Lexical Summary patróos: Ancestral, paternal, of the fathers Original Word: πατρώος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance paternalFrom pater; paternal, i.e. Hereditary -- of fathers. see GREEK pater NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom patér Definition of one's fathers, received from one's fathers NASB Translation fathers (3). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3971: πατροωςπατροως (poetic and Ionic πατρωιος), πατρωα, πατροων, (πατήρ), from Homer down, "descending from father to son or from ancestors to their posterity as it were by right of inheritance; received from the fathers": νόμος, Acts 22:3 (2 Macc. 6:1; Aelian v. h. 6, 10); Θεός, Acts 24:14 (4 Macc. 12:19; and often in Greek writings θεοί πατροωι, Ζεύς πατροως etc.); τοῖς ἔθεσι τοῖς πατροωις, Acts 28:17 (Justin Martyr, dialog contra Trypho, c. 63; πατροως ἔθος, Aelian v. h. 7, 19 variant). The adjective πατρῴος (Strong’s 3971) carries the idea of what belongs to one’s fathers—inheritance, custom, religion, or property transmitted through the generations. In biblical usage it focuses on the faith and covenantal obligations handed down from the patriarchs, rather than mere cultural folklore. The term therefore intersects with Old Testament themes of covenant continuity (Genesis 17:7), the fathers’ instruction (Deuteronomy 6:20-25), and the prophetic call to remember “the ancient paths” (Jeremiah 6:16). Occurrences in Acts 1. Acts 22:3 – Paul identifies himself as “being zealous for God as all of you are today,” having been “educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strictness of the law of our fathers.” The phrase highlights Paul’s pedigree in mainstream Judaism and frames his subsequent testimony as the logical extension—not repudiation—of the ancestral faith. Historical Context: Judaism in the First Century First-century Judaism was defined by fidelity to Torah, temple worship, and ancestral customs that marked national identity under Roman rule. Violations of these customs were viewed as betrayal. Paul’s repeated appeal to πατρῴος shows acute awareness of the tension between continuity and innovation in a period of intense messianic expectation and intra-Jewish debate. Implications for Early Christian Identity 1. Continuity over rupture – Luke portrays the gospel as fulfillment of, not departure from, the fathers’ promises (Acts 3:25-26). Πατρῴος becomes a bridge word linking patriarchal faith and apostolic proclamation. Theological Observations • Covenant Fidelity: God’s redemptive plan honors His word to the fathers; the resurrection of Jesus is presented as God’s faithfulness to ancestral promises (Acts 13:32-33). Ministerial Applications • Catechesis: Ground new believers in the storyline of Scripture, showing how the gospel grows organically from the fathers’ covenant. Practical Reflections Believers today inherit a faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3). The term πατρῴος reminds the church to preserve doctrinal purity, cherish the testimony of prior generations, and pursue reformation that is continuous with biblical foundations rather than driven by cultural novelty. Englishman's Concordance Acts 22:3 Adj-GMSGRK: ἀκρίβειαν τοῦ πατρῴου νόμου ζηλωτὴς NAS: to the law of our fathers, being KJV: of the law of the fathers, and was INT: exactness of the ancestral law a zealous one Acts 24:14 Adj-DMS Acts 28:17 Adj-DNP Strong's Greek 3971 |
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