Lexical Summary ontós: truly, really, indeed Original Word: ὄντως Strong's Exhaustive Concordance certainly, clean, indeed, verily. Adverb of the oblique cases of on; really -- certainly, clean, indeed, of a truth, verily. see GREEK on HELPS Word-studies 3689 óntōs (the adverbial form of 1510 /eimí, "to be") – properly, exist; really be (exist, as reality). 3689 /óntōs ("substance as reality") is usually translated "indeed" and refers to what is genuinely important ("real"). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the part. of eimi Definition really, truly NASB Translation certainly (2), indeed (6), real (1), really (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3689: ὄντωςὄντως (from ὄν; on adverbs formed from participles cf. Alexander Buttmann (1873) Ausf. Spr. § 115 a. Anm. 3; Kühner, § 335 Anm. 2), adverb, truly, in reality, in point of fact, as opposed to what is pretended, fictitious, false, conjectural: Mark 11:32 (see ἔχω, I. 1 f.); Luke 23:47; Luke 24:34; John 8:36; 1 Corinthians 14:25; Galatians 3:21 and Rec. in 2 Peter 2:18; ὁ, ἡ, τό ὄντως followed by a noun, that which is truly etc., that which is indeed (τά ὄντως ἀγατα ἤ καλά, P'lat. Phaedr., p. 260 a.; τήν ὄντως καί ἀληθῶς φιλίαν, Plato, Clit., p. 409 e.; οἱ ὄντως βασιλεῖς, Josephus, Antiquities 15, 3, 5): as ἡ ὄντως (Rec. αἰώνιος) ζωή, 1 Timothy 6:19; ἡ ὄντως χήρα, a widow that is a widow indeed, not improperly called a widow (as παρθένος ἡ λεγομένη χήρα, i. e., a virgin that has taken a vow of celibacy, in Ignatius ad Smyrn. 13 [ET] (cf. Lightfoot, in the place cited); cf. Baur, Die sogen. Pastoralbriefe, p. 46ff), 1 Timothy 5:3, 5, 16. (Euripides, Aristophanes, Xenophon, Plato, and following; the Sept. for אֻמְנָם, Numbers 22:37; for אָכֵן, Jeremiah 3:23; for אַך, Jeremiah 10:19.) Topical Lexicon The Essence of ὄντως in ScriptureStrong’s Greek 3689 appears whenever the Holy Spirit wishes to underscore that something is absolutely genuine, beyond dispute, and fully aligned with God’s reality. Whether attached to a person, an event, a doctrine, or an ethical need, ὄντως punctuates the narrative or exhortation with an exclamation point of certainty: “This is the real thing—take heed.” Occurrences in the Gospels: Certainty about Christ • Mark 11:32 sets the tone: “everyone held that John truly was a prophet.” The crowd’s united conviction about John the Baptist authenticates his preparatory role for Messiah. • Luke 23:47 records the centurion at Calvary: “Certainly this man was righteous.” A Gentile soldier voices what Israel’s leaders denied, proving that the Cross exposes the heart and compels recognition of truth. • Luke 24:34 proclaims Easter certainty: “The Lord has indeed risen.” ὄντως eradicates any notion of a metaphorical resurrection. The bodily rising of Jesus is historically and spiritually non-negotiable. • John 8:36 anchors the believer’s liberty: “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Freedom in Christ is not psychological relief but objective emancipation from sin’s dominion. Together these texts present a four-fold witness: precursor truth (John), righteous sacrifice (Calvary), victorious resurrection (Easter), and experiential liberation (New Covenant life). Apostolic Usage: Authentic Experience in the Church 1 Corinthians 14:25 highlights prophetic ministry: “God is truly among you!” When spiritual gifts operate biblically, unbelievers sense divine reality. ὄντως affirms that ordered charismatic worship discloses the living God. Galatians 3:21 employs ὄντως in a doctrinal dispute: “righteousness would indeed have come from the law.” The hypothetical underscores the impossibility; righteousness can only come through promise fulfilled in Christ. Here the adverb protects the gospel from legalistic distortion. Pastoral Epistles: Practical Reality for God’s Household Paul uses ὄντως four times in 1 Timothy, more than any other book, focusing on compassion and eternal perspective: • 5:3, 5, 16 distinguish widows “who are truly in need.” The church’s resources must meet genuine cases, blending mercy with stewardship. • 6:19 urges believers to “take hold of that which is truly life.” Material wealth is ephemeral; only kingdom investments secure enduring reality. The repetition cultivates a discerning congregation, able to evaluate needs and to pursue eternal priorities. Theological Threads Truth and Reality: ὄντως links New Testament proclamation with the Hebrew concept of ’emet (truth, reliability). Scripture is not content with appearance; it demands correspondence with divine fact. Christological Focus: Each gospel instance drives the reader toward a verdict about Jesus—prophet, righteous sufferer, risen Lord, liberator. ὄντως functions as a verbal underlining of His identity and work. Ecclesiological Clarity: In Corinth and Ephesus, the term guides worship and benevolence. Authentic presence (1 Corinthians) and authentic need (1 Timothy) are the twin poles of church life: God’s presence recognized, God’s people cared for. Missional Witness: The centurion, the Corinthian outsider, and the Galatian law-minded audience all confront reality through ὄντως. Evangelism invites the same response today: acknowledgement of what is “truly” so. Eschatological Hope: “Truly life” (1 Timothy 6:19) lifts believers’ eyes to the coming age, reminding them that present decisions echo into eternity. Ministry Implications 1. Preach with Conviction: Use ὄντως moments to affirm non-negotiables—Christ’s resurrection, justification by faith, freedom from sin. 2. Evaluate Compassionately: Distinguish genuine need from perceived need; channel aid where it is “truly” required. 3. Cultivate Authentic Worship: Aim for gatherings where visitors exclaim, “God is truly among you!” 4. Model Eternal Priorities: Encourage stewardship that lays hold of “truly life,” resisting the illusion of security in wealth. Historical Reception Church fathers such as Athanasius cited Luke 24:34’s ὄντως to defend the bodily resurrection against docetism. Reformers appealed to Galatians 3:21’s emphatic logic to refute works-righteousness. Modern missions literature frequently quotes John 8:36 to testify to lasting transformation in Christ. Conclusion Wherever ὄντως appears, Scripture presses the reader to face reality as God defines it. In doctrine, narrative, worship, and charity, this small adverb invites wholehearted assent to what is undeniably, perpetually, and gloriously true. Forms and Transliterations οντως όντως ὄντως όνυξι όνυχα όνυχας όνυχες όνυχι ονυχίζει ονυχίζον ονυχιζόντων ονύχιον ονυχιστήρας όνυχος ονύχων οξέως ontos ontōs óntos óntōsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Mark 11:32 AdvGRK: τὸν Ἰωάννην ὄντως ὅτι προφήτης NAS: John to have been a real prophet. KJV: he was a prophet indeed. INT: John indeed that a prophet Luke 23:47 Adv Luke 24:34 Adv John 8:36 Adv 1 Corinthians 14:25 Adv Galatians 3:21 Adv 1 Timothy 5:3 Adv 1 Timothy 5:5 Adv 1 Timothy 5:16 Adv 1 Timothy 6:19 Adv |
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