κῆρυξ

From the study of 2 Timothy 1:11

Range of meaning

A herald: an official, often sacred, who made public announcements for a city, a king, a general or a god. Heralds called assemblies, announced decrees and victories, opened and judged the games, proclaimed festival truces, and carried messages between warring sides. They were protected by custom, and the herald's staff (kērykeion) was their badge. The herald's job was faithful transmission. The message belonged to his master, not to him.

Against the English

KJV, ESV, NASB, BSB and NLT have 'preacher'. NIV has 'herald'. Today 'preacher' suggests someone who gives sermons, usually to a congregation already gathered, with the content being his own explanation and encouragement. 'Herald' keeps the public, official, announcing sense: news about what a ruler has done, delivered to everyone.

How it drifted

Latin praedicator ('one who proclaims publicly') was a fair equivalent of kēryx. Over the medieval and Reformation periods, 'preach' and 'preacher' came to mean the pulpit sermon inside church worship, so the English word narrowed even though the translation stayed the same.

Used elsewhere in the period

Homer already uses heralds as protected messengers (Iliad). The LXX has kēryx in Gen 41:43 (the crier before Joseph's chariot), Dan 3:4 (the herald proclaiming the king's decree, translating the Aramaic karoz) and Sir 20:15. Epictetus calls the true Cynic philosopher a kēryx of the gods (Discourses 3.22.69). In the NT the word appears only at 1 Tim 2:7, 2 Tim 1:11 and 2 Pet 2:5 (Noah, 'herald of righteousness'), but the matching verb kēryssō, 'to proclaim as a herald', is very common.

From the study of 2 Peter 2:5

Range of meaning

A herald: a public official who announced decrees, proclaimed games, declared war or truce, and spoke on behalf of a king, city or god. His authority came from whoever sent him, and his job was to announce, not to explain.

Against the English

'Preacher' (KJV, BSB, NIV, NASB) is accurate, but in modern English it suggests a sermon in a church service. 'Herald' (ESV, YLT's 'preacher' aside) keeps the public, official sense of someone sent with an announcement.

How it drifted

Through Latin praedicator and church usage, 'preach' came to mean giving a sermon to a congregation. The Greek word belongs to the street, the assembly and the royal court.

Used elsewhere in the period

The word is common in Homer, Herodotus and inscriptions for heralds. In the New Testament it occurs only three times: here, and 1 Timothy 2:7 and 2 Timothy 1:11, where Paul is a 'herald and apostle'. Genesis does not have Noah speaking to his generation, but Jewish tradition did: Josephus (Antiquities 1.74) says Noah urged them to change their ways; the Sibylline Oracles (1.128–129, 150–198) give him long speeches calling for repentance; 1 Clement 7:6 (c. AD 96) says 'Noah preached repentance'. Later rabbinic texts picture him warning people while building the ark (Genesis Rabbah 30:7; b. Sanhedrin 108).

From the study of 1 Timothy 2:7

Range of meaning

A herald was a public crier or official announcer. Heralds proclaimed the decrees of kings and city councils, announced games and festivals, summoned assemblies, and carried messages of war or truce between enemies. A herald's person was traditionally sacred and could not be harmed. He did not make up his message. He spoke it aloud, accurately, on behalf of the one who sent him.

Against the English

BSB, KJV, ESV, NASB and WEB say 'preacher'. NIV says 'herald', and YLT and the BSB footnote tradition also lean toward it. 'Preacher' now suggests a minister giving a sermon to a congregation already gathered. A kērux stood in public and announced news to people who had not yet heard it.

How it drifted

The Latin Vulgate rendered it praedicator ('one who proclaims publicly'). English versions from Wycliffe onward carried this over as 'preacher'. Over the centuries 'preaching' came to mean the church sermon, a weekly talk to believers that explains and applies the text, and the word lost its picture of an official announcer in the public square.

Used elsewhere in the period

Homer's heralds carry a staff and are 'messengers of Zeus and of men.' Greek cities had official heralds attached to the assembly. LXX Genesis 41:43: a herald cries out before Joseph. Daniel 3:4: Nebuchadnezzar's herald announces the royal decree. Sirach 20:15 also uses the word. The Stoic Epictetus describes the true Cynic philosopher as a messenger and herald sent from the gods (Discourses 3.22). In the NT the noun appears only here, in 2 Timothy 1:11, and in 2 Peter 2:5 (Noah, 'herald of righteousness'). The verb kēryssō ('to herald') is common.