Lexical Summary parabouleuomai: To consult, to deliberate, to take counsel Original Word: παραβουλεύομαι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance risk, disregardFrom para and the middle voice of bouleuo; to misconsult, i.e. Disregard -- not (to) regard(-ing). see GREEK para see GREEK bouleuo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originvariant reading for paraboleuomai, q.v. Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3851: παραβολεύομαιπαραβολεύομαι: 1 aorist middle participle παραβολευσάμενος; to be παράβολος i. e. one who rashly exposes himself to dangers, to be venturesome, reckless (cf. Winers Grammar, 93 (88); Lob. ad Phryn., p. 67); recklessly to expose oneself to danger: with a dative of respect, τῇ ψυχή, as respects life; hence, to expose one's life boldly, jeopard life, hazard life, Philippians 2:30, G L T Tr WH for the παραβουλευσάμενος of Rec.; on the difference between these readings cf. Gabler, Kleinere theol. Schriften, i., p. 176ff. This verb is not found in the Greek writers, who say παραβάλλεσθαι, now absolutely, to expose oneself to danger (see Passow, under the word παραβάλλω, 2; Liddell and Scott, ibid. II.), now with an accusative of the thing (to risk, stake), as ψυχήν, Homer, Iliad 9, 322; σῶμα καί ψυχήν, 2 Macc. 14:38 (see other examples in Passow (and Liddell and Scott), the passage cited); now with a dative of reference, ταῖς ψυχαῖς, Diodorus 3, 35; τῇ ἐμαυτοῦ κεφαλή, ἀργυρίῳ, Phryn. ed. Lob., p. 238; (cf. Lightfoot on Philippians, the passage cited). STRONGS NT 3851: παραβουλεύομαιπαραβουλεύομαι: 1 aorist participle παραβουλευσάμενος; to consult amiss (see παρά, IV. 2): with a dative of the thing, Philippians 2:30 Rec. Not found in secular authors See παραβολεύομαι. Strong’s Greek 3851 embodies the notion of deliberately exposing oneself to peril for the sake of another. The term belongs to the semantic field of sacrificial courage: to stake one’s very life on the fulfillment of a higher calling. Because it implies conscious, voluntary danger, its moral thrust is closer to heroic self-sacrifice than to reckless abandon. Biblical Context: Philippians 2:30 Paul employs the verb once, in reference to Epaphroditus: “because he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for your deficit in my service.” (Philippians 2:30) 1. Setting. Epaphroditus had carried the Philippian gift to the imprisoned apostle and then fell gravely ill (Philippians 2:25-27). Theological Significance 1. Christ-like Self-Expenditure. The word traces a direct line from servant to Savior: as Christ “humbled Himself … to death” (Philippians 2:8), His followers count their own lives expendable in the service of His mission. Historical Echoes: The Parabolani and Beyond By the third century, Christian caregivers in plague-stricken cities adopted the name Parabolani (“riskers”) from this verb. They nursed the sick, buried the dead, and frequently succumbed themselves. The ideal recurs throughout history: Related Scriptural Motifs • Romans 16:3-4—Priscilla and Aquila “risked their own necks” for Paul. These passages show that risking life for the gospel is neither exceptional nor optional; it is woven into apostolic Christianity. Ministry Implications Today 1. Mission and Evangelism. Frontier evangelism often entails health, legal, or social dangers. The term encourages believers to weigh gospel advance above personal preservation. Summary Strong’s Greek 3851 crystallizes the gospel ethic of purposeful peril embraced for Christ and His people. Centered in the solitary New Testament use for Epaphroditus, the verb radiates through Scripture and church history as a summons to courageous, sacrificial love. Wherever the Church ventures into danger for the good of others and the glory of God, the spirit of παραβολευσάμενος is alive and well. Englishman's Concordance Philippians 2:30 V-APM-NMSGRK: θανάτου ἤγγισεν παραβολευσάμενος τῇ ψυχῇ KJV: unto death, not regarding his life, to INT: death he went near having disregarded the life |
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