3130. mania

Lexical Summary

mania: Madness, frenzy

Original Word: μανία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: mania
Pronunciation: mah-NEE-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (man-ee'-ah)
KJV: (+ make) X mad
NASB: mad
Word Origin: [from G3105 (μαίνομαι - insane)]

1. craziness

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

madness, frenzy

From mainomai; craziness -- (+ make) X mad.

see GREEK mainomai

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 3130 manía (root of English terms like "maniac, mania") – madness; irrational rage (temporary insanity). See 3105 (mainomai).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from mainomai
Definition
frenzy, madness
NASB Translation
mad (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3130: μανία

μανία, μανίας, ἡ (μαίνομαι), madness, frenzy: Acts 26:24. (From Theognis, Herodotus down.)

Topical Lexicon

Occurrence in Scripture

The noun μανία appears a single time in the New Testament, Acts 26:24, where Roman governor Festus exclaims, “You are insane, Paul! Your great learning is driving you to madness” (Berean Standard Bible). The term captures the charge of mental derangement leveled against the apostle during his defense before Agrippa II.

Contextual Background

Paul is recounting his Damascus-road conversion and subsequent commission to proclaim Christ to both Jews and Gentiles. His testimony climaxes with the resurrection of Jesus Messiah, a truth Festus—steeped in Roman rationalism—considers unbelievable. By branding Paul’s words as “madness,” Festus seeks to dismiss the gospel without engaging its claims. Luke, the author, records the incident to highlight the contrast between spiritual revelation and unbelieving skepticism.

Historical Usage in Antiquity

In classical Greek, μανία ranges from “enthusiastic rapture” inspired by the gods to pathological insanity. Philosophers such as Plato recognized both positive and negative forms—the “divine madness” of prophecy and the destructive frenzy of irrationality. Luke’s employment reflects common Greco-Roman courtroom rhetoric in which accusations of mania discredited an opponent’s reliability.

Theological Implications

1. Gospel Opposition: The incident illustrates that the proclamation of Christ crucified and risen can be judged irrational by worldly standards (1 Corinthians 1:23; 1 Corinthians 2:14).
2. Apologetic Model: Paul demonstrates respectful rebuttal—“I am not insane… what I am saying is true and reasonable” (Acts 26:25-26)—showing that Christian testimony harmonizes faith and reason.
3. Fulfillment of Prophetic Expectation: Earlier Jesus warned His followers they would be maligned (Matthew 10:22). Paul’s experience validates that prediction and models steadfastness.

Pastoral and Ministry Application

• Believers may encounter ridicule or diagnostic labels when presenting biblical truth. Paul’s calm poise encourages measured, evidence-based defense rather than defensive anger.
• Intellectual rigor in theology and study (“your great learning”) should be pursued without fear that earnest scholarship undermines faith; rather, it strengthens witness when paired with humility.
• The episode alerts pastors to the stigma surrounding mental health. While Festus’s charge was slanderous, genuine psychological struggles should be met with compassion and sound counsel rooted in Scripture.

Related Biblical Themes

Wisdom and folly (Proverbs 1:7); accusations of drunkenness or madness against God’s servants (1 Samuel 21:13; Acts 2:13); the clash between the mind of the flesh and the mind of the Spirit (Romans 8:5-7).

Conclusion

Strong’s Greek 3130 spotlights a moment when apostolic proclamation collided with secular incredulity. Festus’s cry of “μανία” dramatizes the perennial tension between the wisdom of God and the judgments of fallen humanity, encouraging Christians to maintain clarity, courage, and gracious reason as they herald the risen Lord.

Forms and Transliterations

μανία μανιάκην μανιάκης μανιαν μανίαν μανίας manian manían

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 26:24 N-AFS
GRK: γράμματα εἰς μανίαν περιτρέπει
NAS: learning is driving you mad.
INT: learning to insanity turns

Strong's Greek 3130
1 Occurrence

μανίαν — 1 Occ.