454. anoia

Lexical Summary

anoia: Foolishness, senselessness, madness

Original Word: ἀνοία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: anoia
Pronunciation: ä-no-ē'-ä
Phonetic Spelling: (an'-oy-ah)
KJV: folly, madness
NASB: folly, rage
Word Origin: [from a compound of G1 (α - Alpha) (as a negative particle) and G3563 (νοῦς - mind)]

1. stupidity
2. (by implication) rage

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

folly, madness.

From a compound of a (as a negative particle) and nous; stupidity; by implication, rage -- folly, madness.

see GREEK a

see GREEK nous

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 454 ánoia (from 1 /A privative meaning "no" and 3563 /noús,"mind") – properly, "no-mind" referring to irrational behavior (mindless actions); "lack of sense" (WP, 2, 83) which easily degenerates into "a state of extreme anger that suggests an "incapacity to use one's mind – extreme fury, great rage" (L & N, 1, 88.183).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from alpha (as a neg. prefix) and nous
Definition
folly, foolishness
NASB Translation
folly (2), rage (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 454: ἄνοια

ἄνοια, ἀνοίας, ἡ (ἄνους (i. e. Ανως without understanding)), want of understanding, folly: 2 Timothy 3:9. madness expressing itself in rage, Luke 6:11 (δύο δ' ἀνοίας γένη, τό μέν μανίαν, τό δέ ἀμαθιαν, Plato, Tim., p. 86 b.). ((Theognis, 453); Herodotus 6, 69; Attic writings from Thucydides down.)

Topical Lexicon

Topical Overview

Strong’s Greek 454 points to a term that exposes the tragic disconnect between human thought and divine truth. Scripture uses it sparingly but poignantly, unveiling a mental and moral breakdown that resists revelation and results in self-destructive behavior. Its force is not mere intellectual error; it is an inner obstinacy that opposes the will and wisdom of God.

Occurrences and Immediate Contexts

1. Luke 6:11 records the fury of certain scribes and Pharisees after Jesus healed on the Sabbath: “But they themselves were filled with rage, and they began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus”. Their plotting is tagged with this word, highlighting a blinded, irrational hostility that chooses lethal schemes over the obvious evidence of divine compassion.
2. 2 Timothy 3:9 portrays the inevitable unmasking of false teachers who “will not advance much further, for their folly will be plain to everyone, just as was that of Jannes and Jambres”. Here the word characterizes doctrinal impostors whose spiritual madness is eventually exposed by God’s providence.

Biblical Theology

• The term stands in stark contrast to σοφία (wisdom) that “is first of all pure” (James 3:17). Whereas true wisdom begins with “the fear of the LORD” (Proverbs 9:10), this mindset rejects that fear and therefore cannot perceive reality as God defines it.
• In Luke, it fuels opposition to the messianic mission; in 2 Timothy, it infects ecclesial life through counterfeit teaching. Both spheres testify that spiritual disorder, whether in religious traditionalists or charismatic deceivers, springs from the same root—a heart hardened against God’s self-disclosure.
• The Old Testament repeatedly warns against such irrational rebellion (Psalm 14:1; Proverbs 12:15). By employing the word in the New Testament, the Spirit shows continuity between Israel’s prophetic heritage and apostolic instruction.

Historical Perspective

Early church fathers saw in Luke 6:11 a prophetic glimpse of the Sanhedrin’s later condemnation of Jesus. Tertullian remarked that rage born of unbelief is more lethal than physical chains. In commenting on 2 Timothy 3:9, Chrysostom contrasted the temporary glitter of heresy with the enduring light of apostolic truth, assuring pastors that time and truth walk together.

Pastoral and Discipleship Implications

• Discernment: Leaders must test teaching and practices against the Word, knowing that spiritual irrationality often masquerades as zeal or intellectual sophistication.
• Patience and Hope: Paul’s assurance to Timothy that folly “will be plain” encourages believers to rely on God’s timetable rather than resort to fleshly tactics.
• Intercession: Luke’s narrative urges prayer for those gripped by hardened hostility, remembering that Paul himself once opposed Christ with similar blindness (Acts 9:1–5).
• Self-examination: The rarity of the word does not lessen its relevance; believers must guard their minds lest unchecked anger or pride drift toward the same destructive mindset.

Worship and Mission

When congregations proclaim Christ’s healing grace and expose doctrinal error through sound teaching, they directly counter the forces embodied in Strong’s 454. Public reading of the Gospels and Pastoral Epistles, coupled with songs that extol divine wisdom (for example, Psalm 19), reorients the mind toward truth and away from folly. In mission, recognizing this spiritual condition breeds compassion rather than contempt, motivating patient evangelism anchored in prayerful dependence on the Spirit.

Summary

Though appearing only twice, Strong’s Greek 454 serves as a theological warning light. It signals the peril of a mind estranged from God—whether in overt hostility to Christ or in subtle doctrinal subversion—while simultaneously assuring the faithful that such folly cannot ultimately prevail against the risen Lord and His enduring Word.

Forms and Transliterations

ανοια άνοια ἄνοια άνοιαν ανοιας ανοίας ἀνοίας ανοίγματι anoia ánoia anoias anoías

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 6:11 N-GFS
GRK: δὲ ἐπλήσθησαν ἀνοίας καὶ διελάλουν
NAS: were filled with rage, and discussed
KJV: were filled with madness; and
INT: moreover were filled with rage and consulted

2 Timothy 3:9 N-NFS
GRK: ἡ γὰρ ἄνοια αὐτῶν ἔκδηλος
NAS: progress; for their folly will be obvious
KJV: for their folly shall be manifest
INT: for [the] folly of them fully manifest

Strong's Greek 454
2 Occurrences

ἄνοια — 1 Occ.
ἀνοίας — 1 Occ.