Lexical Summary pentekaidekatos: Fifteenth Original Word: πεντεκαιδεκάτος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fifteenth. From pente and kai and dekatos; five and tenth -- fifteenth. see GREEK pente see GREEK kai see GREEK dekatos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originan ord. num. from pente, kai and dekatos Definition fifteenth NASB Translation fifteenth (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4003: πεντεκαιδέκατοςπεντεκαιδέκατος, πεντεκαιδεκάτῃ, πεντεκαιδεκατον, the fifteenth: Luke 3:1. (Diodorus, Plutarch, others.) Topical Lexicon Form and Single New Testament Occurrence The Greek ordinal πεντεκαιδέκατος appears once in the canonical Greek text, anchoring Luke 3:1 in “the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar.” Although a solitary occurrence, the term functions as a chronological hinge upon which Luke situates both John the Baptist’s public emergence and, shortly thereafter, the inauguration of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Historical Context in Luke 3:1 Luke weaves together six governing figures to frame the verse: The “fifteenth year” corresponds to approximately A.D. 27–29, depending on whether Luke counted from Tiberius’ co-regency with Augustus (A.D. 11/12) or his sole reign (A.D. 14). Either reckoning places John’s appearance—and Jesus’ baptism soon after—within a historically verifiable window solidly inside the emperor’s tenure. Luke’s notation therefore bridges sacred narrative with secular chronology. Chronological Implications for the Life of Christ 1. Dating John the Baptist’s Ministry Luke identifies the prophetic voice foretold in Isaiah 40:3. By fixing John’s arrival to the fifteenth regnal year, Luke corroborates the prophetic timetable that Malachi 3:1 anticipated: “Behold, I will send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me.” Immediately following Luke 3:1, Jesus is baptized (Luke 3:21-22) and, at “about thirty years of age” (Luke 3:23), enters public ministry. Counting back thirty years from A.D. 27–29 situates the Incarnation within the final years of Herod the Great (Matthew 2:1), harmonizing the Lucan and Matthean birth narratives. Theological Significance of Precise Dating Luke’s exactitude is not antiquarian pedantry but an inspired strategy: Faith and Apologetics Skeptics often challenge biblical reliability by targeting chronological statements. Luke’s reference to the fifteenth year invites rigorous historical inquiry, and the convergence of independent data—Roman administrative records, numismatic evidence, and Josephus—confirms Luke’s accuracy. Such validation strengthens the believer’s confidence that the same God who orders the stars also orders salvation history. Ministry and Discipleship Application 1. Time-Stamped Accountability As John the Baptist stepped onto the stage of world history at a precise hour, so every believer is called to serve within God’s sovereign calendar. “My times are in Your hands” (Psalm 31:15). John’s first sermon in that fifteenth year was “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 3:3). The specificity of the date accentuates the immediacy of his call: repentance is not an abstract ideal but an urgent, time-bound command. The interplay of emperors, tetrarchs, and priests did not hinder God’s plan; it highlighted it. Modern ministry likewise unfolds amid political complexity, yet God’s purposes remain unhindered. Devotional Reflection The single Greek word behind “fifteenth” reminds believers that God numbers not only hairs (Luke 12:7) but also years. Every calendar mark carries potential for kingdom impact. Standing where divine providence meets human responsibility, the disciple may trust that the God who ordained the fifteenth year of Tiberius to herald the gospel will ordain each moment of faithful witness today. Forms and Transliterations πεντεκαιδεκάτη πεντεκαιδεκάτην πεντεκαιδέκατος πεντεκαιδεκατω πεντεκαιδεκάτω πεντεκαιδεκάτῳ pentekaidekato pentekaidekatō pentekaidekátoi pentekaidekátōiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
    |