Lexical Summary philophronós: Kindly, with friendliness, benevolently Original Word: φιλοφρόνως Strong's Exhaustive Concordance courteously. Adverb from philophron; with friendliness of mind, i.e. Kindly -- courteously. see GREEK philophron HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 5390 philophrónōs (an adverb) – courteously; literally, acting from a mind-set of personal affection. See 5391 (philophrōn). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom philophrón Definition kindly NASB Translation courteously (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5390: φιλοφρόνωςφιλοφρόνως (φιλόφρων, which see), adverb, kindly, in a friendly manner (A. V. courteously): Acts 28:7. (2 Macc. 3:9; 4 Macc. 8:5; occasionally in Greek writings from (Sophocles and) Herodotus down.) Topical Lexicon Definition and Essence of φιλοφρόνως The adverb expresses an attitude of warm-hearted goodwill that moves beyond mere civility to active, tangible benevolence. It is the gracious disposition that welcomes, serves, and protects others, treating them as honored guests. Unique Occurrence in Acts 28:7 “Nearby stood an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days.” (Acts 28:7) Here the word highlights the generous care shown by a Roman official to shipwrecked strangers—Paul and his companions—on Malta. Publius’ action illustrates how God uses common grace to advance His redemptive purposes: the apostle is refreshed, the Gospel soon reaches the island (Acts 28:8-10), and the local populace witnesses faith expressed through deeds of kindness. Historical Context In the Mediterranean world, hospitality carried moral weight. Travelers were vulnerable to bandits, exposure, and hunger; hosts provided shelter, food, medical aid, and social connection. Publius’ title (protos, “leading man”) indicates civic responsibility, yet Luke’s use of φιλοφρόνως underscores that the welcome went beyond duty—it was heartfelt. Theology of Christian Hospitality 1. An expression of love (Romans 12:13). Connections to Old Testament Hospitality • Abraham receives three visitors and is promised a son (Genesis 18:1-10). Each episode foreshadows divine blessing arriving through a welcoming heart. Christological Reflection Jesus embodied φιλοφρόνως in word and deed—feeding multitudes (Matthew 14:13-21), dining with tax collectors and sinners (Luke 5:29-32), and ultimately preparing an eternal place for believers (John 14:2-3). His table fellowship signals the inbreaking Kingdom where the outsider is brought near. Practical Ministry Implications • Cultivate homes and church spaces where strangers become friends. Eschatological Hope The hospitable God will gather redeemed humanity to the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9). Every act of φιλοφρόνως in this age anticipates that eternal celebration, where divine welcome is enjoyed without end. Forms and Transliterations φιλοφρονως φιλοφρόνως philophronos philophronōs philophrónos philophrónōsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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