Lexical Summary pópote: Ever, at any time Original Word: πώποτε Strong's Exhaustive Concordance at any timeFrom po and pote; at any time, i.e. (with negative particle) at no time -- at any time, + never (...to any man), + yet, never man. see GREEK po see GREEK pote NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originadverb from #NAME? and pote Definition ever yet NASB Translation any time (3), never* (1), yet (1), yet...ever (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4455: πώποτεπώποτε, adverb, ever, at any time: Luke 19:30; John 1:18; John 5:37; John 6:35; John 8:33; 1 John 4:12. ((From Homer down.)) Topical Lexicon OverviewStrong’s Greek 4455 marks an emphatic denial—“never at any time.” Its six New Testament occurrences cluster around key moments where divine revelation, human self-assessment, and discipleship are underlined by an absolute negation. Each use draws a sharp line between what has never been true and what is now made possible in Christ. Scriptural Occurrences • Luke 19:30 Unseen Yet Revealed Father John 1:18; John 5:37; 1 John 4:12 “No one has ever seen God; but the one and only Son, who is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.” (John 1:18) The compound negative underscores the impossibility of any creaturely sight of God apart from the Son. John 5:37 repeats the denial, reminding listeners that neither physical senses nor mere religion can secure true knowledge of God. 1 John 4:12 echoes the thought, then moves to the new reality: although God remains unseen, His love is perfected in believers who love one another. The word therefore serves a doctrinal hinge—establishing human limitation so that the exclusivity of Christ’s revelation and the necessity of Spirit-empowered love stand in bold relief. True Satisfaction in Christ “Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.” (John 6:35) Here the term seals an unconditional promise. Physical hunger recurs, but spiritual hunger will “never at any time” be left unmet for those who come. The absoluteness strengthens assurance, encouraging disciples that the sufficiency of Christ is not temporary or partial but final. Challenging Presumed Privilege “We are Abraham’s descendants,” the Jews protest, claiming they have “never been slaves to anyone.” The adverb exposes self-deception: Israel’s history of bondage (Egypt, Babylon, Rome) contradicts their claim. Jesus immediately redirects them to the deeper slavery of sin. The vocabulary heightens the irony, revealing how pride can blind people to both historical fact and present spiritual need. Prophetic Precision “Go into the village ahead of you… you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat.” The word validates messianic prophecy (Zechariah 9:9) and underscores the colt’s sacred use—reserved exclusively for the King. The absolute negation supports the theology of consecration: what is set apart for the Lord remains untouched by ordinary use. Theological Threads 1. Exclusivity of Revelation: Humanity has “never at any time” seen God apart from Christ, anchoring the doctrine of His unique mediation. Historical Reception Early Fathers highlighted John 1:18 to defend the deity of Christ against Arianism, pointing to the adverb’s force to prove that only the eternal Son crosses the unseen-seen divide. Reformers cited John 6:35 to teach perseverance, arguing that Christ’s promise of unfailing satisfaction rules out any possibility of ultimate apostasy for the true believer. Ministry Application • Preaching: Emphasize the finality of Christ’s revelation and provision; contrast the “never” of human ability with the “now” of divine grace. Summary Strong’s 4455 functions as more than a linguistic negation; it frames the total incapacity of fallen humanity and the total sufficiency of Jesus Christ. Wherever it appears, a boundary is drawn that only the Savior can cross, turning “never” into everlasting assurance. Forms and Transliterations πωποτε πώποτε popote pōpote pṓpoteLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Luke 19:30 AdvGRK: ὃν οὐδεὶς πώποτε ἀνθρώπων ἐκάθισεν NAS: no one yet has ever sat; untie INT: which no one ever yet of men sat John 1:18 Adv John 5:37 Adv John 6:35 Adv John 8:33 Adv 1 John 4:12 Adv |
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