Greek word · G3570
νυνί
nyni
now
An emphatic 'now'. (1) Time: 'at this present moment'. (2) Logic: 'as it is, as things actually stand, so then', often after a supposed situation or argument. Paul uses the logical sense in 1 Cor 12:18 ('but as it is, God arranged the members') and 15:20 ('but in fact Christ has been raised').
Appears 19 times in 19 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
νῦνί an Attic strengthened form of νῦν
(in cl. always of time, and most often strictly of the pres.), [in LXX : Job 5:1-27, Psalms 2:1-12, 1-12, 4Ma.4:1-26, Ep. Je* ;]
now;
1. of time: with praes., Acts 24:13, Romans 15:23, 25, 1 Corinthians 13:13, 2 Corinthians 8:11 8:22, Phm 9 11; with pf., Romans 3:21; with pret., Romans 6:22 11:30 (WH, mg.) Romans 7:6, Ephesians 2:13, Colossians 1:21 3:8; ἡ ν. ἀπολογία, Acts 22:1.
2. Of logical sequence (not so in cl.): Romans 7:17, 1 Corinthians 5:11 (νῦν, WH) 1 Corinthians 12:18 (νῦν, WH, txt.) 1 Corinthians 15:20, Hebrews 8:6 (νῦν, WH, txt.), Hebrews 9:26 (cf. WM, 24, 579n).†
(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 13:13
- Range of meaning
An emphatic 'now'. (1) Time: 'at this present moment'. (2) Logic: 'as it is, as things actually stand, so then', often after a supposed situation or argument. Paul uses the logical sense in 1 Cor 12:18 ('but as it is, God arranged the members') and 15:20 ('but in fact Christ has been raised').
- Against the English
English 'now' can carry both senses, but readers usually hear it as time. The time sense contrasts naturally with 'then' in v. 12. ESV's 'So now' leans toward the logical-conclusion sense.
- Used elsewhere in the period
BDAG lists both senses for νυνί. Paul uses νυνὶ δέ for logical contrast at Rom 7:17 and 1 Cor 12:18, and for time at Rom 15:23, 25.
From the study of 1 Corinthians 15:20
- Range of meaning
An emphatic "now" (nun plus a pointing ending). It can mark time ("at this moment") or logic ("but as it actually is," in contrast to a supposed case).
- Against the English
KJV, WEB and NASB "But now" can sound like a statement about time. BSB and NIV "has indeed," and ESV "But in fact," catch the logical turn.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Paul uses nuni de in the same logical way in 1 Cor 12:18 and 13:13, and in Rom 3:21 (where time and logic are both present).
- Range of meaning
'But now.' The word can be temporal ('at this moment') or logical ('as things actually are,' as in 7:17; 1 Corinthians 13:13).
- Against the English
English 'but now' can sound like a mere change of subject. In Paul it often marks a shift between eras.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Paul uses 'now' for the new era: Romans 3:26 ('at the present time'); 5:9, 11; 6:22; 7:6 ('but now we are released from the law'); 16:26; 2 Corinthians 6:2 ('now is the day of salvation'); Colossians 1:22, 26; Ephesians 2:13.
Where it appears
Acts · 2
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Acts 22:1 νυνὶ now
“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”
Here: A stronger form of 'now': 'right now, at this moment'. It marks the speech as made on the spot, under arrest, on the barracks steps.
-
Acts 24:13 νυνὶ now
Nor can they prove to you any of their charges against me.
Romans · 6
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Romans 3:21 νυνὶ Now
But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets.
Here: A stronger form of 'now' (nyn with an added -i). It marks a turning point in time: after the long charge against all humanity in 1:18–3:20, a new moment in God's dealings has arrived. Paul explains it in 3:26 as 'at the present time' (en tō nyn kairō).
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Romans 6:22 νυνὶ Now
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life.
Here: A stronger form of "now". It sets the present against the "then" (tote) of verse 21. It is a time word and also a turning-point word. Paul uses the same "but now" in Romans 3:21 to mark the new situation God has brought about.
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Romans 7:6 νυνὶ Now
But now, having died to what bound us, we have been released from the law, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
Here: A stronger form of "now". Paul uses it for the turn from the old age to the new one that God has opened in Christ (compare "but now" in 3:21). It points to a changed situation, not only a moment in time.
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Romans 7:17 νυνὶ In that case
In that case, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
Here: An emphatic 'now'. Here it marks a logical step ("as things stand", "in that case"), not a point in time. Paul is drawing a conclusion from verse 16, not describing a change that happened in his life.
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Romans 15:23 νυνὶ Now
But now that there are no further opportunities for me in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to visit you,
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Romans 15:25 Νυνὶ Now
Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem to serve the saints there.
Here: A stronger form of the ordinary word for "now" (nyn), with an extra emphatic ending: "right now," "at this point." It sets the immediate task against the longer plan Paul has just described in verses 23–24, visiting Rome on the way to Spain.
1 Corinthians · 3
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1 Corinthians 12:18 νυνὶ now
But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design.
Here: Logical, not about time. After the 'what if' questions of v.17 ('if the whole body were an eye…'), it turns to how things really are: 'but as it actually stands.'
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1 Corinthians 13:13 Νυνὶ Now
And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.
Here: A stronger form of "now" (nyn with an added -i for emphasis). It can mean "now, at this time" or "as things actually stand". Here it marks the conclusion of the chapter. Interpreters disagree on whether it means "in this present age" or "so, in the end" (see Debates).
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1 Corinthians 15:20 Νυνὶ Now
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Here: An emphatic form of "now." Here it is mainly logical rather than about time: "but as things actually stand." It ends the run of "if Christ has not been raised…" in verses 12–19 and turns to what is actually true.
2 Corinthians · 2
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2 Corinthians 8:11 νυνὶ Now
Now finish the work, so that you may complete it with the same eager desire, according to your means.
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2 Corinthians 8:22 νυνὶ now
And we are sending along with them our brother who has proven his earnestness to us many times and in many ways, and now even more so by his great confidence in you.
Ephesians · 1
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Ephesians 2:13 νυνὶ Now
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
Here: A strengthened form of 'now' ('but as things now stand'). It answers 'at that time' in verse 12 and 'once' later in this verse: the whole passage turns on a before-and-after.
Colossians · 1
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Colossians 3:8 Νυνὶ Now
But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
Here: A strengthened form of 'now' (nun), meaning 'but now, at this point'. It answers the 'once' (pote) of verse 7: once you walked in these things, but now things are different. It marks a change of era in their lives, not just the present moment.
Philemon · 2
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Philemon 1:9 νυνὶ now
I prefer to appeal on the basis of love. For I, Paul, am now aged, and a prisoner of Christ Jesus as well.
Here: A stronger form of 'now': 'at this very moment'. It stresses that the imprisonment is happening as he writes.
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Philemon 1:11 νυνὶ now
Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
Hebrews · 2
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Hebrews 8:6 νυνὶ now
Now, however, Jesus has received a much more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better and is founded on better promises.
Here: A strengthened "now" with both a time sense and a logical sense: "but as things actually stand." It answers v. 4 ("if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all") by turning to the real situation.
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Hebrews 9:26 νυνὶ now
Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
Here: A stronger form of 'now'. It can mean 'at this present time' or, in logic, 'but as it actually is'. Both senses fit here: as things really are, and in this present moment of history.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.