χειροτονέω

From the study of 2 Corinthians 8:19

Range of meaning

Literally 'to stretch out the hand'. In classical Athens it was the technical term for voting by show of hands in the citizen assembly. In the Hellenistic and Roman periods it widened to 'elect' and then simply 'appoint, designate', sometimes with no vote involved, as when a ruler appoints an official.

Against the English

BSB/KJV 'chosen', WEB/ESV/NASB 'appointed', YLT 'appointed by vote'. YLT best keeps the voting picture. 'Appointed' alone can suggest a decision from above, when here it is the churches who act.

How it drifted

In later church Greek the word became a standard term for ordaining clergy, which was done by laying on of hands. The verb was then confused with χειροθεσία, 'laying on of hands'. Readers can wrongly hear 'ordained' here. Nothing in this verse is about ordination. A congregation is choosing a trustworthy delegate to escort money.

Used elsewhere in the period

Classical: voting in the Athenian assembly (e.g., Demosthenes, Aeschines). Josephus uses it for appointment to office (e.g., Ant. 13.45, Jonathan appointed high priest). NT elsewhere only Acts 14:23 (Paul and Barnabas 'appointed' elders). Didache 15:1: 'elect (χειροτονήσατε) for yourselves overseers and deacons'. Ignatius (Philadelphians 10:1; Smyrnaeans 11:2; to Polycarp 7:2) urges churches to 'elect' a delegate to send to the church in Antioch. That is a close parallel: congregations choosing envoys for travel between churches.

From the study of Acts 14:23

Range of meaning

Literally "to stretch out the hand". In classical Athens it was the standard verb for voting by a show of hands in the citizen assembly (which was itself called the ekklēsia). From there it widened to "elect". By the Hellenistic and Roman periods it often meant just "appoint, designate, install", even where nobody voted. Kings, officials and God are all said to cheirotonein someone.

Against the English

KJV "ordained". Most modern versions (NIV, ESV, NASB, BSB, WEB) have "appointed". YLT has "appointed … by vote", which brings the old voting sense back into the text. "Ordained" suggests a formal church rite with laying on of hands. "By vote" suggests a congregational election. Neither is required by the word as used in the first century.

How it drifted

In later church Greek, cheirotonia became the technical term for ordaining clergy, done with the laying on of hands. That later meaning and the English "ordain" were read back into this verse. Separately, appeals to the word's root sense ("raise the hand to vote") ignore how much the word had widened by Luke's day.

Used elsewhere in the period

Classical: the normal word for Athenian assembly votes. Josephus uses it of God appointing Saul as king (Antiquities, book 6). Philo uses it of Joseph being installed as Pharaoh's deputy (On Joseph) and of God appointing rulers. Luke himself, in Acts 10:41, speaks of witnesses "chosen beforehand (prokecheirotonēmenois) by God", where a vote is out of the question. In 2 Corinthians 8:19 a brother is "appointed by the churches", which may involve congregational choice. Didache 15:1 (late 1st or early 2nd century) tells congregations to "appoint for yourselves bishops and deacons" using this verb.