Greek word · G2782

κήρυγμα

kērygma

preaching

A herald's proclamation, a public announcement. From kēryx, the herald who announced a ruler's decree, games, or a victory. The '-ma' ending typically names the content or result of the action, so: the message proclaimed. In some contexts it covers the act of proclaiming too (perhaps 1 Cor 2:4).

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

What it means

κήρυγμα, -τος, τό

(κηρύσσω), [in LXX: 2 Chronicles 30:5 (קוֹל), Jonah 3.2 (קְרִיאָה), Proverbs 9:3, I Esther 9:3 * ;]

in cl.,

that which is cried by a herald, a proclamation. In NT (see Lft., Notes, 161), of God's heralds, proclamation, message, preaching (i.e. the substance as distinct from the act which would be expressed by † κήρυξις): Matthew 12:41, Luke 11:32, 1 Corinthians 1:21, 2 Timothy 4:17, Titus 1:3; with genitive cubic., τὸ κ. μου, 1 Corinthians 2:4; ἡμῶν, 1 Corinthians 15:14; with genitive obj., Ἰησοῦ Χρ., Romans 16:25.†

(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 1 Corinthians 1:21

Range of meaning

A herald's proclamation, a public announcement. From kēryx, the herald who announced a ruler's decree, games, or a victory. The '-ma' ending typically names the content or result of the action, so: the message proclaimed. In some contexts it covers the act of proclaiming too (perhaps 1 Cor 2:4).

Against the English

KJV 'the foolishness of preaching' leads many readers to think of sermons, preaching as an activity. NIV, NASB, BSB and ESV render the content: what was preached, the message.

How it drifted

The Latin Vulgate's 'praedicatio' and Tyndale's/KJV's 'preaching' can name either the act or the message, but modern church usage hears the act, the weekly sermon.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament it is used for Jonah's proclamation to Nineveh (Jonah 3:2), which Jesus picks up: 'they repented at the kērygma of Jonah' (Matt 12:41). Paul uses it in 1 Cor 15:14 ('if Christ has not been raised, our kērygma is empty'), where it plainly means the content.

From the study of 1 Corinthians 15:14

Range of meaning

The announcement made by a kēryx (herald): a public proclamation of news, an edict, a summons. It can mean the act of proclaiming or what is proclaimed. In the New Testament it is used for Jonah's message (Matt 12:41), for 'the proclamation of Jesus Christ' (Rom 16:25), and in 1 Cor 1:21 and 2:4.

Against the English

'Preaching' (KJV, BSB, WEB, YLT and most modern versions) is accurate, but today it suggests sermon-giving, moral exhortation, or a preacher's skill. Kērygma means news announced on someone's authority: the message, not the delivery.

How it drifted

Ordinary church use has narrowed 'preaching' to the weekly sermon. The Greek idea is closer to a herald proclaiming that something has happened.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek world the herald announced victories, decrees and festivals. The Septuagint uses kērygma for proclamation (e.g. Jonah 3:2; 2 Chr 30:5). In 1 Corinthians, Paul contrasts 'the kērygma' with polished rhetoric (2:4).

From the study of 2 Timothy 4:17

Range of meaning

The announcement made by a kēryx, a herald. It can mean the act of announcing or the content announced. In the Greek world a herald publicly announced official decrees, the opening of games, treaties and summonses. The herald spoke for a higher authority, not for himself.

Against the English

KJV's "preaching" suggests to modern readers a sermon given in church to believers. BSB, WEB, ESV and NIV have "message"; NASB has "proclamation", and YLT "preaching". "Proclamation" best keeps the picture of a public announcement made on someone else's authority.

How it drifted

In the 1600s "preaching" still meant public proclamation in general. Since then it has narrowed to a church activity: a sermon, usually to a gathered congregation.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint, Jonah 3:2 has God telling Jonah to proclaim "the kērygma that I spoke to you" in Nineveh, and Jesus refers to "the kērygma of Jonah" in Matt 12:41. Paul uses it in 1 Cor 1:21 and 2:4, and in Titus 1:3 for "the proclamation with which I was entrusted." In 2 Tim 1:11 Paul calls himself a kēryx, a herald, "appointed" for the gospel.

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 12:41 κήρυγμα preaching

    The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.

    Here: A herald's public announcement, not a long sermon. Jonah's message was one sentence: 'Yet forty days, and Nineveh will be overthrown' (Jonah 3:4). The Greek Old Testament uses this same word for it (Jonah 3:2).

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 11:32 κήρυγμα preaching

    The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.

    Here: A herald's public announcement. Jonah's message was a single blunt warning of coming overthrow (Jonah 3:4), not a long sermon, and still it was enough.

1 Corinthians · 3

  1. 1 Corinthians 1:21 κηρύγματος proclamation

    For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

    Here: The thing a herald announces, here the message of a crucified Messiah (v.23). The '-ma' ending usually names the content or result of an action, so the stress is on what is preached more than on the activity of preaching.

  2. 1 Corinthians 2:4 κήρυγμά preaching

    My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,

    Here: A herald's announcement, here the content Paul announced: Christ crucified (1:23, 2:2). It is news delivered on someone else's authority, not a speech the speaker composes to show off his skill.

  3. 1 Corinthians 15:14 κήρυγμα preaching

    And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless, and so is your faith.

    Here: What a herald announces. Here it means the content of the message (Christ died, was buried, was raised, appeared) more than the activity of preaching.

2 Timothy · 1

  1. 2 Timothy 4:17 κήρυγμα proclamation

    But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of the lion.

    Here: A herald's public announcement. Here it is the message about Christ, which Paul announced as he defended himself before a Roman court.

Titus · 1

  1. Titus 1:3 κηρύγματι, [the] proclamation

    In His own time He has made His word evident in the proclamation entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior.

    Here: What a herald announces in public on someone else's authority. Here it is the apostolic announcement through which God's word comes out into the open.

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