Lexical Summary (Not Used): (Not Used) (Not Used)Part of Speech: Transliteration: (Not Used) (Not Used) Topical Lexicon OverviewStrong’s Greek 3276 names a Greek term that never occurs in the canonical Greek New Testament. Even so, the word belongs to a wider family of Greek vocabulary that touches on themes the Scriptures treat at length. By tracing its use in pre-Christian Greek literature, the Septuagint, and early Christian writers, we can see how the concept behind the word supplements biblical teaching, sheds light on redemptive history, and offers practical counsel for the church today. Background in Classical and Hellenistic Greek Outside the Bible the term appears in writers who describe public life, civic order, and interpersonal obligations. It can denote a recognized standing or established relationship that carries both privilege and responsibility. The nuance is not merely intellectual but relational, pointing to a status affirmed by others and confirmed through concrete action. Such a backdrop prepares the way for biblical theology, where covenant standing with the living God always issues in observable obedience (Joshua 24:24; John 14:21). Contours in the Septuagint Although 3276 itself is sparsely attested, cognate forms surface in the Greek Old Testament, usually translating Hebrew roots that speak of: In each case covenant loyalty stands at the center. Yahweh establishes, the community acknowledges, and the individual responds. The pattern anticipates New Testament teaching on divine calling and the believer’s new identity in Christ (Romans 1:6; 1 Corinthians 1:9). Conceptual Links in the New Testament Even though 3276 does not appear in the New Testament, three related ideas do: 1. Declaration of status (dikaioō, Romans 3:24). Together these words show that biblical faith is never a merely private conviction. The gospel creates a people whose standing is proclaimed—first by God in justification, then by the church in baptism and continued fellowship. Early Church Reception Second- and third-century authors employ 3276’s word-group when speaking of confessing Christ before magistrates, recognizing orthodox doctrine, and installing elders. The term helped the early church articulate the visible and corporate dimensions of salvation: believers are received into an acknowledged order, not left to walk in isolation (Ignatius, Letter to the Smyrnaeans 8; Apostolic Tradition 3). Theological Significance 1. Covenant Confirmation The biblical God seals His promises with objective signs. Circumcision (Genesis 17:11), the Passover blood (Exodus 12:13), and baptism (Colossians 2:12) all function as public recognitions of a divine reality. The semantic field surrounding 3276 underscores that grace, while personal, is also communal and visible. 2. Ordered Ministry Paul reminds Titus to “appoint elders in every town” (Titus 1:5). A recognized setting-apart protects the flock, promotes accountability, and displays the gospel’s transforming power before the watching world (1 Timothy 3:7). 3. Perseverance and Witness Jesus warns, “Whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father” (Matthew 10:33). Conversely, confessing Him openly involves the very acknowledgement that 3276’s family of words conveys. Christian perseverance is therefore public as well as private. Practical Ministry Implications • Membership matters. Clear reception into the local body mirrors God’s own act of receiving sinners through Christ (Romans 15:7). Suggested Passages for Preaching and Teaching Acts 2:41-47 – visible identification with the risen Christ. 1 Peter 2:9-10 – the church publicly declared God’s own possession. 2 Corinthians 8:19 – recognition of trustworthy servants in ministry. Hebrews 10:23-25 – confessing hope together and encouraging one another. Reflection Though Strong’s 3276 never surfaces in the Greek New Testament, the idea it carries permeates the Bible: God graciously grants a standing that must be acknowledged in the gathered community and lived out before the world. Embracing that pattern guards believers from privatized faith, strengthens corporate life, and magnifies the Savior who “has made us a kingdom and priests to His God and Father” (Revelation 1:6). Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance μελῶν — 2 Occ.μέλος — 5 Occ. Μελχὶ — 2 Occ. Μελχισεδέκ — 8 Occ. ἔμελεν — 2 Occ. μέλει — 7 Occ. μελέτω — 1 Occ. μεμβράνας — 1 Occ. μέμφεται — 1 Occ. μεμφόμενος — 1 Occ. μὲν — 182 Occ. Μενοῦν — 1 Occ. μενοῦνγε — 2 Occ. μέντοι — 8 Occ. ἐμείναμεν — 2 Occ. ἔμειναν — 2 Occ. ἔμεινεν — 10 Occ. ἔμενεν — 3 Occ. ἔμενον — 1 Occ. μεῖναι — 6 Occ. |
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