Lexical Summary plouteó: To be rich, to become wealthy, to abound in material or spiritual riches. Original Word: πλουτέω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be rich. From ploutizo; to be (or become) wealthy (literally or figuratively) -- be increased with goods, (be made, wax) rich. see GREEK ploutizo HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 4147 ploutéō – be rich, having many resources. See 4145 (plousios). (Rev 3:17) The Laodiceans had success in banking, trade, and commerce – but their spiritual lives paid low spiritual dividends (yields)! The Laodiceans were too highly motivated (conscientious) about earthly matters, and lacked real spiritual commitment for wise prioritizing. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ploutos Definition to be rich NASB Translation abounding in riches (1), become rich (4), become wealthy (1), get rich (1), rich (5). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4147: πλουτέωπλουτέω, πλούτῳ; 1 aorist ἐπλούτησα; perfect πεπλούτηκα; (πλοῦτος); from Hesiod down; the Sept. sometimes for עָשַׁר; a. to be rich, to have abundance: properly, of outward possessions, absolutely, Luke 1:53; 1 Timothy 6:9; 1 aorist I have been made rich, hate become rich, have gotten riches (on this use of the aorist see βασιλεύω, at the end), ἀπό τίνος, Revelation 18:15 (Sir. 11:18; (cf. ἀπό, II. 2 a.)); also ἐκ τίνος (see ἐκ, II. 5), Revelation 18:3, 19; ἐν τίνι (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 30, 8 b. note; the Greeks say πλουτεῖν τίνος, or τίνι, or τί), 1 Timothy 6:18. b. metaphorically, to be richly supplied: πλουτεῖν εἰς πάντας, is affluent in resources so that he can give the blessings of salvation unto all, Romans 10:12; πλουτεῖν εἰς Θεόν (see εἰς, B. II. 2 b. α.), Luke 12:21; aorist ἐπλούτησα, absolutely, I became rich, i. e. obtained the eternal spiritual possessions: 1 Corinthians 4:8; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Revelation 3:18; πεπλούτηκα, I have gotten riches, Revelation 3:17. πλουτέω denotes possessing abundance, whether material or spiritual. Usage in the New Testament consistently forces the reader to ask, “Rich in what?” Scripture sets temporal wealth over against the enduring riches supplied by God in Christ and warns that the two pursuits often collide. Survey of New Testament Occurrences Luke 1:53 – In Mary’s Magnificat, “He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.” Initial announcement that earthly affluence provides no leverage with God. Luke 12:21 – Jesus concludes the parable of the rich fool: “So it is for the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” πλουτέω is redirected from accumulating assets to investing in relationship with God. Romans 10:12 – “The same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him.” God’s generosity transcends ethnic lines; spiritual riches are freely dispensed to every believer. 1 Corinthians 4:8 – Paul’s irony: “Already you have become rich.” Corinthian self-satisfaction exposed; true kingdom honor is yet future. 2 Corinthians 8:9 – Christological core: “Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that through His poverty you might become rich.” The verb frames salvation itself as a transfer of wealth from Christ to sinners. 1 Timothy 6:9 – “Those who want to be rich fall into temptation and a trap and many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” The craving, not the coins, is condemned. 1 Timothy 6:18 – Timothy must “instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works.” The church’s wealthy are not shamed for having assets but summoned to deploy them for eternal gain. Revelation 3:17–18 – Laodicea boasts, “I have grown wealthy and need nothing,” yet Christ counsels, “buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich.” Spiritual bankruptcy hides beneath material success. Revelation 18:3, 15, 19 – Babylon’s merchants “grew wealthy from the extravagance of her luxury,” only to watch it vanish “in a single hour.” πλουτέω becomes a symbol of idolatrous commerce opposed to God’s reign. Contrast between Earthly and Spiritual Wealth Every instance pairs πλουτέω with an evaluation. Earthly riches (Laodicea, Babylon, the self-confident Corinthians) are exposed as fleeting; divine riches (Luke 12:21; Romans 10:12; 2 Corinthians 8:9) are durable and available to all who believe. The verb therefore serves a pedagogical function: it forces the audience to discern the true locus of value. Christological Dimension 2 Corinthians 8:9 uses financial imagery to unpack substitutionary grace. Christ’s voluntary poverty (incarnation and cross) makes believers rich in righteousness and inheritance. πλουτέω thus anchors soteriology in the character of the Savior who emptied Himself so that His people might be filled. Ethical and Pastoral Implications 1 Timothy 6 balances warning and exhortation. Desiring to be rich courts spiritual disaster, yet existing wealth is to be leveraged for generous service. Pastoral ministry must therefore: Eschatological Overtones Revelation couches πλουτέω in judgment scenes. Babylon’s sudden collapse demonstrates that economic empires opposed to God are doomed. Laodicea’s complacency warns churches that present prosperity can conceal peril. The verb becomes eschatological shorthand for wealth that will not survive the Day of the Lord. Historical Reception Early Fathers (e.g., Cyprian, On the Lapsed 26) cited Luke 12:21 to urge almsgiving. Medieval monastic movements appealed to 1 Timothy 6:9 to advocate voluntary poverty. Reformers highlighted 2 Corinthians 8:9 to celebrate the “great exchange” of justification. Across eras, πλουτέω texts have shaped Christian attitudes toward possessions and philanthropy. Applications for Ministry Today 1. Preach Christ as the Treasure greater than finance, using 2 Corinthians 8:9 as the gospel’s economic metaphor. πλουτέω, therefore, is more than a financial term; it is a theological hinge that swings the heart from temporal security to eternal sufficiency in God. Englishman's Concordance Luke 1:53 V-PPA-AMPGRK: ἀγαθῶν καὶ πλουτοῦντας ἐξαπέστειλεν κενούς NAS: And sent away the rich empty-handed. KJV: and the rich he hath sent INT: with good things and [the] rich he sent away empty Luke 12:21 V-PPA-NMS Romans 10:12 V-PPA-NMS 1 Corinthians 4:8 V-AIA-2P 2 Corinthians 8:9 V-ASA-2P 1 Timothy 6:9 V-PNA 1 Timothy 6:18 V-PNA Revelation 3:17 V-RIA-1S Revelation 3:18 V-ASA-2S Revelation 18:3 V-AIA-3P Revelation 18:15 V-APA-NMP Revelation 18:19 V-AIA-3P Strong's Greek 4147 |
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