Greek word · G1876
ἐπάναγκες
epanankes
necessarily
An adverb formed from ἀνάγκη, 'necessity, compulsion'. It means 'by necessity, compulsorily, as a binding obligation'. This verse is its only use in the New Testament.
Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
ἐπανάγκης, -ες
(ἀνάγκη), only in neut.;
1. ἐπάναγκες (sc. ἐστί), it is compulsory, necessary.
2. As adv., of necessity: Acts 15:28.†
(AS)
From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).
In depth
- Range of meaning
An adverb formed from ἀνάγκη, 'necessity, compulsion'. It means 'by necessity, compulsorily, as a binding obligation'. This verse is its only use in the New Testament.
- Against the English
KJV/WEB/YLT 'necessary things' is close. BSB 'essential requirements' and versions with 'essentials' are acceptable, but 'essentials' can suggest 'the core things needed to be a real Christian or to be saved'. NIV's 'the following requirements' leaves out the idea of necessity.
- How it drifted
'Essentials' in modern church language often means the core doctrines or what is required for salvation. The Greek states obligation only. It does not say what the items are necessary for.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Classical authors use it, and Moulton–Milligan record it often in papyrus contracts in the sense 'shall compulsorily / without fail' (for example, of payments a party is bound to make). It belongs to formal, binding language, which fits the decree style.
Where it appears
Acts · 1
-
Acts 15:28 ἐπάναγκες necessary things
It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements:
Here: An adverb meaning 'by necessity, as binding', used here as a noun. These items are obligatory. The word does not say what they are necessary for (salvation, fellowship, or something else).
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.