Lexical Summary humón: your, of you Original Word: ὑμῶν Strong's Exhaustive Concordance youGenitive case of humeis; of (from or concerning) you -- ye, you, your (own, -selves). see GREEK humeis NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origingen. of humeis, q.v. Topical Lexicon Definition and Grammatical Role Strong’s Greek 5216 (ὑμῶν) is the second–person plural genitive pronoun, rendered “your.” It marks possession or close association, addressing a community rather than an individual. Though the specific inflected form occurs only in 1 Corinthians 15:14, the underlying pronoun family saturates the New Testament, continually reminding readers that the gospel summons a people, not isolated believers. Context of 1 Corinthians 15:14 “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless, and your faith is futile.” Here “your” binds the Corinthian congregation to the apostolic message. Paul argues that their collective faith stands or falls with the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. The pronoun therefore anchors a crucial apologetic: the historical resurrection guarantees the validity of the church’s faith and proclamation. Corporate Identity in Apostolic Teaching The New Testament repeatedly addresses believers with the plural “your,” shaping a theology of shared identity. Passages such as Philippians 2:12 (“continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling”) and 1 Peter 3:15 (“always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you”) highlight communal responsibility. The church’s life is depicted as a single fabric in which every strand matters. Ownership and Stewardship “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit…?” (1 Corinthians 6:19). The possessive pronoun underscores stewardship: what believers call “ours” actually belongs to God and must be governed by His purposes. Whether the subject is time, treasure, or testimony, Scripture presses the covenant people to hold all resources in trust for the Lord. Pastoral Concern and Encouragement Paul frequently couples “your” with nouns like faith, love, hope, obedience, perseverance and joy (e.g., Romans 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 2 Corinthians 7:15). By doing so he personalizes doctrine, showing that every exhortation has tangible implications for the saints’ daily walk. The plural form prevents privatized religion; exhortation is aimed at the body as a whole. Worship and Prayer Language New Testament prayers often gather the saints into a collective “your”: “The Lord make your love increase and overflow” (1 Thessalonians 3:12). In worship settings this pronoun draws the congregation into shared adoration, confession, and supplication, giving voice to a unified heart lifted toward God. Eschatological Hope The plural possessive frames future promise: “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion” (Philippians 1:6). The corporate pronoun ensures that eschatological hope is not merely individual escape but the consummation of a redeemed community reigning with Christ. Historical Reception in the Church Patristic writers exploited the nuance of the plural “your” to combat individualism and foster koinonia. Augustine, Chrysostom, and later reformers like Calvin read the collective possessive as a safeguard against sectarianism, insisting that sanctification unfolds within Christ’s body. Practical Ministry Implications 1. Preaching and teaching should address the congregation as a unit, cultivating shared responsibility. Key Thematic References Romans 12:1 – “present your bodies as a living sacrifice” 1 Corinthians 2:5 – “so that your faith would not rest on men’s wisdom” Philippians 4:7 – “the peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds” Hebrews 13:7 – “consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” Conclusion Strong’s 5216 (ὑμῶν) may appear in one particular form in 1 Corinthians 15:14, yet its theological resonance is unmistakable. By binding doctrine to a plural possessive, Scripture affirms that salvation, obedience, worship, and hope are lived out together. Recognizing the weight of this simple pronoun helps the church embody the unity for which Christ prayed and the apostles labored. Forms and Transliterations υμων ὑμῶν hymon hymôn hymōn hymō̂n umon umōnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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