Greek word · G2939

κτίστης

ktistēs

creator

Maker, creator. In civic Greek it was also the 'founder' of a city, an honorific title given to founders, benefactors and emperors on inscriptions.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

κτίστης, -oυ, ὁ

(κτίζω), [in LXX: 2 Samuel 22:32 (Heb., al.), Judith 9:12, Sirach 24:8, 2 24:1-34; 4Ma.5:1-38 * ;]

1. (cl.) a founder.

2. a creator: of God, 1 Peter 4:19.†

(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 Peter 4:19

Range of meaning

Maker, creator. In civic Greek it was also the 'founder' of a city, an honorific title given to founders, benefactors and emperors on inscriptions.

Against the English

'Creator' is accurate. What English can miss is why Peter picks this title here: he does not say 'Father' or 'Judge'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used of God in the Greek Jewish writings: 2 Macc 1:24; 7:23; 4 Macc 5:25; 11:5; Sir 24:8; Jdt 9:12. The most telling is 2 Macc 7:23, where the mother of the seven martyred brothers tells her sons that 'the Creator of the world… will in his mercy give back to you both breath and life,' because they now give up their lives for his laws.

Where it appears

1 Peter · 1

  1. 1 Peter 4:19 κτίστῃ Creator

    So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should entrust their souls to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

    Here: The only place in the New Testament where God is called 'Creator' with this noun. The one who made life is the one able to keep it and give it back.

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