Greek word · G1919

ἐπίγειος

epigeios

earthly

'Upon the earth, earthly', as opposed to epouranios ('heavenly'). It can be neutral (earthly bodies, 1 Cor 15:40; earthly tent, 2 Cor 5:1) or negative where 'earthly' means limited to this world's values (Phil 3:19, 'minds set on earthly things').

Appears 7 times in 6 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἐπί-γειος, -ον

(ἐπί, γῆ),

of the earth, earthly: τὰ ἐ., John 3:12 Philippians 2:10 3:19 (anarth.); σώματα, 1 Corinthians 15:40; οἰκία, 2 Corinthians 5:1; σοφία, James 3:15 (Cremer, 153).†

(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 James 3:15

Range of meaning

'Upon the earth, earthly', as opposed to epouranios ('heavenly'). It can be neutral (earthly bodies, 1 Cor 15:40; earthly tent, 2 Cor 5:1) or negative where 'earthly' means limited to this world's values (Phil 3:19, 'minds set on earthly things').

Against the English

'Earthly' is accurate. Readers should hear it as the opposite of 'from above': a wisdom that starts on earth and stays there, not a comment on the material world being evil.

Used elsewhere in the period

John 3:12 (earthly vs heavenly things); Phil 2:10; Phil 3:19; Hermas Mandate 9.11 and 11.6, 11.11–12 ('the earthly spirit').

From the study of Philippians 3:19

Range of meaning

On the earth, earthly, belonging to the earthly realm as opposed to the heavenly. It is often neutral (1 Cor 15:40, 'earthly bodies'; Phil 2:10, 'in heaven and on earth') and sometimes negative (Jas 3:15, 'earthly, unspiritual' wisdom).

Against the English

'Earthly things' (KJV, BSB, WEB); 'things on earth' (YLT); NLT paraphrases as 'this life here on earth'.

How it drifted

Readers shaped by Platonic or later spiritualizing ideas can hear 'earthly' as 'physical or material, therefore bad'. Paul's contrast here is about allegiance and the present age, not matter as evil: v.21 promises the transformation of the body, not escape from it.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Phil 2:10 the same word is used neutrally of beings 'on earth' who will bow to Jesus. In John 3:12 'earthly things' are set against 'heavenly things'. In 2 Cor 5:1 it describes 'our earthly tent', the present body.

From the study of John 3:12

Range of meaning

'Upon the earth', 'belonging to the earthly sphere'. It can be neutral (earthly bodies, 1 Cor 15:40; the 'earthly tent', 2 Cor 5:1; beings 'on earth', Phil 2:10). It can be negative (minds set on 'earthly things', Phil 3:19; 'earthly' wisdom, James 3:15). What it means depends on the contrast it is set in.

Against the English

English 'earthly' often suggests 'worldly' or 'carnal', from Phil 3:19 and from devotional language. None of that is present here. The meaning is spatial: things that take place in the human sphere.

How it drifted

Church usage made 'earthly things' a byword for the lesser and sinful concerns of this world, as opposed to spiritual ones.

Used elsewhere in the period

Classical and Hellenistic Greek use it for things on the earth as opposed to things in the sky or under the earth. The closest parallel in thought is Wisdom of Solomon 9:16: 'we can hardly guess at what is on earth (τὰ ἐπὶ γῆς)… but who has traced out what is in the heavens (τὰ ἐν οὐρανοῖς)?' 4 Ezra 4:21 says something similar: 'those who dwell on earth can understand only what is on earth.'

Where it appears

John · 1

  1. John 3:12 ἐπίγεια earthly

    If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?

    Here: Things that belong to or happen on earth. Most likely this means the teaching of 3:3–8 about being born from above and about the Spirit as wind, which happens to people here on earth and was explained with everyday pictures. The word carries no moral judgment here.

1 Corinthians · 2

  1. 1 Corinthians 15:40 ἐπίγεια· ἐπιγείων. earthly;, earthly.

    There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. But the splendor of the heavenly bodies is of one degree, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is of another.

2 Corinthians · 1

  1. 2 Corinthians 5:1 ἐπίγειος earthly

    For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

    Here: Belonging to the earth, to the present level of existence. Paired against 'in the heavens' at the end of the verse; compare 1 Cor 15:40, 'earthly bodies' and 'heavenly bodies'.

Philippians · 2

  1. Philippians 2:10 ἐπιγείων on earth

    that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

    Here: "Of the earthly ones": everyone living on earth, including the emperor and the citizens of Philippi.

  2. Philippians 3:19 ἐπίγεια earthly

    Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.

    Here: Things that belong to the earthly realm and the present order, set directly against the 'citizenship in heaven' of v.20.

James · 1

  1. James 3:15 ἐπίγειος [is] earthly

    Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

    Here: 'On the earth, belonging to the earth', the opposite of 'from above'. This wisdom rises from the earthly sphere and stays on its level.

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