Lexical Summary apartismos: Completion, Perfection Original Word: ἀπαρτισμός Strong's Exhaustive Concordance completionFrom a derivative of aparti; completion -- finishing. see GREEK aparti NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom apartizó (to finish) Definition completion NASB Translation complete (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 535: ἀπαρτισμόςἀπαρτισμός, ἀπαρτισμου, ὁ (ἀπαρτίζω to finish, complete), completion: Luke 14:28. Found besides only in Dionysius Halicarnassus, de comp. verb. c. 24; (Apollonius Dyscolus, de adv., p. 532, 7, others; cf. Winer's Grammar, p. 24). Topical Lexicon OverviewStrong’s Greek 535 (ἀπαρτισμός) appears once in the New Testament, in Luke 14:28. The term denotes the act of bringing a project to full completion. Jesus employs it in His parable about a man who first “calculates the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it” (Luke 14:28). Though rare in usage, the word illuminates an essential biblical principle: genuine discipleship requires both foresight and perseverance until the goal is fully achieved. Context in Luke 14:28 The immediate setting is a series of teachings in which Jesus presses would-be followers to evaluate the demands of allegiance to Him. A tower-builder who fails to secure “the resources to complete” leaves an unfinished monument to his own shortsightedness; likewise, a disciple who begins the journey with Christ but turns back exposes a superficial commitment. ἀπαρτισμός underscores completion rather than mere initiation, pressing the listener to think beyond initial enthusiasm to sustained obedience. Completion as a Broader Biblical Motif 1. Divine Commitment: “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). What humans often struggle to finish, God unfailingly completes. Historical and Cultural Background In first-century Palestine, constructing a tower often related to vineyard protection or city defense. A half-built structure wasted costly materials and invited ridicule (Luke 14:29). Listeners immediately recognized the wisdom of pre-construction calculation. Jesus leverages this familiar scene to bridge material planning and spiritual preparedness. Ministry Significance • Discipleship Training – Luke 14:28 serves as a foundational text for instructing new believers in the realities of following Christ. Churches use it to temper impulsive professions with sober understanding. Theological Implications 1. Costly Grace: Salvation is free, yet discipleship costs everything (Luke 14:33). ἀπαρτισμός highlights that grace never encourages complacency. Practical Exhortations • Evaluate Commitments: Before taking on new ministry roles, prayerfully assess resources—time, finances, spiritual gifting—to ensure ἀπαρτισμός. Conclusion Though ἀπαρτισμός appears only once, its single occurrence speaks volumes. The Lord who calls His disciples also provides what is necessary for completion, yet He commands them to count the cost and press on until the work is done. Luke 14:28 therefore stands as a clarion call to thoughtful commitment and unwavering perseverance, assuring believers that finished towers, finished races, and finished redemptive plans all glorify the God who “makes all things beautiful in their time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Forms and Transliterations απαρτισμον απαρτισμόν ἀπαρτισμόν apartismon apartismónLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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