ἐπαγγελία

Luke 24:49 ἐπαγγελίαν promise

And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But remain in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Here: Here the word means the thing promised, not the act of promising. Luke's second volume names it: the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4–5; 2:33, 39).

Acts 1:4 ἐπαγγελίαν promise

And while they were gathered together, He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss.

Here: Here it is the thing promised: the Holy Spirit, as v. 5 and Acts 2:33 make explicit. That is why the BSB writes 'the gift the Father promised'.

Acts 2:33 ἐπαγγελίαν the promise

Exalted, then, to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

Here: Here "promise" means the thing promised, not the act of promising. What Jesus received was the Spirit himself, who had long been pledged.

Acts 2:39 ἐπαγγελία promise

This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off—to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself.”

Here: The specific promise of God's Spirit poured out on his people, as foretold in Joel 2 and called "the promise of the Father" in Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:4. It is not a general word for every promise in the Bible.

Acts 7:17 ἐπαγγελίας promise

As the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased greatly in number.

Acts 13:23 ἐπαγγελίαν promise

From the descendants of this man, God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as He promised.

Here: There is no article ('according to promise'). This is the promise as a category: God's pledge to David, which the prophets repeated. Paul picks it up again in vv. 32–33 ('the promise made to the fathers').

Acts 13:32 ἐπαγγελίαν promise

And now we proclaim to you the good news: What God promised our fathers

Here: God's binding pledge to Israel's ancestors. Verse 23 has already defined it as the promise to raise up a Savior from David's line. The word shares a root (angel-, 'announce') with the verb euangelizometha, which gives a play on words: 'we good-news-announce to you the promise-announcement.'

Acts 23:21 ἐπαγγελίαν.¶ promise.

Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.”

Acts 26:6 ἐπαγγελίας promise

And now I stand on trial because of my hope in the promise that God made to our fathers,

Here: God's binding, spoken commitment to act. The hope rests on this promise. Without it, the hope would have nothing to stand on.

Romans 4:13 ἐπαγγελία promise

For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

Here: The subject of the sentence. It is a binding pledge God made of his own accord. It was not a contract term Abraham had to meet. The verb is left out ("the promise [was/came] not through law"), as Greek often does.

Romans 4:14 ἐπαγγελία· promise;

For if those who live by the law are heirs, faith is useless and the promise is worthless,

Romans 4:16 ἐπαγγελίαν promise

Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may rest on grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.

Here: God's sworn commitment to Abraham (Genesis 12, 15, 17, 22), which Paul sums up in 4:13 as being 'heir of the world'.

Romans 4:20 ἐπαγγελίαν promise

Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,

Here: A solemn, binding undertaking. Placed first in the Greek sentence for emphasis: the promise is the object Abraham's trust kept its grip on.

Romans 9:4 ἐπαγγελίαι, promises,

the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises.

Here: God's sworn promises, above all those to the patriarchs: descendants, land, blessing for the nations, and a coming king. In Romans 4 and 15:8 Paul calls these 'the promises given to the fathers', and the list flows straight into 'whose are the fathers' in verse 5.

Romans 9:8 ἐπαγγελίας promise

So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring.

Here: God's announcement to Abraham that Sarah would have a son (Genesis 18:10, 14). "Children of the promise" means children who exist because God said so. Isaac was born to a barren, elderly couple by the power of God's word.

Romans 9:9 ἐπαγγελίας Of [the] promise

For this is what the promise stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”

Romans 15:8 ἐπαγγελίας promises given

For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs,

Here: God's sworn commitments to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They included land, descendants and blessing for the nations, and Paul reads them as "heir of the world" and "father of many nations" (Rom 4:13–18).

2 Corinthians 1:20 ἐπαγγελίαι promises

For all the promises of God are “Yes” in Christ. And so through Him, our “Amen” is spoken to the glory of God.

Here: God's solemn commitments, especially those made to Abraham, the patriarchs and Israel through the prophets. In Paul these include blessing for the nations, the Spirit, and God living among his people.

2 Corinthians 7:1 ἐπαγγελίας, promises,

Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Here: God's declared commitments in 6:16–18: to live among them, walk among them, be their God, welcome them, and be a Father to them as sons and daughters.

Galatians 3:14 ἐπαγγελίαν promise

He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Here: Here it means the thing that was promised. In Galatians 3 'promise' is Paul's key word for what God bound himself to do for Abraham, and the word occurs eight times in verses 14–29.

Galatians 3:16 ἐπαγγελίαι promises

The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.

Here: Plural, because God repeated and expanded his commitments to Abraham several times (Gen 12, 13, 15, 17, 22): land, many descendants, blessing for the nations. Paul treats them as one solemn commitment that later law cannot cancel (v.17).

Galatians 3:17 ἐπαγγελίαν. promise.

What I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise.

Here: God's freely given pledge to Abraham (blessing, inheritance, seed, blessing for the nations). A promise depends on the one who makes it, not on what the receiver performs. That is why Paul sets it against law in verse 18.

Galatians 3:18 ἐπαγγελίας· ἐπαγγελίας a promise;, a promise

For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.

Here: A pledge freely announced by the one who will give. Its fulfilment depends on the giver's faithfulness, not on the receiver meeting terms. It has no article, so it stresses promise as a way of giving: 'on a promise footing.'

Galatians 3:21 ἐπαγγελιῶν promises

Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law.

Here: Plural: the cluster of promises God made to Abraham and his seed, which Paul sums up as blessing for the nations and the gift of the Spirit (3:8, 14). He calls them God's own free commitments.

Galatians 3:22 ἐπαγγελία promise

But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe.

Here: God's sworn commitment to Abraham: blessing for the nations through him (3:8), the inheritance (3:18), and, as Paul reads it, the gift of the Spirit (3:14).

Galatians 3:29 ἐπαγγελίαν [the] promise

And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.

Here: There is no article: "by way of promise," in contrast to "by way of law" (v. 18: "if the inheritance is by law, it is no longer by promise"). It points to God's pledges to Abraham in Genesis 12–22.

Galatians 4:23 ἐπαγγελίας. promise.

His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise.

Here: God's spoken commitment to Abraham, already the key word of Galatians 3 (used eight times there). Here it means the specific word that Sarah, barren and past childbearing, would have a son (Genesis 17:16-21; 18:10-14). It came true 'as he had spoken' (Genesis 21:1).

Galatians 4:28 ἐπαγγελίας of promise

Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.

Here: God's committed word to Abraham, both about a son and about blessing for the nations through his offspring (Galatians 3:8, 16–18). Paul puts it before 'children' for emphasis: promise is what defines these children.

Ephesians 1:13 ἐπαγγελίας of promise

And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

Here: "The Spirit of the promise" means the Spirit who was promised: the long-awaited gift foretold by the prophets (Joel 2; Ezekiel 36) and by Jesus (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4).

Ephesians 2:12 ἐπαγγελίας, promise,

remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.

Here: Singular. It is most likely God's promise to Abraham of blessing, land and seed, and of blessing for the nations through him, which ran through all the covenants (compare Gal 3:16–18).

Ephesians 3:6 ἐπαγγελίας promise

This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.

Here: This is God's promise to Abraham and his offspring, which Paul's letters connect with the gift of the Spirit (1:13, 'the promised Holy Spirit'; compare Galatians 3:14). Gentiles were once 'strangers to the covenants of the promise' (2:12) and now share in it.

Ephesians 6:2 ἐπαγγελίᾳ, a promise,

“Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise),

Here: God's pledged blessing, spelled out in v. 3 (that it may go well with you, and long life). In Ephesians it is a heavy word, tied to God's covenant promises that Gentiles now share (2:12; 3:6).

1 Timothy 4:8 ἐπαγγελίαν [the] promise

For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come.

Here: A pledge, in this letter-writer's usage God's own promise. Put first in its clause for emphasis: what godliness carries is a promise.

2 Timothy 1:1 ἐπαγγελίαν [the] promise

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus,

Here: A binding pledge that God has made. The noun has no article, so the stress falls on what kind of thing it is: a promise, a pledge of life.

Hebrews 4:1 ἐπαγγελίας [the] promise

Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it.

Here: God's sworn undertaking. In Hebrews this is a central word (used 14 times) for what God has committed himself to give his people.

Hebrews 6:12 ἐπαγγελίας. promises.

Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Here: 'The promises' (plural): God's pledges to Abraham of offspring, land and blessing. Hebrews reads these as pointing toward God's rest, a better homeland and a city God built (4:1; 11:9–16). The word means both the pledge and the thing pledged.

Hebrews 6:15 ἐπαγγελίας. promise.

And so Abraham, after waiting patiently, obtained the promise.

Here: God's announced commitment to Abraham. In Hebrews, 'promise' is a key word for what God has pledged to his people (4:1; 6:12, 17; 11:9, 13, 39). Here it means the sworn promise of blessing and descendants from Genesis 22.

Hebrews 6:17 ἐπαγγελίας promise

So when God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath.

Here: The promise to Abraham quoted in 6:14 (Genesis 22:17): "I will surely bless you and multiply you." In Hebrews this promise reaches past land and offspring to the coming "rest" and "homeland" (4:1; 11:16).

Hebrews 7:6 ἐπαγγελίας promises

But Melchizedek, who did not trace his descent from Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

Hebrews 8:6 ἐπαγγελίαις promises

Now, however, Jesus has received a much more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better and is founded on better promises.

Here: God's sworn commitments. The "better promises" are spelled out at once in vv. 10–12: law written on the heart, every person knowing God, and sins remembered no more.

Hebrews 9:15 ἐπαγγελίαν promise

Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

Here: Here it means the thing promised, the content of the promise. It is defined by the genitive at the end of the verse: the promise that consists of the eternal inheritance.

Hebrews 10:36 ἐπαγγελίαν. promise.

You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.

Here: Singular and definite. In Hebrews 'the promise' is the inheritance first promised to Abraham, now understood as God's final rest, the eternal inheritance and the coming city (4:1; 6:12–17; 9:15; 11:9–16; 13:14). Here it stands for what is promised as well as the act of promising.

Hebrews 11:9 ἐπαγγελίας ἐπαγγελίας promise

By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.

Here: "Land of the promise": the land is identified by God's pledged word about it (Gen 12:7; 13:15; 17:8). It was promised, but Abraham did not yet own it.

Hebrews 11:13 ἐπαγγελίας promises

All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

Here: Plural, and it stands for the things promised (land, offspring, the city God would build), not the spoken words. They had the words but not the things.

Hebrews 11:17 ἐπαγγελίας promises

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son,

Here: "Promises": plural, the whole set of God's pledges to Abraham. All of them ran through Isaac.

Hebrews 11:33 ἐπαγγελιῶν, promises,

who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,

Here: Plural and without 'the': specific promises, such as Gideon's promised victory or the land and rest promised in Joshua and Judges. They are distinct from 'the promise' (singular) that, according to 11:13 and 11:39, none of these people yet received.

Hebrews 11:39 ἐπαγγελίαν promise

These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.

Here: The word is singular here. It means what was promised rather than the act of promising: the "eternal inheritance" (9:15), the "rest" (4:1), the city with foundations and the better, heavenly homeland (11:10, 16).

2 Peter 3:4 ἐπαγγελία promise

“Where is the promise of His coming?” they will ask. “Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.”

Here: A solemn, announced commitment. The scoffers mock the promise itself: a pledge that was given and, they say, never kept.

2 Peter 3:9 ἐπαγγελίας, promise,

The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

Here: In the genitive with 'be slow' it means 'slow with regard to the promise'. This is the promise of the parousia (Christ's royal arrival) and the Day of the Lord, which the scoffers mock in 3:4: 'Where is the promise of his coming?'

1 John 2:25 ἐπαγγελία promise

And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life.

Here: A formal, binding promise or pledge. In Jewish and early Christian use it often means God's pledged gift. This is the only certain use of the noun in John's writings.