Lexical Summary sugkléronomos: Co-heir, joint-heir Original Word: συγκληρονόμος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance joint heir, heir togetherFrom sun and kleronomos; a co-heir, i.e. (by analogy) participant in common -- fellow (joint)-heir, heir together, heir with. see GREEK sun see GREEK kleronomos HELPS Word-studies 4789 sygklēronómos (from 4862 /sýn, "closely identified with" and 2818 /klēronómos, "an heir, with inheritance determined by lot") – properly, joint-heir; used of believers sharing in the inheritance of the heavenly Father with (through) the chief heir, Jesus Christ. See 2818 (klēronomos). [In the papyri, sygklēronomos ("fellow-heir") occurs on an Ephesian inscription of the Imperial period (see British Museum Inscription, III, 249, N, 633.7, ala MM 609; see also Deissmann, LAE2, 92).] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom sun and kléronomos Definition a co-inheritor NASB Translation fellow heir (1), fellow heirs (3). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4789: συγκληρονόμοςσυγκληρονόμος (T WH συνκληρονομος (cf. σύν, II. at the end)), συγκληρονομου, ὁ, ἡ, a fellow-heir, a joint-heir, (ἀνεψιός καί συγκληρονόμος, Philo, leg. ad Gaium § 10) (see κληρονόμος 1 b.): Romans 8:17; Ephesians 3:6; one who obtains something assigned to himself with others, a joint participant (see κληρονόμος, 2): with the genitive of the thing, Hebrews 11:9; 1 Peter 3:7. Not found elsewhere. Topical Lexicon Concept of Shared InheritanceThe term translated “fellow heir” underscores a covenant reality in which more than one party receives the same promised inheritance. Rather than dividing an estate, the gospel announces an undiminished inheritance in Christ that is fully possessed by every believer. The word therefore does not point to proportion but to participation: each recipient enjoys the whole blessing because the inheritance is Christ Himself (Colossians 1:27). Occurrences in the New Testament “And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.” “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.” “By faith Abraham dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise.” “Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.” Unity of Jew and Gentile Ephesians 3:6 applies the word to Jew-Gentile relations. “Fellow heirs” dissolves ethnic hierarchy by locating inheritance solely “in Christ Jesus.” The promise to Abraham that “all nations will be blessed” finds its realized, corporate expression in the multi-ethnic church. The verse stands as a theological foundation for missions, racial reconciliation, and global evangelism. Adoption and Sonship in Romans 8 Paul couples “children,” “heirs,” and “co-heirs” to teach that adoption grants full family rights. The believers’ future glorification is as certain as Christ’s, for they share His status. Suffering with Him is not a condition to earn inheritance but evidence that they already belong to the household of God. Pilgrim Faith and Eschatology Hebrews 11:9 situates the term in a patriarchal setting. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were “fellow heirs” of a land, yet they lived in tents, signaling that the ultimate inheritance is eschatological—a “city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). The Christian life is thereby framed as a sojourn, awaiting consummation in the new heaven and new earth. Marriage as a Fellowship of Heirs 1 Peter 3:7 uses the term to elevate marital relationships. Husband and wife stand on equal footing before God as recipients of “the gracious gift of life.” Spiritual equality grounds practical conduct: honor shown to one’s spouse nurtures unhindered prayer. The verse guards against both chauvinism and spiritual negligence. Connection with Old Testament Heritage • Land promise: The patriarchs’ joint possession anticipates the universal dominion of Christ and His people (Psalm 37:11; Matthew 5:5). Pastoral and Devotional Reflections 1. Assurance: Because every believer is a fellow heir, inheritance cannot be lost by scarcity; it is guarded “in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4). Implications for Christian Ministry and Mission • Discipleship: Teach believers their identity as fellow heirs to foster perseverance and holiness. In every occurrence, Strong’s Greek 4789 weaves together ecclesiology, eschatology, and ethics, rooting the Christian’s present walk and future hope in the unbreakable bond of shared inheritance with Christ and with one another. Forms and Transliterations συγκληρονόμα συγκληρόνομα συγκληρονόμοι συγκληρονόμοις συγκληρονόμων σύγκλητοι συγκλύσουσί συγκλύσουσιν συνκληρονομα συνκληρονόμα συνκληρονομοι συνκληρονόμοι συνκληρονομων συνκληρονόμων sunkleronoma sunklēronoma sunkleronomoi sunklēronomoi sunkleronomois sunklēronomois sunkleronomon sunklēronomōn synkleronoma syn'kleronóma synklēronoma syn'klēronóma synkleronomoi syn'kleronómoi synklēronomoi syn'klēronómoi synkleronomois synkleronómois synklēronomois synklēronómois synkleronomon syn'kleronómon synklēronomōn syn'klēronómōnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Romans 8:17 Adj-NMPGRK: μὲν θεοῦ συνκληρονόμοι δὲ Χριστοῦ NAS: of God and fellow heirs with Christ, KJV: and joint-heirs with Christ; INT: indeed of God joint-heirs moreover of Christ Ephesians 3:6 Adj-ANP Hebrews 11:9 Adj-GMP 1 Peter 3:7 Adj-NMP Strong's Greek 4789 |
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