Greek word · G536

ἀπαρχή

aparchē

firstfruits

ἀπαρχή means the first portion of a harvest, flock or dough, set apart and given to God. By extension it means the first instalment that guarantees the rest, or a portion consecrated to a god. ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς is a two-word phrase meaning "from the beginning".

Appears 9 times in 9 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀπ-αρχή, -ῆς, ἡ

(ἀπάρχομαι, to make a beginning in sacrifice, offer first fruits) [in LXX chiefly for תְּרוּמָה, רֵאשִׁית ;]

1. the beginning of a sacrifice.

2. first fruits: τοῦ φυράματος (cf. Numbers 15:20), Romans 11:16. Metaphorical, ἀ. τοῦ πνεύματος: Romans 8:23; of Christians: Romans 16:5, 1, 1 Corinthians 16:15, 2 Thessalonians 2:13 (WH, mg., R, mg., txt., ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς; see Lft., Notes, 119 f.), James 1:18, Revelation 14:4; of Christ: 1 Corinthians 15:20 15:23 (Cremer, 117; MM, VGT, see word).†

(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 2 Thessalonians 2:13

Range of meaning

ἀπαρχή means the first portion of a harvest, flock or dough, set apart and given to God. By extension it means the first instalment that guarantees the rest, or a portion consecrated to a god. ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς is a two-word phrase meaning "from the beginning". It can mean from creation or before time, or from the start of something more limited, such as the start of the gospel mission.

Against the English

KJV, NKJV, NASB, BSB, WEB and YLT read "from the beginning". NRSV, NIV (2011), ESV and CSB read "as firstfruits". NLT turns firstfruits into "among the first" to be saved. A reader of only one English version will not see that the Greek is uncertain at exactly this point.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament (LXX), ἀπαρχή is standard for the firstfruits owed to God (Exod 23:19; Lev 23:10; Num 18:12; Deut 26:2–10). Paul uses it about six times: Christ as firstfruits of the dead (1 Cor 15:20, 23), the Spirit as firstfruits (Rom 8:23), Epaenetus as "firstfruits of Asia" (Rom 16:5), Stephanas's household as "firstfruits of Achaia" (1 Cor 16:15). James 1:18 and Rev 14:4 call believers firstfruits. Paul never uses the phrase ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς anywhere else. For the beginning of God's plan he says things like "before the ages" (1 Cor 2:7) or "before the foundation of the world" (Eph 1:4).

From the study of Revelation 14:4

Range of meaning

The first portion of a harvest, flock, dough or other produce, set aside and given to God (Hebrew reshit, bikkurim, and sometimes terumah, 'contribution'). The firstfruits were holy and belonged to God. They meant both 'first in time' and 'the choice part.' In papyri the word can mean an offering, a tax, or even a birth certificate. Figuratively it means the first of more to come (1 Cor 15:20, Christ the firstfruits of the dead).

Against the English

'Firstfruits' is accurate but obscure today. A modern reader may hear only 'the first ones.' The weight in sacrificial terms, a holy offering handed over to God, gets lost.

Used elsewhere in the period

Exod 23:19; Lev 23:9–21; Deut 26:1–11; Num 18:12. Jer 2:3 (Hebrew): 'Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits (reshit) of his harvest.' Jas 1:18: 'a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.' 2 Thess 2:13 (one reading). Rom 16:5; 1 Cor 16:15 (first converts of a region).

From the study of 1 Corinthians 16:15

Range of meaning

The first part of a harvest, flock or income, set apart and offered to God. By extension it means the first part of something that guarantees and stands for the rest. It can also mean a gift or a donation.

Against the English

KJV, WEB and YLT keep the image ('firstfruits'). BSB, NIV and ESV have 'first converts', which is accurate but drops the picture of an offering and a coming harvest. NLT's 'first of the harvest of believers' gets back part of the image.

How it drifted

'Firstfruits' is an agricultural and temple word that modern readers don't use, so translators turn it into a plain statement of order ('first converts').

Used elsewhere in the period

The Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint) uses it often for the first produce given to God (Exod 23:19; Lev 23:10; Deut 26:2). Paul uses it for the risen Christ as the 'firstfruits' of those who will be raised (1 Cor 15:20, 23). He uses it for Epaenetus, 'firstfruits of Asia' (Rom 16:5), and for the Spirit as the 'firstfruits' of what is to come (Rom 8:23). In ordinary Greek usage and inscriptions it also means an offering to a god.

Where it appears

Romans · 3

  1. Romans 8:23 ἀπαρχὴν firstfruit

    Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

    Here: The first part of the harvest. It belongs to God and guarantees that the rest of the crop is coming. The Spirit believers have now is the first sheaf of the full harvest still to come.

  2. Romans 11:16 ἀπαρχὴ firstfruit

    If the first part of the dough is holy, so is the whole batch; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

    Here: The first portion taken from a batch and given to God. Here it means the portion of dough set aside under Numbers 15:20, not field produce. The part given stands for the whole and marks it as God's.

  3. Romans 16:5 ἀπαρχὴ a firstfruit

    Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my beloved Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.

1 Corinthians · 3

  1. 1 Corinthians 15:20 ἀπαρχὴ firstfruit

    But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

    Here: The first part of a harvest, given to God. It is the same crop as the rest and promises that the rest is coming. Christ's resurrection is the first sheaf of a harvest still to be gathered.

  2. 1 Corinthians 15:23 ἀπαρχὴ [the] firstfruit

    But each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits; then at His coming, those who belong to Him.

    Here: The first part of the harvest, offered to God as a pledge of the whole crop. Christ's resurrection is not only first in time; it is the first sheaf of the same harvest and guarantees the rest.

  3. 1 Corinthians 16:15 ἀπαρχὴ firstfruit

    You know that Stephanas and his household were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. Now I urge you, brothers,

    Here: A harvest and offering image. They were the first part of the province's 'harvest' of believers, given to God, and a promise that more would follow.

2 Thessalonians · 1

  1. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 ἀπαρχὴν from [the] beginning

    But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctification of the Spirit and by faith in the truth.

    Here: In the printed text, this means "[chose you] as firstfruits": the first part of a harvest, which was given to God and showed that more would follow. The alternative manuscript reading ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς means "from the beginning". The supplied contextual gloss follows that alternative, not the printed word.

James · 1

  1. James 1:18 ἀπαρχήν firstfruits

    He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.

    Here: The first part of a harvest or flock, set apart and given to God. That first part belonged to God, and it promised that the rest of the harvest was coming. The readers are cast as God's consecrated first portion.

Revelation · 1

  1. Revelation 14:4 ἀπαρχὴ [as] firstfruits

    These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they are virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They have been redeemed from among men as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.

    Here: Singular, describing the whole group: they are "a firstfruits offering." This was the first and best part of the harvest, handed over to God as holy and belonging to him.

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