Lexical Summary touto: This, this one, this thing Original Word: τοῦτο Strong's Exhaustive Concordance this; he, she, itNeuter singular nominative or accusative case of houtos; that thing -- here (-unto), it, partly, self(-same), so, that (intent), the same, there(-fore, -unto), this, thus, where(-fore). see GREEK houtos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originneut. sing. nom. or acc. of houtos,, q.v. Topical Lexicon Overview τοῦτο functions as the neuter singular demonstrative pronoun, pointing to “this,” “this thing,” or “this very matter.” Its importance lies not in the word itself but in what it designates—truths, events, promises, judgments, and commands that God places before His people. Grammatical Function and Theological Emphasis 1. Immediate Reference: τοῦτο pinpoints something close at hand in the text, anchoring doctrine to concrete revelation. Key New Testament Contexts • Salvation Defined John 17:3 – “Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” τοῦτο frames eternal life as relational knowledge, not mere duration. Ephesians 2:8 – “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God.” The demonstrative safeguards grace from human contribution, anchoring assurance in God alone. • Sacramental Pronouncement Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25 – “This is My body… This cup is the new covenant in My blood.” τοῦτο makes the Lord’s Supper a present, personal pledge rather than a distant symbol, underscoring Christ’s real provision for believers. • Ecclesiological Foundation Matthew 16:18 – “On this rock I will build My church.” The term singles out the confessed identity of Jesus as Messiah, grounding the Church’s stability in divine revelation rather than human initiative. • Pastoral Encouragement in Suffering 1 Peter 1:6 – “In this you rejoice greatly, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials.” τοῦτο directs suffering saints to the joy of a guarded inheritance, offering perspective and endurance. • Apostolic Testimony Acts 2:33 – Peter explains Pentecost as “this” outpouring of the Spirit promised by the Father, validating the era of the New Covenant. Old Testament Background (Septuagint) τοῦτο frequently appears in covenant ratifications: “This is the blood of the covenant” (Exodus 24:8 LXX). It marks feast regulations, prophetic signs, and judicial verdicts, preparing readers to recognize definitive divine acts later fulfilled in Christ. Connections with Covenant Language Whether sealing Sinai or the New Covenant, τοῦτο signals a border-crossing moment from promise to fulfillment. The pronoun ties historical episodes to theological milestones, showing Scripture’s unified storyline. Implications for Preaching and Teaching • Precision: Identify the exact referent of τοῦτο to avoid misapplication. Pastoral Application 1. Counseling Doubt: Direct doubting believers to passages where τοῦτο links salvation to God’s gift (Ephesians 2:8). Homiletical Themes • “This Grace” (Ephesians 2:8) – Salvation by gift, not effort. Historical Reception Early church fathers exploited τοῦτο in anti-Gnostic polemics, insisting that salvation, embodied in Christ, was concrete and historical. Reformers stressed τοῦτο in Eucharistic debates, grounding the ordinance in Christ’s words rather than ecclesiastical tradition. Conclusion Though a small pronoun, τοῦτο serves as Scripture’s finger, pointing readers to immediate, decisive realities—grace, covenant, confession, and hope. Properly observed, it sharpens exegesis, nourishes faith, and fortifies ministry. Forms and Transliterations τουτο τοῦτο touto toûtoLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance τοσοῦτο — 1 Occ.τοσούτῳ — 3 Occ. τοσούτων — 1 Occ. τοσοῦτοι — 1 Occ. τοσοῦτον — 4 Occ. τοσοῦτος — 1 Occ. τοσούτου — 2 Occ. τοσούτους — 1 Occ. Τότε — 161 Occ. τοὐναντίον — 3 Occ. τράγων — 4 Occ. τράπεζα — 2 Occ. τραπέζαις — 1 Occ. τράπεζαν — 2 Occ. τραπέζας — 3 Occ. τραπέζης — 7 Occ. τραπεζίταις — 1 Occ. τραύματα — 1 Occ. τετραυματισμένους — 1 Occ. τραυματίσαντες — 1 Occ. |
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