Lexical Summary amarantinos: Unfading, everlasting Original Word: ἀμαράντινος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance unfadingFrom amarantos; "amaranthine", i.e. (by implication) fadeless -- that fadeth not away. see GREEK amarantos HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 262 amarántinos (an adjective, akin to 263 /amárantos, "unfading") – properly, the substance of amaranths (a flower in antiquity which symbolized what could never fade), i.e. unfading and hence imperishable (incorruptible, used only in 1 Pet 5:4). Observe also the -inos suffix which shows this term emphasizes how the substance of the crown of glory given to elders connects them to the unfading glory of God. See 263 (amarantos). [The amaranth flower has incredible resiliency (ability to endure). It easily revives when moistened, even after it is uprooted.] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom amarantos Definition unfading NASB Translation unfading (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 262: ἀμαράντινοςἀμαράντινος, (from ἀμάραντος, as ῥόδινος made of roses, from ῤόδον, a rose; cf. ἀκάνθινος), composed of amaranth (a flower, so called because it never withers or fades, and when plucked off revives if moistened with water; hence, it is a symbol of perpetuity and immortality (see Paradise Lost iii., 353ff); Pliny, h. n. 21 (15), 23 (others 47)): στέφανος, 1 Peter 5:4. (Found besides only in Philostr. her. 19, p. 741; (and (conjecturally) in Boeckh, Corp. Inscriptions 155, 39, circa Topical Lexicon Etymological Background and Literary Setting The term ἀμαράντινος appears only once, in 1 Peter 5:4, where it modifies “crown of glory.” The noun draws on the classical image of the amaranth, a flower believed to keep its color and form long after being plucked. Peter lifts this familiar Greek motif into a Christian frame: the reward promised by the Chief Shepherd cannot wither, fade, or be eclipsed. Old Testament Roots of the ‘Unfading’ Motif Although the exact word is absent from the Hebrew Scriptures, the underlying idea of imperishability undergirds many Old Testament promises. By invoking ἀμαράντινος, Peter signals continuity with these assurances, anchoring Christian hope in the same God whose covenant mercies outlast every created thing. The Crown in Greco-Roman and Biblical Thought In athletic contests, wreaths of laurel or pine soon shriveled; emperors’ golden diadems eventually tarnished or were buried with their wearers. Scripture contrasts these fading honors with the believer’s reward: The single adjective ἀμαράντινος crystallizes all these strands into one definitive statement: the glory awaiting the faithful is categorically superior to every earthly accolade. Eschatological Assurance in 1 Peter 5:4 Contextually, Peter addresses elders, urging them to shepherd “the flock of God” willingly and humbly. The promise, “when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory” (1 Peter 5:4), affirms: 1. Christ’s personal return (“appears”). Peter’s choice of ἀμαράντινος rebukes short-sighted ministry that seeks immediate applause, redirecting leaders toward eternal evaluation. Pastoral and Discipleship Implications • Motivation for Service: Knowing the reward is ἀμαράντινος frees shepherds to labor without fear of obscurity or persecution. Historical Reception Early church writers—e.g., Clement of Rome (First Epistle, ch. 5)—echo the language of crowns that do not fade. Patristic sermons frequently linked 1 Peter 5:4 to martyrdom narratives, accentuating the contrast between the executioner’s fading laurel and the martyr’s unfading wreath. Reformation preachers applied the text to vocational faithfulness, while evangelical hymnody (“Crown Him with many crowns”) continues to emphasize the everlasting nature of Christ’s rewards. Relation to Other Petrine ‘Unfading’ Texts Peter employs ἀμάραντος in 1 Peter 1:4 to describe the inheritance “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.” Together with ἀμαράντινος, these cognate terms frame the epistle: believers begin their pilgrimage with an unfading inheritance and conclude it with an unfading crown, underscoring the comprehensive security of salvation. Theological Synthesis 1. Permanence of Glory: God’s rewards partake of His own eternal nature. Devotional Reflection Believers confronted by societal hostility can meditate on 1 Peter 5:4 to recalibrate their expectations. The path to the unfading crown often runs through obscurity or suffering, but the reward is guaranteed by the resurrected Shepherd who has already triumphed over death. “Maranatha—come, Lord Jesus,” for when He appears, the ἀμαράντινος crown of glory will shine forever, testifying to the unfading faithfulness of God and the vindication of all who shepherd His people well. Forms and Transliterations αμαραντινον αμαράντινον ἀμαράντινον amarantinon amarántinonLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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