Lexical Summary homoiopathés: Of like nature, similar in experience or feelings Original Word: ὁμοιοπαθής Strong's Exhaustive Concordance with the same natureFrom homoios and the alternate of pascho; similarly affected -- of (subject to) like passions. see GREEK homoios see GREEK pascho NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom homoios and paschó Definition of like feelings or affections NASB Translation nature like (1), same nature (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3663: ὁμοιοπαθήςὁμοιοπαθής, ὁμοιοπαθες (ὅμοιος, πάσχω), suffering the like with another, of like feelings or affections: τίνι, Acts 14:15; James 5:17. (Plato, rep. 3, 409 b., Tim. 45 c.; Theophrastus, h. pl. 5, 8 (7, 2); Philo, conf. ling. § 3; 4 Macc. 12:13; γῆ, i. e. trodden alike by all, Wis. 7:3; see examples from ecclesiastical writings (viz., Ignatius (interpolated) ad Trall. 10 [ET]; Eusebius, h. e. 1, 2, 1 (both of the incarnate Logos)) in Grimm on 4 Maccabees, p. 344.) Topical Lexicon Concept and ScopeStrong’s Greek 3663 expresses the thought that human beings share the same constitution, liabilities, and limitations. The word gathers together ideas of common infirmity, shared emotions, physical weakness, and moral vulnerability. In Scripture it serves to level any imagined hierarchy between celebrated servants of God and ordinary believers, and between missionaries and the people they serve. Biblical Usage Acts 14:15 records Paul and Barnabas crying out to the astonished crowd at Lystra, “Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you.” By declaring themselves ὁμοιοπαθεῖς, the apostles refused deity-like honors, re-asserted monotheism, and redirected worship to “the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.” James 5:17 draws the same term into pastoral encouragement: “Elijah was a man just like us, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.” Elijah’s spectacular effectiveness in prayer did not arise from a superhuman nature but from faith in a covenant-keeping God. The word thus invites every believer to earnest intercession. Theological Implications 1. Equality of Persons before God Neither apostolic office (Acts 14) nor prophetic stature (James 5) exempts a servant of God from ordinary humanity. The doctrine of the priesthood of all believers rests, in part, on this reality: every Christian approaches God through the same Mediator, Jesus Christ, and all draw on the same grace. 2. Divine Power through Human Weakness Scripture consistently situates God’s mighty acts within human frailty so that “the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us” (compare 2 Corinthians 4:7). The vocabulary of 3663 safeguards this pattern by refusing to distance God’s instruments from the people they serve. 3. Christological Echoes While the term never applies directly to Jesus, Hebrews 2:14-18 and Hebrews 4:15 affirm that the incarnate Son “shared in our humanity” and was “tempted in every way, just as we are, yet was without sin.” The solidarity captured by ὁμοιοπαθής finds its ultimate expression in the Word made flesh. Historical Context In the Greco-Roman world heroes and philosophers were often elevated to semi-divine status. By confessing themselves ὁμοιοπαθεῖς, the apostles struck at the heart of pagan religiosity where men were deified and capricious gods were humanized. The confession preserved the Creator-creature distinction central to biblical revelation. Pastoral and Ministry Application • Missions and Evangelism Modern cross-cultural workers echo Acts 14:15 when they meet local populations on a plane of shared humanity. Authentic identification disarms suspicion and magnifies the Gospel’s universality. • Prayer Ministry James 5:17-18 motivates congregational prayer meetings: if Elijah’s identical nature did not hinder divine intervention, neither will ours. Faith, righteousness, and persistence, not superhuman status, secure answers. • Leadership Humility Church leaders guard against personality cults by reminding congregants—and themselves—that they remain ὁμοιοπαθεῖς. This fosters accountability and dependence on Scripture rather than charisma. • Counseling and Compassion Because shepherds share identical weaknesses with those they counsel, they minister “with gentleness, remembering that each one is made of dust” (compare Galatians 6:1 and Psalm 103:14). Illustrations from Church History • Augustine’s Confessions openly acknowledge disordered desires, illustrating 3663 in patristic self-disclosure and encouraging strugglers sixteen centuries later. Related Concepts Imago Dei (Genesis 1:27) – shared creaturely identity. Flesh and Spirit tension (Romans 8:1-11) – common moral struggle. Incarnation (John 1:14) – God’s condescending solidarity without sin. Priesthood of believers (1 Peter 2:9) – equal standing before God that flows from shared nature. Reflection Strong’s Greek 3663 reminds believers that the accounts of Scripture are family history, not legends of unreachable heroes. The God who answered a prophet’s prayer in drought and worked miracles through traveling missionaries remains eager to display His power through ordinary disciples today. Forms and Transliterations ομοιοπαθεις ομοιοπαθείς ὁμοιοπαθεῖς ομοιοπαθης ομοιοπαθής ὁμοιοπαθὴς homoiopatheis homoiopatheîs homoiopathes homoiopathēs homoiopathḕs omoiopatheis omoiopathes omoiopathēsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 14:15 Adj-NMPGRK: καὶ ἡμεῖς ὁμοιοπαθεῖς ἐσμὲν ὑμῖν NAS: men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel KJV: men of like passions with you, INT: also we of like nature are with you James 5:17 Adj-NMS Strong's Greek 3663 |
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