Lexical Summary asmenós: Glad, joyful, delighted Original Word: ἀσμένος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance gladly. Adverb from a derivative of the base of hedone; with pleasure -- gladly. see GREEK hedone HELPS Word-studies 780 asménōs (akin to hēdomai, "experiential pleasure, delight") – properly, "euphoric wishing, hoping for a change" (L-S), looking for a delightful turn of events. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originadverb from asmenos (glad) Definition gladly NASB Translation gladly (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 780: ἀσμένωςἀσμένως, adverb (for ἡσμενως; from ἥδομαι), with joy, gladly: Acts 2:41 (Rec.); Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence The word appears once in the New Testament, in Acts 21:17. Luke records Paul’s final arrival in Jerusalem after his third missionary journey: “When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us joyfully” (Acts 21:17). The term conveys an eager, heartfelt delight in receiving fellow believers. Historical Backdrop Paul had collected an offering from predominantly Gentile congregations (Romans 15:25-27; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4) to aid the poor in Jerusalem. His convoy included representatives from these churches, underscoring the unity of Jew and Gentile in Christ. Luke’s remark about the joyful welcome testifies that the Jerusalem believers recognized God’s grace at work among the Gentile assemblies and gladly embraced Paul and his companions despite mounting tensions with legalistic factions (Acts 21:20-21). Hospitality and Fellowship Scripture consistently links genuine faith with warm hospitality: The reception in Acts 21:17 exemplifies this pattern. The believers did not merely grant lodging; they expressed active joy, reflecting Christ-like love (John 13:35) and fulfilling the command to “welcome one another, just as Christ welcomed you, to the glory of God” (Romans 15:7). Theological Significance 1. Unity of the Body – The glad welcome affirms that Christ’s church transcends ethnic and cultural boundaries (Ephesians 2:14-18). Ministry Application • Leaders and congregations should receive missionaries and traveling ministers with tangible joy, recognizing their labor advances the gospel. Related Old Testament Themes While the specific Greek term does not appear in the Septuagint, the concept resonates with Old Testament calls to receive God’s servants with joy (2 Kings 4:8-10) and with festivals that required rejoicing together before the Lord (Deuteronomy 16:11-14). Those celebrations foreshadow the joy of the New Covenant community. Relation to Pauline Ministry Paul himself modeled and taught joyful reception. He urged the Philippians to “welcome [Epaphroditus] in the Lord with great joy” (Philippians 2:29) and rejoiced whenever churches embraced one another (2 Corinthians 7:13-16). The single use of the adverb in Acts thus mirrors Paul’s broader emphasis on joyful partnership in the gospel. Practical Implications for the Church Today 1. Cultivate a culture of enthusiastic welcome for visitors, new believers, and returning missionaries. Summary Strong’s Greek 780 describes more than polite reception; it paints a portrait of Spirit-filled, wholehearted joy that affirms gospel partnership, manifests Christian unity, and advances the mission of Christ’s Church. Forms and Transliterations ασμενως ασμένως ἀσμένως asmenos asmenōs asménos asménōsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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