Lexical Summary anastrophé: Conduct, behavior, manner of life Original Word: ἀναστροφή Strong's Exhaustive Concordance behavior.From anastrepho; behavior -- conversation. see GREEK anastrepho HELPS Word-studies 391 anastrophḗ (from 303 /aná, "down to up" and 4762 /stréphō, "turn") – properly, up-turning; (figuratively) change of outward behavior from an "up-turn" of inner beliefs (presuppositions, etc.). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom anastrephó Definition behavior, conduct NASB Translation behavior (6), conduct (4), manner of life (2), way of life (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 391: ἀναστροφήἀναστροφή, ἀναστροφῆς, ἡ (from the passive ἀναστρέφομαι, see the preceding word), properly, 'walk,' i. e. manner of life, behavior, conduct (German Lebenswandel): Galatians 1:13; Ephesians 4:22; 1 Timothy 4:12; James 3:13; 1 Peter 1:15, 18; 1 Peter 2:12; 1 Peter 3:1f, 16; 2 Peter 2:7; plural ἅγιαι ἀναστροφαι the ways in which holy living shows itself, 2 Peter 3:11. Hence, life in so far as it is comprised in conduct, Hebrews 13:7. (This word, in the senses given, is found in Greek writings from Polybius 4, 82, 1 down; in the Scriptures first in Tobit 4:14; 2 Macc. 5:8; add Epictetus diss. 1, 9, 5; 4, 7, 5 (and (from Sophocles Lexicon, under the word) Agatharchides 134, 12; 153, 8; Aristeas 16).) Topical Lexicon ἀναστροφή (Strong’s Greek 391): Conduct, Manner of LifeScope in the New Testament The word appears thirteen times, predominantly in the Petrine letters but also in Pauline epistles, Hebrews, James, and 2 Peter. It consistently addresses the believer’s observable way of life—never a merely internal disposition but conduct visible to God, the church, and the watching world. Contrast Between Former and Present Life • Galatians 1:13 and Ephesians 4:22 recall a “former way of life” that must be renounced. Redemption is therefore portrayed not only as forgiveness but as liberation from an entire lifestyle. Regeneration produces a decisive break with past patterns, replacing them with Spirit-empowered holiness. Holiness as Normative Conduct 1 Peter 1:15 commands, “Be holy in all your conduct.” Holiness is not optional or occasional; it is the defining characteristic of Christian living. Peter ties this mandate to God’s own character, grounding ethics in theology. Eschatological Motivation 2 Peter employs the term twice. In 2 Peter 3:11 cosmic dissolution is held before the church: “What kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives.” Awareness of the coming judgment fuels present sanctity. By contrast, 2 Peter 2:7 depicts the “depraved conduct of the lawless” that distressed righteous Lot, warning of judgment on persistent ungodliness. Corporate Witness and Evangelism • 1 Peter 2:12 urges believers to “Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles” that slanderers are silenced and God is glorified. Practical holiness thus carries missional weight; the church’s credibility rises or falls with the everyday lifestyles of its members. Pastoral Leadership and Discipleship • 1 Timothy 4:12 lists “conduct” among the five exemplary areas for young Timothy. Ministry credibility depends on consistency between message and manner of life. Historical Backdrop In broader Greek usage ἀναστροφή referred to one’s mode of living within society. The New Testament authors appropriate the term, infusing it with covenantal ethics. Amid a Greco-Roman culture tolerant of vice, the early church’s counter-cultural behavior became a powerful apologetic, fulfilling Jesus’ call to be “salt” and “light.” Old Testament Continuity While ἀναστροφή is Greek, its ethical vision echoes Hebrew concepts such as “walking” (halak) in God’s ways and the “path” (derek) of righteousness. The apostles thus present Christian conduct as the rightful continuation of Old Covenant morality now empowered by the indwelling Spirit. Ministry Implications 1. Discipleship must target lifestyle, not information alone. Summary Strong’s 391 gathers New Testament teaching on the believer’s manner of life into a single, cohesive theme: redemption produces observable holiness. Former lifestyles are renounced, present conduct is sanctified, and future hope fuels ongoing transformation. The apostles present ἀναστροφή as both evidence of saving faith and instrument of gospel advance, weaving personal piety, community witness, and eschatological expectation into a unified tapestry of Christian living. Forms and Transliterations ανασεσωσμένοι ανασεσωσμένους αναστροφαις αναστροφαίς ἀναστροφαῖς αναστροφη αναστροφή ἀναστροφῇ αναστροφην αναστροφήν ἀναστροφήν ἀναστροφὴν αναστροφης αναστροφής ἀναστροφῆς ανασώζεσθε ανασωζέσθω ανασώζετε ανασωζόμενοι ανασωζόμενον ανασωζόμενος ανασωζομένους ανασωζομένων ανασωθείς ανασωθέντων ανασωθήσονται ανέσχιζον anastrophais anastrophaîs anastrophe anastrophē anastrophêi anastrophē̂i anastrophen anastrophēn anastrophḗn anastrophḕn anastrophes anastrophês anastrophēs anastrophē̂sLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Galatians 1:13 N-AFSGRK: τὴν ἐμὴν ἀναστροφήν ποτε ἐν NAS: of my former manner of life in Judaism, KJV: of my conversation in time past INT: my way of life once in Ephesians 4:22 N-AFS 1 Timothy 4:12 N-DFS Hebrews 13:7 N-GFS James 3:13 N-GFS 1 Peter 1:15 N-DFS 1 Peter 1:18 N-GFS 1 Peter 2:12 N-AFS 1 Peter 3:1 N-GFS 1 Peter 3:2 N-AFS 1 Peter 3:16 N-AFS 2 Peter 2:7 N-GFS 2 Peter 3:11 N-DFP Strong's Greek 391 |
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