Lexical Summary kataballó: To cast down, to throw down, to lay a foundation Original Word: καταβάλλω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cast down, lay. From kata and ballo; to throw down -- cast down, lay. see GREEK kata see GREEK ballo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kata and balló Definition to cast down NASB Translation laying (1), struck down (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2598: καταβάλλωκαταβάλλω: passive and middle present participle καταβαλλόμενος; 1 aorist passive κατεβλήθην; (from Homer down); the Sept. for הִפִּיל; 1. to cast down: τινα, passive, Revelation 12:10 Rec.; to throw to the ground, prostrate: passive, 2 Corinthians 4:9 (where the metaphor is taken from an athlete or combatant). 2. to put in a lower place: in the phrase θεμέλιον καταβάλλομαι, to lay (down) a foundation (Josephus, Antiquities 11, 4, 4; 15, 11, 3; Dionysius Halicarnassus, Antiquities 3, 69; others), Hebrews 6:1. Strong’s Greek 2598 (kataballó) conveys two complementary pictures: the violent act of being struck or thrown down, and the deliberate act of laying a foundation. The contexts in which the verb appears—suffering in ministry (2 Corinthians 4: 9) and instruction in Christian maturity (Hebrews 6: 1)—show how the same word can describe both the assaults believers endure and the groundwork God calls them to lay. Occurrences in the New Testament 2 Corinthians 4: 9: “persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” Hebrews 6: 1: “Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God.” The Twofold Image 1. Struck Down – Perseverance under Affliction Paul’s catalogue of hardships reaches its climax with kataballó: he and his companions are physically and emotionally “struck down,” yet divine preservation keeps them from annihilation. The verb underscores the reality of outward defeat while the accompanying “but not destroyed” proclaims inward triumph. The verse mirrors Psalm 37: 24, “Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed,” linking the apostle’s experience with the righteous sufferer’s promise. 2. Laying a Foundation – Progress toward Maturity Hebrews employs the same verb in the architectural sense. New converts must not perpetually “lay again” the same foundation; instead, they are urged to build upward toward perfection. The text presupposes that a firm foundation has indeed been set (cf. 1 Corinthians 3: 11), but warns against spiritual stagnation. As a master builder (1 Corinthians 3: 10), Paul lays foundations; Hebrews exhorts believers not to linger at that stage. Historical and Cultural Background In Greco-Roman construction, laying a foundation involved excavation, leveling, and the setting of cornerstone blocks. The same term described soldiers being flung to the ground in combat sports or battle reports. Early Christian readers readily grasped both images: the church as God’s building (Ephesians 2: 20) and believers as combatants (Ephesians 6: 12). Kataballó bridges these arenas, reminding disciples that the life built on Christ will face blows yet remain immovable. Theological Themes Perseverance and Providence Being “struck down” does not negate God’s sovereignty; rather, it showcases His sustaining power. The paradox highlights the treasure in jars of clay (2 Corinthians 4: 7). Foundation and Fulness The elementary doctrines listed in Hebrews 6 lie at the core of Christian catechesis. Kataballó signals that these truths are essential but preliminary. Authentic growth requires building upon them without discarding them. Unity of Purpose The two usages together affirm that affliction and foundation-laying serve the same divine purpose: establishing believers firmly in Christ so that, whether under attack or advancing in knowledge, they stand secure. Pastoral Implications Encouragement in Trials Ministers can assure suffering saints that being knocked down is not evidence of abandonment. 2 Corinthians 4: 9 legitimizes the experience of defeat while denying its finality. Teaching toward Maturity Hebrews 6: 1 urges leaders to move their congregations beyond perpetual review of basics. Sound discipleship revisits foundational truths but does not remain confined to them. Balanced Ministry Philosophy The term cautions against an over-protective ethos that avoids spiritual struggle and against an over-academic focus that ignores basic doctrine. Building and battling proceed together. Intertextual Connections Foundation imagery: Matthew 7: 24-25; 1 Corinthians 3: 10-15; Ephesians 2: 20. Affliction imagery: Psalm 42: 11; Micah 7: 8; 2 Timothy 4: 17-18. Application for Preaching and Teaching • Use 2 Corinthians 4: 9 to underscore God’s sustaining grace amid persecution. Summary Kataballó unites the realities of conflict and construction in the Christian life. Believers may be thrown to the ground, yet they rise; they must lay a foundation, yet they must also build upon it. The word thus calls the church to resilient endurance and purposeful growth until the structure of faith reaches its intended maturity in Christ. Englishman's Concordance 2 Corinthians 4:9 V-PPM/P-NMPGRK: οὐκ ἐγκαταλειπόμενοι καταβαλλόμενοι ἀλλ' οὐκ NAS: but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; KJV: not forsaken; cast down, but not INT: not forsaken cast down but not Hebrews 6:1 V-PPM-NMP |
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