature.” Summary Strong’s Greek 2304 sets forth the transcendent greatness of God, the sufficiency of His provision, and the astonishing privilege granted to believers in union with Christ. It confronts idolatry, empowers sanctification, and anchors the church’s confidence in the unchanging character of the triune God. Forms and Transliterations θείαν θειας θείας θειον θείον θεῖον theias theías theion theîonLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 17:29 Adj-ANSGRK: ἀνθρώπου τὸ θεῖον εἶναι ὅμοιον NAS: not to think that the Divine Nature is like KJV: not to think that the Godhead is like INT: of man that which [is] divine to be like 2 Peter 1:3 Adj-GFS 2 Peter 1:4 Adj-GFS Strong's Greek 2304 |
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