Lexical Summary pareimi: To be present, to be near, to come Original Word: παρείμι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance to be presentFrom para and eimi (including its various forms); to be near, i.e. At hand; neuter present participle (singular) time being, or (plural) property -- come, X have, be here, + lack, (be here) present. see GREEK para see GREEK eimi Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3918: πάρειμιπάρειμι; imperfect 3 person pl. παρῆσαν; future 3 person singular παρέσται (Revelation 17:8 L T (not (as G Tr WH Alford, others) παρέσται; see Alexander Buttmann (1873) Ausf. Spr. § 108, Anm. 20; Chandler § 803)); (παρά near, by (see παρά, IV. 1 at the end) and εἰμί); the Sept. chiefly for בּוא; as in Greek authors from Homer down a. to be by, be at hand, to have arrived, to be present: of persons, Luke 13:1; John 11:28; Acts 10:21; Revelation 17:8; παρών, present (opposed to ἀπών), 1 Corinthians 5:3; 2 Corinthians 10:2, 11; 2 Corinthians 13:2, 10; ἐπί τίνος, before one (a judge), Acts 24:19; ἐπί τίνι, for (to do) something, Matthew 26:50 Rec.; ἐπί τί, ibid. G L T Tr WH (on which see ἐπί, B. 2 a. ζ.); ἐνώπιον Θεοῦ, in the sight of God, Acts 10:33 (not Tr marginal reading); ἐνθάδε, Acts 17:6; πρός τινα, with one, Acts 12:20; 2 Corinthians 11:9 (8); Galatians 4:18, 20. of time: ὁ καιρός πάρεστιν, John 7:6; τό παρόν, the present, Hebrews 12:11 (3Macc. 5:17; see examples from Greek authors in Passow, under the word, 2 b.; (Liddell and Scott, under the word, II.; Sophocles' Lexicon, under the wordb.)). of other things: τοῦ εὐαγγελίου τοῦ παρόντος εἰς ὑμᾶς, which is come unto (and so is present among) you, Colossians 1:6 (followed by εἰς with an accusative of place, 1 Macc. 11:63, and often in secular authors from Herodotus down; see εἰς, C. 2). b. to be ready, in store, at command: ἡ παροῦσα ἀλήθεια, the truth which ye now hold, so that there is no need of words to call it to your remembrance, 2 Peter 1:12; (μή) πάρεστιν τίνι τί, ibid. 9 (A. V. lacketh), and Lachmann in 8 also (where others, ὑπάρχοντα) (Wis. 11:22 (21),and often in classical Greek from Homer down; cf. Passow, as above; (Liddell and Scott, as above)); τά παρόντα, possessions, property (A. V. such things as ye have (cf. our 'what one has by him')), Hebrews 13:5 (οἷς τά παρόντα ἀρκεῖ, ἡκιστα τῶν ἀλλοτρίων ὀρέγονται, Xenophon, symp. 4, 42). (Compare: συμπάρειμι.) The verb rendered “be present, come, stand by” saturates the New Testament narrative with the idea of nearness—whether of persons, events, or circumstances. It pictures physical arrival (Acts 10:33), spiritual participation across distance (1 Corinthians 5:3), the immediacy of an appointed hour (John 7:6), and even the ominous nearness of eschatological evil (Revelation 17:8). Its range of meaning allows writers to contrast presence with absence, readiness with delay, and confidence with uncertainty. Patterns of Usage Across the New Testament 1. Personal presence in a scene (Luke 13:1; Acts 12:20; 17:6; John 11:28). Jesus Christ’s Presence and the Hour of Divine Purpose John 7:6 records: “My time is not yet here; but your time is always at hand.” His deliberate restraint underscores divine sovereignty over history. At Gethsemane He confronts Judas with the chilling acknowledgment, “Friend, for what have you come?” (Matthew 26:50), a reminder that human betrayal still unfolds within the boundary of God’s ordained hour. The verb signals that the Lord’s presence is never accidental; it is timed to fulfill redemptive prophecy. Apostolic Presence in Ministry and Discipline Paul’s letters employ the term to affirm pastoral authority even when miles away. “For though I am absent in body, I am present in spirit” (1 Corinthians 5:3) anchors church discipline in apostolic oversight that transcends geography. He warns detractors: “Such people should consider that what we are in word when absent, we will also be in action when present” (2 Corinthians 10:11). The same heartbeat surfaces in Galatians 4:18-20, where Paul aches “to be present” so that his tone might soften. Authentic shepherding, therefore, values embodied fellowship yet remains effective through prayerful representation when travel is impossible. Community and Mutual Care Luke 13:1 introduces eyewitnesses who “were present at that time” to report injustice. Acts 10:33 shows Cornelius saying to Peter, “So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come.” The early church prized actual presence for teaching, testimony, and table fellowship. Hebrews 13:5 urges contentment with “what you have,” literally “the things present,” because the Lord’s abiding nearness eclipses material lack: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” Formation through Discipline and Growth Hebrews 12:11 concedes that “No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” The temporal “at the time” contrasts short-lived discomfort with lasting fruit, encouraging believers to weigh situations not only by immediate sensation but by eternal outcome. Colossians 1:6 celebrates the gospel “that has come to you, just as it is in all the world,” stressing its present, active productivity. Eschatological Foreground: Nearness of the Beast Revelation 17:8 describes the Beast that “was, and is not, and yet is about to come.” The verb (future middle, “will be present”) paints a counterfeit omnipresence mimicking divine eternity. Its anticipated appearance heightens the urgency of vigilance and hope: evil appears powerful, yet its allotted time is strictly limited by God. Practical Implications for Discipleship Today • Cultivate actual presence—hospital visits, corporate worship, missionary travel—because ministry is embodied (Acts 10:33). Select References Luke 13:1; Matthew 26:50; John 7:6; John 11:28; Acts 10:21, 33; Acts 17:6; Acts 24:19; 1 Corinthians 5:3; 2 Corinthians 10:2 - 13:10; Galatians 4:18-20; Colossians 1:6; Hebrews 12:11; Hebrews 13:5; 2 Peter 1:9, 12; Revelation 17:8. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 26:50 V-PI-2SGRK: ἐφ' ὃ πάρει τότε προσελθόντες NAS: [do] what you have come for. Then KJV: wherefore art thou come? Then INT: for what [purpose] are you come Then having come to [him] Luke 13:1 V-II-3P John 7:6 V-PI-3S John 11:28 V-PI-3S Acts 10:21 V-PI-2P Acts 10:33 V-PI-1P Acts 12:20 V-II-3P Acts 17:6 V-PI-3P Acts 24:19 V-PN 1 Corinthians 5:3 V-PP-NMS 1 Corinthians 5:3 V-PP-NMS 2 Corinthians 10:2 V-PP-NMS 2 Corinthians 10:11 V-PP-NMP 2 Corinthians 11:9 V-PP-NMS 2 Corinthians 13:2 V-PP-NMS 2 Corinthians 13:10 V-PP-NMS Galatians 4:18 V-PN Galatians 4:20 V-PN Colossians 1:6 V-PP-GNS Hebrews 12:11 V-PP-ANS Hebrews 13:5 V-PP-DNP 2 Peter 1:9 V-PI-3S 2 Peter 1:12 V-PP-DFS Revelation 17:8 V-FI-3S Strong's Greek 3918 |
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