The Greek word ἀντίχριστος (antichristos) is composed of the prefix ἀντί (anti), meaning “against” or “instead of,” and Χριστός (Christos), meaning “Christ.” Therefore, ἀντίχριστος translates to “antichrist,” which signifies “one who opposes Christ” or “one who places himself in the place of Christ.” This term is used in the New Testament to refer to individuals who oppose or falsely claim to be Christ.
Detailed Overview
- Strong’s Concordance: According to Strong’s Concordance, ἀντίχριστος (antichristos) means “antichrist” and is derived from ἀντί (anti), meaning “against,” and Χριστός (Christos), meaning “Christ.” It refers to those who are against Christ or who attempt to replace Christ.
- Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich (BDAG) Greek-English Lexicon: BDAG defines ἀντίχριστος as “one who opposes Christ” or “an adversary of Christ.” It emphasizes the role of the antichrist as a figure who stands in opposition to or pretends to be Christ, particularly focusing on the eschatological and theological significance of the term.
- Liddell-Scott-Jones (LSJ) Greek-English Lexicon: LSJ defines ἀντίχριστος similarly, noting its meaning as “one who is against Christ” or “a rival of Christ.” The lexicon highlights its usage in theological and eschatological contexts, referring to those who are opposed to or attempt to impersonate Christ.
- Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon: Thayer’s defines ἀντίχριστος as “an antichrist,” detailing its application to individuals or figures who oppose Christ or claim to be Christ. Thayer’s emphasizes its usage in relation to both direct opposition to Christ and false claims of being Christ.
In summary, ἀντίχριστος (antichristos) means “antichrist” and refers to someone who opposes or claims to replace Christ. Strong’s Concordance, BDAG, LSJ, and Thayer’s all describe its usage in the context of opposition to Christ and false claims to Christ’s role.
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