Lexical Summary asphaleia: Security, safety, certainty Original Word: ἀσφάλεια Strong's Exhaustive Concordance certainty, safety. From asphales; security (literally or figuratively) -- certainty, safety. see GREEK asphales HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 803 aspháleia (from 1 /A "not" and sphallō, "totter") – firmness that equates to security. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom asphalés Definition certainty, security NASB Translation exact truth (1), safety (1), securely (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 803: ἀσφάλειαἀσφάλεια, ἀσφαλείας, ἡ (ἀσφαλής) (from Aeschylus down); a. firmness, stability: ἐν πάσῃ ἀσφάλεια most securely, Acts 5:23. tropically, certainty, undoubted truth: λόγων (see λόγος, I. 7), Luke 1:4 (τοῦ λόγου, the certainty of a proof, Xenophon, mem. 4, 6, 15). b. security from enemies and dangers, safety: 1 Thessalonians 5:3 (opposed to κίνδυνος, Xenophon, mem. 3, 12, 7). ἀσφάλεια gathers the ideas of firmness, reliability, and immunity from threat. In Scripture it moves along two main axes: (1) material or circumstantial security and (2) intellectual or spiritual certainty. Each occurrence showcases one of these axes and rounds out a biblical theology of genuine versus presumed safety. Occurrences and Immediate Context Luke 1:4 – Luke composes his orderly Gospel “so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.” The word underscores a settled conviction rooted in eyewitness testimony and Spirit-guided narration (Luke 1:1-3). The certainty offered is not merely academic; it anchors faith and discipleship. Acts 5:23 – The officers report, “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, no one was inside.” Human precautions appear impregnable, yet the risen Christ effortlessly liberates His apostles. The verse contrasts visible safeguards with the superior power of God’s kingdom. 1 Thessalonians 5:3 – “While people are saying, ‘Peace and security,’ destruction will come upon them suddenly.” Here the term exposes a deceptive calm that precedes divine judgment. The surrounding passage (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11) urges believers to stay alert, locating true security in readiness for Christ’s return. Old Testament Background Septuagint usage often renders Hebrew roots for safety (בֶּטַח, מִבְטָח) and stability (אָכְֵן, כוּן). Proverbs 1:33, “whoever listens to me will live in safety,” parallels Luke 1:4’s emphasis on wisdom that grants sure footing. Isaiah’s oracles against false confidence (for example Isaiah 28:15-18) anticipate Paul’s warning in 1 Thessalonians 5:3. Theological Trajectory 1. God Alone Grants True Security The empty prison and sudden judgment display the futility of man-made safeguards apart from divine favor (Psalm 127:1). 2. Certainty Is Grounded in Revelation Luke’s investigated narrative provides a Spirit-breathed bedrock for faith, illustrating that assurance grows where Scripture is received and rehearsed (Romans 10:17). 3. False Assurance Precedes Judgment The “peace and security” slogan of the last days mirrors the complacency of Noah’s generation (Matthew 24:37-39), showing that misplaced trust is both perennial and perilous. Historical and Pastoral Significance Early Christian apologists appealed to Luke’s prologue as a model for historically rooted proclamation; the Church Fathers cited it to answer skeptics and heretics. Acts 5:23 fueled courage under persecution, reminding believers that prisons, edicts, and chains cannot restrain the gospel. In later centuries, 1 Thessalonians 5:3 warned against political guarantees of peace that neglected moral repentance—an admonition relevant whenever cultural optimism mutes eschatological urgency. Ministry Applications Teaching: Craft instruction that moves hearers from information to conviction, mirroring Luke’s purpose. Evangelism: Contrast fleeting worldly “security” with the unshakeable refuge found in Christ (Hebrews 6:18-19). Discipleship: Encourage vigilance and sobriety; true safety is living in the light, clothed with faith, love, and hope (1 Thessalonians 5:8). Pastoral Care: Offer the certainty of God’s promises to those anxious about political turmoil, economic instability, or persecution. Synthesis ἀσφάλεια in the New Testament lays bare two securities: one rooted in human structures and sentiments, the other grounded in God’s acts and word. The former proves fragile; the latter endures. The believer’s task is to discern the difference, rest in the latter, and proclaim it until the day when temporary fortresses crumble and divine certainty stands revealed to all. Englishman's Concordance Luke 1:4 N-AFSGRK: λόγων τὴν ἀσφάλειαν NAS: that you may know the exact truth about KJV: thou mightest know the certainty of INT: of [the] things the certainty Acts 5:23 N-DFS 1 Thessalonians 5:3 N-NFS Strong's Greek 803 |
    |