Greek word · G477
ἀντίθεσις
antithesis
opposition
A setting against: opposition, contradiction, counter-assertion. In Greek rhetoric and logic it could mean a contrasting statement or a counter-proposition in debate.
Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
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 Timothy 6:20
- Range of meaning
A setting against: opposition, contradiction, counter-assertion. In Greek rhetoric and logic it could mean a contrasting statement or a counter-proposition in debate.
- Against the English
KJV 'oppositions', BSB 'opposing arguments', ESV 'contradictions'. English 'antithesis' now usually means 'the exact opposite', which narrows the sense. Here the word is about argumentative counter-claims.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Used by Aristotle (Rhetoric 3.9) for contrasting clauses and in philosophical debate for opposed propositions. It occurs only here in the New Testament. Marcion, a second-century teacher, later wrote a work called Antitheses that set Old Testament against New. The connection is discussed under debates.
Where it appears
1 Timothy · 1
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1 Timothy 6:20 ἀντιθέσεις opposing arguments
O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called “knowledge,”
Here: Opposing statements or contradictions: arguments set up against the sound teaching, possibly the trading of clever debating points.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.