Lexical Summary thermainó: To warm, to heat Original Word: θερμαίνω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance to warmFrom therme; to heat (oneself) -- (be) warm(-ed, self). see GREEK therme NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom thermos (hot); from the same as theros Definition to warm NASB Translation warmed (1), warming (5). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2328: θερμαίνωθερμαίνω: middle, present θερμαίνομαι; imperfect ἐθερμαινομην; (θερμός); from Homer down; to make warm, to heat; middle to warm oneself: Mark 14:54, 67; John 18:18, 25; James 2:16. Topical Lexicon Backdrop of Everyday LifeIn the cool evenings of Palestine, charcoal braziers were common features of open courtyards, guard posts, and village homes. The verb 2328 pictures this ordinary act of holding one’s hands toward the coals, seeking comfort in an otherwise chilly climate. Its six New Testament occurrences preserve a vivid snapshot of flickering firesides, yet each scene carries spiritual weight far beyond simple warmth. Peter at the High Priest’s Fire (Mark 14:54; Mark 14:67; John 18:18; John 18:25) The Synoptic and Johannine records unite around a single charcoal blaze. Peter, having followed the arrested Jesus “at a distance,” sits with the servants and officers, “warming himself at the fire” (Mark 14:54). John adds—using 2328 twice—that “the servants and officers were standing around a charcoal fire they had made, because it was cold… and Peter was standing with them, warming himself” (John 18:18). 1. A place of comfort that became a place of compromise. The warmth of the world’s courtyard contrasts sharply with Peter’s cooling loyalty. Moments after drawing close to the Lord in Gethsemane, he now draws close to those who mock Him. Empty Words versus Active Compassion (James 2:16) James thrusts 2328 into the arena of practical righteousness: “If one of you tells him, ‘Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,’ but does nothing for his physical needs, what good is that?” (James 2:16). The warming here is aspirational—an offered wish with no accompanying deed. 1. Faith verified by works. Merely voicing a prayer for someone’s warmth is no substitute for providing the cloak or the coal. Thematic Threads • Physical warmth mirrors spiritual reality. Peter’s chilled soul and the believer’s living faith both find metaphorical commentary through the same verb. • Fireside fellowship can be holy or hazardous. A blaze may unite servants of the High Priest against Christ, or it may gather apostles in post-resurrection joy around the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:9, with a different term yet a related scene). The company one keeps around the coals shapes testimony. • Compassion is concrete. James harnesses the everyday courtesy of wishing warmth to condemn a faith that stops at polite sentiment. Historical Resonance First-century courtyards typically contained a stone hearth or portable brazier. Roman guards and Jewish servants alike relied on glowing charcoal during night watches. The evangelists’ precise mention of the practice roots the passion narrative in cold springtime air during Passover, highlighting the realism of the Gospel accounts. Ministry Significance 1. Personal discipleship: Examine the fires that attract your comfort—are they drawing you toward or away from steadfast allegiance to Christ? Summary Strong’s Greek 2328, though rare, illuminates pivotal moments: Peter’s denial and James’s demand for active love. Whether warning against the peril of worldly fires or urging believers to move from kind words to kind deeds, the term calls the church to a faith that is as warm in action as it is in confession. Forms and Transliterations εθερμαίνετο εθερμαινοντο εθερμαίνοντο ἐθερμαίνοντο εθερμάνθη εθερμάνθην εθερμάνθησαν εθερμάνθητε θερμαινεσθε θερμαίνεσθε θερμαινομενον θερμαινόμενον θερμαινομενος θερμαινόμενος θερμανθείς θερμανθή θερμανθήσεται θερμασία θερμαστρείς ethermainonto ethermaínonto thermainesthe thermaínesthe thermainomenon thermainómenon thermainomenos thermainómenosLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Mark 14:54 V-PPM-NMSGRK: ὑπηρετῶν καὶ θερμαινόμενος πρὸς τὸ NAS: with the officers and warming himself at the fire. KJV: and warmed himself at INT: officers and warming himself at the Mark 14:67 V-PPM-AMS John 18:18 V-IIM/P-3P John 18:18 V-PPM-NMS John 18:25 V-PPM-NMS James 2:16 V-PMM/P-2P Strong's Greek 2328 |
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