Lexical Summary astateó: To be unsettled, to be unstable, to wander Original Word: ἀστατέω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance have no certain dwelling-place. From a (as a negative particle) and a derivative of histemi; to be non-stationary, i.e. (figuratively) homeless -- have no certain dwelling-place. see GREEK a see GREEK histemi NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom alpha (as a neg. prefix) and histémi Definition to be unsettled, i.e. homeless NASB Translation homeless (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 790: ἀστατέωἀστατέω, ἀστάτω; (ἄστατος unstable, strolling about; cf. ἀκατάστατος); to wander about, to rove without a settled abode (A. V. to have no certain dwelling-place): 1 Corinthians 4:11. (Anthol. Pal. appendix 39, 4.) Topical Lexicon Usage in the New Testament The verb appears once: “To this very hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are brutally treated, we are homeless” (1 Corinthians 4:11). Paul places ἀστατοῦμεν alongside hunger, thirst, and physical abuse to portray the ongoing, not merely occasional, nature of apostolic hardship. The present tense underscores a continuous condition; homelessness is not a brief episode but an accepted, even expected, aspect of ministry. Apostolic Hardship as Normative Paul’s catalog in 1 Corinthians 4 mirrors wider testimony to the suffering inherent in gospel service (2 Corinthians 6:4-10; 2 Corinthians 11:23-27). Homelessness serves as a concrete sign that the messengers of Christ do not belong to the systems they evangelize. The absence of a fixed dwelling dramatizes total dependence on God’s provision and reinforces the pilgrim identity of the church (Philippians 3:20; Hebrews 13:14). Old Testament Echoes Scripture repeatedly portrays God’s servants as sojourners: Abraham “lived as a stranger in the land of promise” (Hebrews 11:9), David confessed, “We are foreigners and strangers in Your presence” (1 Chronicles 29:15), and the prophets often roamed without security or acceptance (1 Kings 17:3-4). Paul’s experience therefore stands in continuity with this prophetic lineage. Christological Parallel Jesus declared, “The Son of Man has no place to lay His head” (Matthew 8:20). The Lord’s voluntary lack of settled residence anticipates the apostolic pattern. Paul’s one-word report ἀστατοῦμεν thus reflects conformity to Christ’s own earthly condition and fortifies the believer’s call to imitate Him (1 Peter 2:21). Missional Perspective Physical rootlessness allowed Paul and his coworkers to move freely across the Mediterranean world, planting churches from Syrian Antioch to Rome. The transient lifestyle lowered expenses, fostered reliance on hospitality (Acts 16:15; Acts 18:3), and embodied the urgency of the gospel mandate (Mark 16:15). Ministry teams today, whether itinerant evangelists or relief workers, still find precedent here for mobile, lightly-encumbered service. Practical and Pastoral Implications 1. Contentment: Paul practiced what he later taught—“I have learned to be content in any and every situation” (Philippians 4:12). Doctrinal Reflections Homelessness in 1 Corinthians 4:11 is not merely biographical; it testifies to divine providence, ecclesial interdependence, and eschatological hope. The lack of a terrestrial home intensifies longing for the eternal dwelling “not built by human hands” (2 Corinthians 5:1). The verse therefore contributes to a biblical theology of exile and consummation. Related Themes and Scriptures • Pilgrimage: Genesis 12:1; 1 Peter 1:1. Historical Witnesses Early itinerant preachers such as Barnabas, Silas, and Apollos mirrored Paul’s rootless commitment. In later centuries, evangelists like Patrick in Ireland and Methodius among the Slavs traveled without permanent abode, trusting local believers for shelter. Modern missionaries who choose minimalism to reach unreached peoples continue the same lineage, demonstrating that ἀστατοῦμεν is not an antiquated relic but a living vocation. Devotional Application Believers may never face literal homelessness, yet the heart posture remains: loosened grip on possessions, readiness to move at God’s call, and confidence that “the Lord is my portion” (Lamentations 3:24). Paul’s single-word confession invites every generation to evaluate where ultimate security lies and to embrace the freedom that comes from being settled only in Christ. Forms and Transliterations αστατουμεν αστατούμεν ἀστατοῦμεν άστεγον άστεγος αστέγους astatoumen astatoûmenLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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