Lexical Summary aoratos: Invisible Original Word: ἀόρατος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance invisible From a (as a negative particle) and horatos; invisible -- invisible (thing). see GREEK a see GREEK horatos HELPS Word-studies 517 aóratos (from 1 /A "not" and 3708 /horáō, "see") – properly, not seen; invisible to the physical ("naked") eye; (figuratively) spiritual reality as perceived through God's inbirthings of faith. Accordingly, 517 (aóratos) and faith (4102 /pístis) are closely associated (Ro 1:17-20; 1 Tim 1:17-19; Heb 11:27). The antonym of faith is not fear – but sight! Heb 11:27: "By faith (4102 /pístis) he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen (517 /aóratos)" (NASU). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom alpha (as a neg. prefix) and horatos Definition invisible NASB Translation invisible (4), unseen (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 517: ἀόρατοςἀόρατος, ἀόρατον (ὁράω), either, not seen i. e. unseen, or that cannot be seen i. e. invisible. In the latter sense of God in Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:27; τά ἀόρατα αὐτοῦ his (God's) invisible nature (perfections), Romans 1:20; τά ὁρατά καί τά ἀόρατα, Colossians 1:16. (Genesis 1:2; Isaiah 45:3; 2 Macc. 9:5; Xenophon, Plato, Polybius, Plutarch, others.) Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s Greek 517 accents the reality of that which cannot be apprehended by the eye—“invisible.” Its five New Testament occurrences cluster around the nature of God, the scope of creation, and the life of faith. The word gathers up a rich biblical witness that the unseen realm is as certain as the visible and presses believers to live and minister in light of that certainty. Old Testament and Jewish Background While the term itself is Greek, the idea of God’s invisibility saturates the Hebrew Scriptures. The prohibition against images (Exodus 20:4) rests on the confession that “no one has ever seen God” (compare Deuteronomy 4:12). Prophets such as Isaiah stress Yahweh’s hiddenness (Isaiah 45:15) while simultaneously affirming His active governance of history. Intertestamental writings develop this further, depicting angelic hierarchies and unseen powers that populate the heavenly court (for example, 1 Enoch). Thus first-century believers approached the Gospel with a robust sense of an invisible dimension woven through creation. New Testament Usage • Romans 1:20 anchors the invisible in God Himself: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” The unseen does not render God unknowable; creation functions as a visible conduit to invisible truth. Revelation of the Invisible God in Christ Colossians 1:15 announces that Jesus Christ is “the image” (eikōn) of the invisible Father. In the Incarnation, the unseen God breaks through the veil without surrendering His transcendent invisibility. Theologischally, this protects both divine otherness and genuine revelation: believers truly know God because they truly know Christ, yet they never exhaust the depths of God’s being. Invisible Creation and Cosmic Hierarchy Colossians 1:16 extends invisibility to created powers—“thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities.” Angels, principalities, and demonic forces occupy real but unseen space in the divine economy. Ephesians 6:12 underscores the pastoral relevance: ministry engages “the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Spiritual warfare, angelology, and the doctrine of providence all flow from a recognition that invisible creatures are subject to the lordship of Christ and instrumental in God’s purposes. Faith’s Orientation to the Unseen Hebrews 11 defines faith as “the assurance of what we hope for and the conviction of what we do not see.” Moses’ endurance “because he saw Him who is invisible” exemplifies a life calibrated to divine realities rather than immediate optics. Pastoral exhortation therefore summons believers to evaluate success, suffering, and obedience not by visible metrics but by the promises of the unseen God. Doxological Impulse The invisible character of God does not curb worship; it intensifies it. Paul’s burst of praise in 1 Timothy 1:17 demonstrates how contemplation of God’s invisibility drives awe and humility. Early Christian liturgies and later hymns (“Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”) echo this biblical pattern, teaching congregations to bow before majesty beyond sight. Historical and Doctrinal Reflection Patristic authors pressed the invisibility of God to defend both divine simplicity and the full deity of Christ. The Nicene Creed’s affirmation that the Son is “God from God, Light from Light” safeguards against any suggestion that the invisible Father is less knowable than the Son. The Reformers, in turn, leveraged Romans 1:20 to argue that natural revelation genuinely communicates God, yet they insisted that saving knowledge of the unseen God comes only through Scripture and the Gospel. Pastoral and Ministry Implications 1. Preaching: Expository ministry should unveil the reality of the unseen, urging listeners to interpret daily life by Scripture rather than sight. Spiritual Warfare and the Church Because invisible antagonists oppose God’s people, the church must employ invisible weapons: truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, the Word, and prayer (Ephesians 6:13–18). Recognizing Christ’s supremacy over all invisible powers emboldens believers and protects against fearful fascination with demonic activity. Eschatological Horizon The New Testament anticipates a day when the invisible becomes manifest: “When Christ, who is your life, appears” (Colossians 3:4). The beatific vision—“They will see His face” (Revelation 22:4)—bridges the present age of faith and the future age of sight. Hope anchors in the promise that the hidden God will unveil His glory to His redeemed. Related Biblical Themes • Glory (doxa) Summary Strong’s Greek 517 gathers a biblical tapestry in which the invisible God, His unseen creation, and the life of faith converge. The term summons believers to worship the God who transcends sight, to trust Him amid trials, to engage the hidden spiritual battle, and to await the full disclosure of His glory in Christ. Forms and Transliterations αορατα αόρατα ἀόρατα αορατον αόρατον ἀόρατον αόρατος αορατου αοράτου ἀοράτου αοράτους αορατω αοράτω ἀοράτῳ απαγγελία aorata aórata aorato aoratō aorátoi aorátōi aoraton aóraton aoratou aorátouLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Romans 1:20 Adj-NNPGRK: τὰ γὰρ ἀόρατα αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ NAS: of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal KJV: For the invisible things of him from INT: the indeed invisible things of him from Colossians 1:15 Adj-GMS Colossians 1:16 Adj-NNP 1 Timothy 1:17 Adj-DMS Hebrews 11:27 Adj-AMS Strong's Greek 517 |
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