Lexical Summary themelios: Foundation Original Word: θεμέλιος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance foundation. From a derivative of tithemi; something put down, i.e. A substruction (of a building, etc.), (literally or figuratively) -- foundation. see GREEK tithemi Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2310: θεμέλιοςθεμέλιος, θεμέλιον (θέμα (i. e. thing laid down)), laid down as a foundation, belonging to a foundation (Diodorus 5, 66; θεμέλιοι λίθοι, Aristophanes av. 1137); generally as a substantive, ὁ θεμέλιος (namely, λίθος) (1 Corinthians 3:11; 2 Timothy 2:19; Revelation 21:19), and τό θεμέλιον (rarely so in Greek writings, as (Aristotle, phys. auscult. 2, 9, p. 200a, 4); Pausanias, 8, 32, 1; (others)), the foundation (of a building, wall, city): properly, Luke 6:49; τιθέναι θεμέλιον, Luke 6:48; Luke 14:29; plural οἱ θεμέλιοι (chiefly so in Greek writings), Hebrews 11:10; Revelation 21:14, 19; neuter τό θεμέλια, Acts 16:26 (and often in the Sept.); metaphorically, the foundations, beginnings, first principles, of an institution or system of truth: 1 Corinthians 3:10, 12; the rudiments, first principles, of Christian life and knowledge, Hebrews 6:1 (μετανοίας genitive of apposition (Winer's Grammar, 531 (494))); a course of instruction begun by a teacher, Romans 15:20; Christ is called the θεμέλιος, i. e. faith in him, which is like a foundation laid in the soul on which is built up the fuller and richer knowledge of saving truth, 1 Corinthians 3:11; τῶν ἀποστόλων (genitive of apposition, on account of what follows: ὄντος ... Χριστοῦ (others say genitive of origin, see ἐποικοδομέω; cf. Winer's Grammar, § 30, 1; Meyer or Ellicott at the passage)), of the apostles as preachers of salvation, upon which foundation the Christian church has been built, Ephesians 2:20; a solid and stable spiritual possession, on which resting as on a foundation they may strive to lay hold on eternal life, 1 Timothy 6:19; the church is apparently called θεμέλιος as the foundation of the 'city of God,' 2 Timothy 2:19, cf. 2 Timothy 2:20 and 1 Timothy 3:15. (the Sept. several times also for אַרְמון, a palace, Isaiah 25:2; Jeremiah 6:5; Amos 1:4, etc.) Topical Lexicon The Motif of Foundation in Scripture In biblical thought a foundation is the decisive structural element upon which everything else rests. Its stability determines the integrity of the superstructure, whether a physical building, a life, a ministry, or the people of God as a whole. Whenever Strong’s 2310 appears, the context stresses durability, reliability, and ordered design. Physical Foundations as a Window to Spiritual Reality Acts 16:26 records that “a strong earthquake shook the foundations of the prison.” When even stone footings tremble, human security is exposed as fragile and contingent upon God. Likewise, Luke 14:29 pictures a half-built tower that becomes a public monument to folly because its “foundation” was laid without resources to finish the project. Such narrative uses remind the reader that successful construction—and by extension successful living—demands foresight, sacrifice, and a secure base. Christ the Irreplaceable Foundation “For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). The incarnate Son is not merely one component of the Church’s footing; He is the sole acceptable ground. Building on any rival—law, tradition, human wisdom—invites eventual collapse. The New Testament consistently insists that all saving, sanctifying, and eschatological purposes of God converge in Him. The Apostolic and Prophetic Foundation of the Church Ephesians 2:20 locates believers “on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.” The proclamation of inspired witnesses provides the authoritative, Spirit-breathed strata upon which local congregations and global mission advance. Revelation 21:14 envisions the consummation: “The wall of the city had twelve foundations, bearing the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” Thus the same historical eyewitnesses who once laid doctrinal groundwork will, in the New Jerusalem, be honored forever for that role. Moral and Doctrinal Foundations for the Individual Disciple Hebrews 6:1 urges maturing Christians to move beyond “laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith in God.” Foundational truths are indispensable, yet the writer warns against perpetual infancy. At the same time, “God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity’” (2 Timothy 2:19). Orthodoxy (right belief) and orthopraxy (right conduct) remain united components of the one footing God has established. Missional Foundations and Pioneering Work Paul’s church-planting strategy avoided “building on someone else’s foundation” (Romans 15:20). Fresh gospel witness, when possible, should plant Christ where His name is not yet cherished. That apostolic instinct continues to inform global missions: advance without rivalry, respect existing labor, and ensure every new work rests directly on Christ and His word. Eschatological and Heavenly Foundations Hebrews 11:10 says Abraham looked “for the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” The patriarch’s faith anticipated a permanent homeland, fulfilled in the New Jerusalem whose “foundations of the wall … were adorned with every kind of precious stone” (Revelation 21:19). Earthly structures pass; the eternal city’s footings, engineered by God Himself, guarantee unshakeable hope for the redeemed. Pastoral and Discipleship Implications • Teach converts to “dig deep” and lay their lives on rock, echoing Luke 6:48. Historical and Ministry Significance Early catechisms organized instruction around foundational doctrines—Trinity, incarnation, resurrection—mirroring Hebrews 6:1. Church fathers such as Irenaeus defended apostolic foundations against Gnostic reinterpretations, while Reformers appealed to Scripture alone as the immovable footing beneath the Church. Contemporary ministry maintains this lineage whenever it submits strategy, counseling, and worship to the bedrock of Christ’s person and the prophetic-apostolic word. Summary Strong’s 2310 underscores that the success of every endeavor—architectural, ecclesial, personal, or eschatological—depends upon the quality and placement of its foundation. Scripture presents one solution: Christ Himself, confessed by the apostles, embraced in repentance and faith, and consummated in the eternal city whose foundations can never be shaken. Forms and Transliterations θεμελια θεμέλια θεμέλιά θεμελιοι θεμέλιοι θεμελιον θεμέλιον θεμελιος θεμέλιος θεμελιου θεμελίου θεμελιους θεμελίους θεμελιω θεμελιώ θεμελίῳ θεμελίων themelia themélia themelio themeliō themelioi themelíoi themelíōi themélioi themelion themélion themelios themélios themeliou themelíou themelious themelíousLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Luke 6:48 N-AMSGRK: καὶ ἔθηκεν θεμέλιον ἐπὶ τὴν NAS: and laid a foundation on the rock; KJV: and laid the foundation on a rock: INT: and laid a foundation on the Luke 6:49 N-GMS Luke 14:29 N-AMS Acts 16:26 N-ANP Romans 15:20 N-AMS 1 Corinthians 3:10 N-AMS 1 Corinthians 3:11 N-AMS 1 Corinthians 3:12 N-AMS Ephesians 2:20 N-DMS 1 Timothy 6:19 N-AMS 2 Timothy 2:19 N-NMS Hebrews 6:1 N-AMS Hebrews 11:10 N-AMP Revelation 21:14 N-AMP Revelation 21:19 N-NMP Revelation 21:19 N-NMS Strong's Greek 2310 |
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