κατηχέω

From the study of Galatians 6:6

Range of meaning

Literally "to sound down, echo." In Hellenistic Greek it came to mean "to inform, report" (Acts 21:21, 24: "they have been told about you") and "to instruct by word of mouth" (Luke 1:4; Acts 18:25; Rom 2:18, someone "instructed out of the Law"; 1 Cor 14:19). The weight is on oral teaching, repeated and passed on.

Against the English

"Taught" and "instructed" are accurate. The English words derived from it, "catechism," "catechesis" and "catechumen," carry institutional meanings that came later.

How it drifted

From the 2nd and 3rd centuries the verb became the technical term for formal instruction before baptism. Candidates were "catechumens" who went through a set course over months or years (e.g., the Apostolic Tradition credited to Hippolytus). Reading that system back into Galatians is anachronistic, meaning it puts a later practice into an earlier time.

Used elsewhere in the period

Rare before the NT. Josephus and Philo use it for informing or instructing. Paul's use here, for a recognised teacher-student relationship in a church, is one of the earliest Christian uses, and later church usage grew out of it.

From the study of Acts 18:25

Range of meaning

Literally 'to sound down (into the ears)'. In the first century it meant (1) to inform or tell someone a report (Acts 21:21, 24: 'they have been told about you'), and (2) to instruct someone in content, usually by word of mouth (Luke 1:4; Rom 2:18, a Jew 'instructed from the law'; Gal 6:6; 1 Cor 14:19). It meant oral teaching rather than learning from books.

Against the English

'Instructed' (BSB, KJV, WEB, YLT) is accurate. The English cognates 'catechism' and 'catechumen' come from this verb, but they name later institutions.

How it drifted

From the second and third centuries the word became the technical term for formal pre-baptismal instruction (catechumens, catechesis), and much later for question-and-answer catechisms. Reading Acts 18:25 as 'Apollos had been through a catechism class' goes too far. Luke means only that he had been taught the Jesus tradition, probably orally.

Used elsewhere in the period

The word is rare in classical Greek and appears in papyri and in Philo for informing or instructing. In the New Testament only Luke and Paul use it. Luke 1:4 says Theophilus was 'instructed' (katēchēthēs), which links Apollos's instruction to the kind of teaching Luke's own Gospel sets out to confirm.

From the study of Acts 21:24

Range of meaning

Originally 'to sound down, resound'. In Koine it means to tell or inform someone by word of mouth (Acts 21:21, 24) and to teach or instruct (Luke 1:4; Acts 18:25; Rom 2:18; 1 Cor 14:19; Gal 6:6).

Against the English

BSB: 'rumors'. KJV/WEB: 'informed'. YLT: 'instructed'. 'Rumors' catches the falseness but loses the sense that people were actively told and taught this. 'Instructed' keeps that sense but sounds too formal.

How it drifted

English 'catechize' and 'catechism' come from this verb through later church use for formal teaching before baptism. That institutional sense did not exist yet. Here the word simply means being told something, here something false, repeatedly enough that it stuck.

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke uses the same verb at the start of his work: Theophilus should know the certainty 'of the things you have been instructed in' (Luke 1:4). Paul uses it for being 'instructed out of the law' (Rom 2:18). In wider Koine it means passing on information orally.