Lexical Summary antapodosis: Recompense, repayment, reward Original Word: ἀνταπόδοσις Strong's Exhaustive Concordance reward. From antapodidomi; requital (properly, the act) -- reward. see GREEK antapodidomi HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 469 antapódosis (a feminine noun) – the brand of recompense (reward) that richly rewards services rendered, emphasizing that they specifically match (correspond, are proportional; cf. the prefix anti). See 467 (antapodidōmi). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom antapodidómi Definition recompense NASB Translation reward (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 469: ἀνταπόδοσιςἀνταπόδοσις, ἀνταποδόσεως, ἡ, recompense: Colossians 3:24. (In the Sept. equivalent to גְּמוּל, Isaiah 59:18, etc.; in Greek writings from Thucydides down.) Topical Lexicon Overview The concept expressed by ἀνταπόδοσιν in Colossians 3:24 centers on the sure and just repayment God gives to His people. While the term appears only once in the Greek New Testament, Scripture consistently teaches that the Lord rewards righteousness and repays iniquity, threading together divine justice, covenant faithfulness, and eschatological hope. Old Testament Background of Divine Recompense The Septuagint repeatedly employs the same Greek noun to render Hebrew ideas of “retribution,” “vengeance,” and “reward,” revealing a long-standing biblical theme: These passages connect God’s recompense both to punitive justice against His enemies and to gracious reward for those who honor Him. New Testament Usage in Colossians 3:24 Paul writes to bond-servants, “because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving”. The promise of divine recompense transforms ordinary labor into Christ-centered service, assuring believers that every act done unto the Lord will be matched by His unfailing generosity. Theological Themes 1. Divine Justice and Faithfulness: God’s moral government guarantees that obedience will not be forgotten (Hebrews 6:10) and disobedience will not be overlooked (Romans 2:5-6). Practical and Pastoral Considerations • Workplace Ethics: Believers serve earthly supervisors “in sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord” (Colossians 3:22), knowing ultimate accountability rests with Christ. Relation to Eschatology and Final Judgment The final recompense climaxes at Christ’s return when “each person will be rewarded according to what he has done” (Matthew 16:27). For believers, this includes the public affirmation “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21) and participation in the New Creation’s inheritance. Applications for Christian Service and Ethics 1. Serve Christ in every task, however menial, confident of His appraisal. Conclusion Though ἀνταπόδοσιν appears only once in the New Testament, the promise it conveys permeates Scripture: God will faithfully recompense His servants. This assurance fuels worship, steadies endurance, and orients the whole of life toward the glory of the coming King. Forms and Transliterations ανταποδόσεις ανταποδόσεως ανταποδόσεώς ανταποδοσιν ανταπόδοσιν ἀνταπόδοσιν ανταπόδοσις ανταποθανείται τὴν antapodosin antapódosin ten tēnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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