Lexical Summary prótos: First, foremost, chief, principal Original Word: πρῶτος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance first, beginning, best, chiefContracted superlative of pro; foremost (in time, place, order or importance) -- before, beginning, best, chief(-est), first (of all), former. see GREEK pro HELPS Word-studies 4413 prṓtos (an adjective, derived from 4253 /pró, "before, forward") – first (foremost). 4413 /prṓtos ("first, foremost") is the superlative form of 4253 /pró ("before") meaning "what comes first" (is "number one"). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origincontr. superl. of pro Definition first, chief NASB Translation before (3), best (1), first (128), first of all (2), first importance (1), first man (1), first one (1), first things (1), first time (1), foremost (5), leading (2), leading man (1), leading men (5), outer (3), previous (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4413: πρῶτοςπρῶτος, πρώτη, πρῶτον (superlative of πρό, contracted from προατος, whence the Doric πρατός; the comparitive πρότερος see in its place) (from Homer down), the Sept. for רִאשׁון and often for אֶחַד and רֹאשׁ, first; 1. either in time or place, in any succession of things or of persons; a. absolutely (i. e. without a noun) and substantively; α. with the article: ὁ πρῶτος καί ὁ ἔσχατος, i. e. the eternal One, Revelation 1:17; Revelation 2:8; Revelation 22:13; ὁ πρῶτος, namely, τῶν κεκλημένων, Luke 14:18; the first of two (cf. Winers Grammar, § 35, 4 N. 1; (Buttmann, 32 (28))), John 19:32; 1 Corinthians 14:30; plural opposed to οἱ ἔσχατοι, Matthew 20:16, on which see ἔσχατος, 2 a. Neuter τό πρῶτον, opposed to τό δεύτερον, Hebrews 10:9; τά πρῶτα, opposed to τά ἔσχατα, one's first state, Matthew 12:45; Luke 11:26; 2 Peter 2:20; the first order of things, Revelation 21:4. β. without the article: Matthew 10:2 (πρῶτος, namely, of the apostles to be mentioned); plural, Matthew 19:30; Mark 10:31; Luke 13:30 (on the meaning of which three passages, see ἔσχατος, 2 a.); neuter ἐν πρώτοις (A. V. first of all), among the first things delivered to you by me, 1 Corinthians 15:3. b. where it agrees with some substantive; α. anarthrous, and in place of an adjective: πρώτη (namely, ἡμέρα) σαββάτου, on the first day of the week, Mark 16:9; φυλακή, opposed to δευτέρᾳ, Acts 12:10; as a predicate Luke 2:2 (on which cf. Winers Grammar, § 35, 4 N. 1; (Buttmann, § 127, 31)). where it is added to the subject or the object of the verb (and we often use an adverb; Winers Grammar, § 54, 2; (Buttmann, § 123, 9)): εὑρίσκει οὗτος πρῶτος, John 1:41(42) (where L Tr WH πρῶτον); add, John 8:7; John 20:4, 8; Acts 27:43; Romans 10:19; 1 Timothy 1:16; 1 John 4:19; opposed to εἶτα, 1 Timothy 2:13 πρῶτος ἐμβάς, John 5:4 (the article belongs to ἐμβάς (G T Tr WH omit the passage)); but Acts 26:23 πρῶτος ἐξ ἀναστάσεως νεκρῶν is to be translated as the first. By a later Greek usage it is put where πρότερος might have been expected with the genitive (cf. Herm. ad Vig., p. 717; Passow, under the word πρότερος, B. I. 2 c. ii, p. 1243a; (Liddell and Scott, ibid. B. I. 4 c.); Fritzsche, Ep. ad Romans, ii., 420f; Winers Grammar, § 35, 4 N. 1; Buttmann, § 123, 14): πρῶτος μου ἦν, John 1:15, 30 (οἱ πρῶτοι μου ταῦτα ἀνιχνευσαντες, Aelian nat. anim. 8, 12). β. with the article: (ὁ (ἡ, τό) πρῶτος (πρώτη, πρῶτον), in a series which is so complete, either in fact or in thought, that other members are conceived of as following the first in regular order; as, τόν πρῶτον λόγον, Acts 1:1; add, Mark 14:12; 2 Timothy 4:16; Revelation 4:1, 7; Revelation 13:12, etc.; (opposed to ὁ ἔσχατος), ἡ πρῶτος πλάνη, Matthew 27:64; add, Matthew 20:8, 10, 16; 1 Corinthians 15:45, etc.; also 'the first' of two, where Latin usage requires and the Vulg. ordinarily employs prior (cf. Winers Grammar (and Buttmann), as above): Matthew 21:28, 31 (L Tr WH ὕστερος); ἄλλους δούλους πλείονας τῶν πρώτων, Matthew 21:36; ἡ πρώτη διαθήκη, Hebrews 8:7, 13; Hebrews 9:15, 18; ἡ πρώτη, namely, διαθήκη, Hebrews 9:1 G L T Tr WH; σκηνή, Hebrews 9:1 Rec., 2, 6, 8; ἡ πρώτη γῆ, ὁ πρῶτος οὐρανός, Revelation 21:1; ἀνάστασις, Revelation 20:5, 6; ἄνθρωπος 1 Corinthians 15:47; followed by ὁ δεύτερος, τρίτος, etc.: Matthew 22:25; Mark 12:20; Luke 19:16; Luke 20:29; Revelation 8:7; Revelation 16:2; Revelation 21:19; followed by ἕτερος, Luke 16:5; ὁ πρῶτος, equivalent to the former, previous, pristine: τήν πρώτην πίστιν, the faith which they formerly plighted, 1 Timothy 5:12; ἡ πρώτη ἀγάπη, Revelation 2:4; τά πρῶτα ἔργα, Revelation 2:5. 2. first in rank, influence, honor; chief; principal: without the article, and absolutely, πρῶτος chief (opposed to δοῦλος), Matthew 20:27; Mark 10:44; opposed to ἔσχατος and διάκονος, Mark 9:35; added to a noun, principal, ἐντολή, Matthew 22:38; Mark 12:30 (T WH omit; Tr marginal reading brackets the clause); Ephesians 6:2; with a partitive genitive, Mark 12:28, 29 (see πᾶς, II. 2 b. γ.); 1 Timothy 1:15; with the article, Luke 15:22; Acts 17:4; οἱ πρῶτοι τῆς Γαλιλαίας, the chief men of Galilee, Mark 6:21: τοῦ λαοῦ, Luke 19:47; τῆς πόλεως, Acts 13:50; τῶν Ἰουδαίων, Acts 25:2; Acts 28:17; τῆς νήσου, Acts 28:7 (cf. Lewin, St. Paul, ii., p. 208f, but see Πόπλιος). 3. neuter πρῶτον as adverb, first, at the first; a. in order of time: Luke 10:5; John 18:13; Acts 11:26 (here T Tr WH πρώτως, which see); followed by εἶτα, ἔπειτα, or δεύτερον, Mark 4:28; 1 Corinthians 15:46; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Timothy 3:10; followed by μετά ταῦτα Mark 16:9 cf. Mark 16:12; the first time, opposed to ἐν τῷ δευτέρῳ (the second time), Acts 7:12, 13; τέ πρῶτον καί, first and also (or afterward), i. e. as well as, Romans 1:16 (but here L Tr marginal reading WH brackets πρῶτον); b. in enumerating several particulars; first, then, etc.: Romans 3:2; 1 Corinthians 11:18; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Hebrews 7:2; James 3:17. The Greek adjective πρῶτος (prōtos) serves the New Testament writers as their primary term for “first,” whether in sequence, rank, importance, or priority. Its wide distribution—spanning Gospels, Acts, Epistles, and Revelation—allows Scripture to present a unified theology of primacy that centers on Jesus Christ, unfolds the redemptive story, and instructs the Church in ordered devotion. Primacy in Chronology 1. Narrative markers: “On the first day of Unleavened Bread” (Mark 14:12), “the first day of the week” (Mark 16:9) establish historical settings with precision. Primacy in Rank and Preeminence 1. Greatest commandment: When the scribe asks, “Which is the most important?” Jesus replies, “The foremost is: ‘Hear, O Israel…’” (Mark 12:29-30). Prōtos conveys supreme authority over every moral imperative. Christ, the First and the Last Revelation repeatedly bestows on Jesus the title “the First and the Last” (Revelation 1:17; 2:8; 22:13). Prōtos anchors His eternal preexistence, sovereign priority in creation, and lordship over consummation. The term thus furnishes a Christology of absolute supremacy: The First Resurrection and Eschatological Blessing “Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection” (Revelation 20:6). Prōtos distinguishes the resurrection of the righteous prior to the millennial reign from the later resurrection unto judgment (Revelation 20:5). Participation in the prōtē anastasis guarantees exemption from “the second death,” underscoring the hope of believers. First Works and First Love Ephesus is warned, “Remember how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the works you did at first” (Revelation 2:5). Prōtos pinpoints original fervor as the standard for ongoing faithfulness. Earlier in the same letter Christ says, “You have abandoned the love you had at first” (Revelation 2:4), making primacy a qualitative benchmark for devotion, not mere chronology. Reversal of First and Last Jesus’ repeated paradox—“The first will be last, and the last will be first” (Matthew 19:30; 20:16; Mark 10:31; Luke 13:30)—subverts worldly notions of greatness. Prōtos here warns against pride, promises vindication for the humble, and illustrates kingdom values in contrast to human systems. Firstfruits of Ministry and Mission • Philippians 1:5 recalls “your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,” celebrating unwavering commitment. Priorities in Christian Ethics 1. Family care: “Honor your father and mother—this is the first commandment with a promise” (Ephesians 6:2). Prōtos recalls Exodus 20 but applies it within Spirit-filled households. Historical and Cultural Context In Greco-Roman usage prōtos denoted civic rank (e.g., “first men” of a city, Acts 28:17), athletic placement, or logical precedence in rhetoric. New Testament writers appropriate this semantic range but consistently infuse it with redemptive meaning—whether locating Jesus above Caesar, covenantal newness above Mosaic types, or humble service above social climbing. Prōtos and Covenant Transition Hebrews offers the fullest theological meditation: the “first” tabernacle (Hebrews 9:2, 6, 8) and “first” covenant give way to the “greater and more perfect tent” (9:11). The adjective thus functions as a pivot between old order and new, assuring believers of the sufficiency of Christ’s priesthood. Application for the Church Today • Worship: Place Christ “first” in priority and affection, echoing Ephesus’ call to return to first love. Prōtos thus threads through Scripture as the language of beginnings, supremacy, and righteous priority, ultimately directing every reader to the preeminent Christ and to a life ordered by His kingdom values. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 10:2 Adj-NMSGRK: ἐστιν ταῦτα πρῶτος Σίμων ὁ NAS: are these: The first, Simon, KJV: are these; The first, Simon, who INT: are these first Simon who Matthew 12:45 Adj-GNP Matthew 19:30 Adj-NMP Matthew 19:30 Adj-NMP Matthew 20:8 Adj-GMP Matthew 20:10 Adj-NMP Matthew 20:16 Adj-NMP Matthew 20:16 Adj-NMP Matthew 20:27 Adj-NMS Matthew 21:28 Adj-DNS Matthew 21:31 Adj-NMS Matthew 21:36 Adj-GMP Matthew 22:25 Adj-NMS Matthew 22:38 Adj-NFS Matthew 26:17 Adj-DFS Matthew 27:64 Adj-GFS Mark 6:21 Adj-DMP Mark 9:35 Adj-NMS Mark 10:31 Adj-NMP Mark 10:31 Adj-NMP Mark 10:44 Adj-NMS Mark 12:20 Adj-NMS Mark 12:28 Adj-NFS Mark 12:29 Adj-NFS Mark 14:12 Adj-DFS Strong's Greek 4413 |
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