Greek word · G1862

ἐπάγγελμα

epangelma

a promise

A promise, pledge or public undertaking. In classical Greek it could also mean a professional claim or announcement, as when a teacher advertises what he offers. In the NT it appears only here and at 3:13. The usual NT word is epangelia.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 23, 2026

What it means

ἐπ-άγγελμα, -τος, τό

(ἐπαγγέλλω),

a promise: 2 Peter 1:4 3:13.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 2 Peter 1:4

Range of meaning: A promise, pledge or public undertaking. In classical Greek it could also mean a professional claim or announcement, as when a teacher advertises what he offers. In the NT it appears only here and at 3:13. The usual NT word is epangelia.
Against the English: All the major versions say 'promises', which is accurate. What can be missed is that in this letter the promises are concrete and still future, not general assurances.
Used elsewhere in the period: 2 Pet 3:4 ('Where is the promise of his coming?'), 3:9 ('The Lord is not slow about his promise'), 3:13 ('according to his promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth'). Honorific inscriptions use related vocabulary for a benefactor's public pledges.

From the study of 2 Peter 3:13

Range of meaning: A promise or pledge, something formally announced as a commitment. It is a rarer near-synonym of epangelia.
Against the English: All versions say "promise". The BSB's "God's promise" spells out who promised; the Greek says only "his".
Used elsewhere in the period: Only twice in the NT: here and 2 Peter 1:4 ("precious and very great promises"). The related epangelia appears in 3:4 (the scoffers' "Where is the promise of his coming?") and 3:9.

Similar words

Where it appears

2 Peter · 2

2 Peter 1:4 ἐπαγγέλματα promises

Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Here: Solemn public pledges. In this letter the word mainly means the promise of Christ's coming and of the new heavens and earth (3:4, 9, 13).
2 Peter 3:13 ἐπάγγελμα promise

But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

Here: A formal promise or pledge. It answers the scoffers' taunt, "Where is the promise of his coming?" (3:4), and the author's reply that the Lord is not slow about his promise (3:9).

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.