Lexical Summary paraphronia: Madness, insanity, irrationality Original Word: παραφρονία Strong's Exhaustive Concordance madness. From paraphroneo; insanity, i.e. Foolhardiness -- madness. see GREEK paraphroneo HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 3913 paraphronía (from 3844 /pará, "contrary-beside" and 5424 /phrḗn, "internal perspective regulating behavior") – properly, thinking "beside oneself," madness; insane (irrational) behavior, describing someone acting "out of their mind" (used only in 2 Pet 2:16). See 3912 (paraphroneō). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom paraphroneó Definition madness NASB Translation madness (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3913: παραφρονίαπαραφρονία, παραφρονιας, ἡ (παράφρων (see the preceding word)), madness, insanity: 2 Peter 2:16. The Greek writ, use not this word but παραφροσύνη (cf. Winer's Grammar, 24; 95 (90)). Topical Lexicon Overview Paraphronía (Strong’s Greek 3913) portrays a state of moral insanity in which a person, though possessing normal intellect, chooses a course diametrically opposed to God’s revealed will. It is not mere mental imbalance but a spiritual derangement that exchanges divine wisdom for self-serving obstinacy. Canonical Occurrence (2 Peter 2:16) Peter, warning against false teachers, recalls Balaam: “But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey, a beast without speech, that spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness” (2 Peter 2:16). The single appearance of the word amplifies the gravity of Balaam’s conduct, setting it forth as a paradigm for later deceivers who, while claiming spiritual authority, abandon righteousness for gain. Old Testament Background: The Balaam Narrative Numbers 22–24 records Balaam’s readiness to curse Israel for Moabite gold. Though God clearly forbade the curse, Balaam persisted until a donkey’s miraculous speech exposed his irrational rebellion. Paraphronía therefore encapsulates more than greed; it signals a willful disregard of unmistakable divine warning. Jewish tradition later linked Balaam with apostasy and sorcery (Numbers 31:16; Joshua 13:22), reinforcing Peter’s assessment. Contrast with Divine Wisdom Scripture consistently juxtaposes madness born of sin with the fear of the Lord, “the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). Whereas godly wisdom produces peaceable fruit (James 3:17), paraphronía engenders destructive error, illustrating the principle that rejecting truth warps moral judgment (Romans 1:21-22). Prophetic Accountability By citing Balaam, Peter underscores that spiritual gifts or notoriety never exempt a servant of God from scrutiny. Even genuine prophetic utterances (Numbers 24) did not shield Balaam from censure when his heart coveted reward (2 Peter 2:15). Modern ministers likewise stand accountable; charisma cannot substitute for obedience. Eschatological Warning Peter situates paraphronía within a last-days context (2 Peter 2–3), anticipating leaders who will “exploit you with fabricated words” (2 Peter 2:3). The madness motif alerts the Church that deceptive enthusiasm may mask rebellion, requiring vigilant discernment grounded in Scripture. Pastoral and Personal Applications 1. Guard motives: monetary or reputational gain can seduce into Balaam-like compromise (1 Timothy 6:9-10). Christological Perspective Jesus Christ embodies perfect wisdom (Colossians 2:3), standing as the antithesis of paraphronía. Where Balaam sought reward at the cost of righteousness, Christ “humbled Himself, becoming obedient to death” (Philippians 2:8) and is therefore exalted. Union with Him delivers believers from the madness of sin into soundness of mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Summary Paraphronía exposes the peril of knowing God’s will yet stubbornly resisting it. Balaam’s legacy and Peter’s warning invite believers, leaders especially, to pursue the wisdom that starts with holy fear, remains accountable to divine revelation, and finds its fulfillment in Christ alone. Forms and Transliterations παραφρονιαν παραφρονίαν παραφυάδας παραφυάδες παραφυάδων παραφυάσι παραφυάσιν paraphronian paraphroníanLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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