Lexical Summary teras: Wonder, Marvel Original Word: τέρας Strong's Exhaustive Concordance wonder. Of uncertain affinity; a prodigy or omen -- wonder. HELPS Word-studies 5059 téras – a miraculous wonder, done to elicit a reaction from onlookers; an extraordinary event with its supernatural effect left on all witnessing it, i.e. a portent from heaven to earth. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition a wonder, marvel NASB Translation wonders (16). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5059: τέραςτέρας, genitive τερατος, pl. τέρατα (cf. κέρας, at the beginning), τό (apparently akin to the verb τερρέω; accordingly something so strange as to cause it to be 'watehed' or 'observed'; (others connect it with ἀστήρ, ἀστραπή, etc., hence, 'a sign in the heavens'; Vanicek, p. 1146; Curtius, § 205); see Fritzsche, Ep. ad Romans iii., p. 270), from Homer down, the Sept. for מופֵת, a prodigy, portent; miracle (A. V. wonder) performed by anyone; in the N. T. it is found only in the plural and joined with σημεῖα; for the passages see σημεῖον, p. 574{a}. Topical Lexicon Overview of New Testament Usage The term appears sixteen times in the Greek New Testament and is almost always coupled with “signs” (σημεῖα) and frequently with “powers” (δυνάμεις). The trio underscores that a wonder is never mere spectacle; it is a divine credential that authenticates God’s message or exposes counterfeit spirituality. The occurrences cluster around four theological arenas: the ministry of Jesus, the birth and expansion of the Church, apostolic self-definition, and eschatological deception. The Nature of Wonders A “wonder” arrests the observer with awe and compels recognition that God—or, in the case of deception, a rival spiritual power—is at work. Scripture presents no category of neutral wonders; each event drives the heart either toward true worship or toward delusion. The emphasis rests not on the phenomenon itself but on what it reveals about the character, authority, and purposes of the one who performs it. Association with Signs and Powers When paired with “signs,” a wonder points beyond itself to a theological reality; when paired with “powers,” it displays supernatural might. The recurring triad “signs, wonders, and miracles” functions as a shorthand for the full spectrum of divine intervention, binding word and deed so that proclamation and demonstration remain inseparable in biblical ministry. Christ’s Ministry of Wonders Acts 2:22 anchors the concept in Jesus: “Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you through miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know.” Every recorded wonder of Jesus authenticated His messianic identity, answered human need, and advanced the in-breaking Kingdom. John 4:48 warns, however, that fascination with wonders apart from faith is spiritually hazardous. Apostolic Authentication The risen Lord extended this pattern to the apostles: Luke documents multiple instances (Acts 2:43; 4:30; 5:12; 6:8; 14:3; 15:12), portraying wonders as God’s ratification of gospel advance among Jews and Gentiles alike. Romans 15:19 credits the spread of the gospel “by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God.” Eschatological Counterfeits Jesus and Paul forewarn that the final rebellion will be marked by deceptive wonders: Authentic discernment therefore tests wonders by doctrinal fidelity and moral fruit rather than by spectacle. Historical Backdrop and Typology Acts 7:36 connects New Testament wonders to those wrought through Moses “in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness,” presenting an unbroken salvation-historical thread: redemptive epochs are marked by concentrated outpourings of divine wonders that call God’s people out of bondage and into covenant faithfulness. Relation to the Holy Spirit Whether in Jesus’ earthly ministry (Luke 4:14), Pentecost (Acts 2:43), or missionary expansion (Acts 14:3), wonders are explicitly traced to the enabling of the Holy Spirit. They serve God’s revelatory purpose while safeguarding Christocentric focus, as the Spirit never glorifies Himself apart from the Son (John 16:14). Pastoral and Missional Implications 1. Expectation with discernment: Scripture invites prayer for wonders that magnify Christ (Acts 4:29-30) while warning against credulity toward counterfeit displays. Key Passages • Acts 2:22; Acts 2:43; Acts 4:30 Summary Strong’s Greek 5059 denotes God-initiated acts that inspire awe, authenticate revelation, propel mission, and expose counterfeit spirituality. Rooted in Old Testament precedent, manifested supremely in Christ, continued through the apostles, and counterfeited in the last days, “wonders” remain a vital, if sobering, component of God’s redemptive strategy until faith becomes sight. Forms and Transliterations ετέρφθην τέρας τερασι τέρασι τερασιν τέρασιν τερατα τέρατα τέρατά τερατοσκόποι τερατοσκόπος τερατων τεράτων τερέβινθον τερέβινθος τερεβίνθου τερέτρω τέρπεται τερπνόν τερπνότητα τερπνότητες τερπομένων τέρπου τερφθήσεται τερφθήτωσαν τέρψεις terasi térasi terasin térasin terata térata teraton teratōn teráton terátōnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 24:24 N-ANPGRK: μεγάλα καὶ τέρατα ὥστε πλανῆσαι NAS: signs and wonders, so KJV: signs and wonders; insomuch that, if INT: great and wonders so as to mislead Mark 13:22 N-ANP John 4:48 N-ANP Acts 2:19 N-ANP Acts 2:22 N-DNP Acts 2:43 N-NNP Acts 4:30 N-NNP Acts 5:12 N-NNP Acts 6:8 N-ANP Acts 7:36 N-ANP Acts 14:3 N-ANP Acts 15:12 N-ANP Romans 15:19 N-GNP 2 Corinthians 12:12 N-DNP 2 Thessalonians 2:9 N-DNP Hebrews 2:4 N-DNP Strong's Greek 5059 |
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