Brief Overview of Βλασφημία (G988: Blasphemia)

1. Overview

Βλασφημία (Blasphemia, pronounced blas-fay-MEE-ah) is a Greek noun that broadly refers to “blasphemy,” “slander,” or “defamation.” The term is derived from the verb blasphemeō (G987), which means “to speak evil of” or “to slander.” The root of the word combines blaptō (meaning “to harm”) with phēmē (meaning “speech” or “report”), thus giving blasphemia the connotation of harmful speech, especially speech that is directed against the divine or sacred. In both religious and secular contexts, blasphemia can refer to the act of speaking in a way that shows contempt, disrespect, or irreverence toward something highly revered or holy, particularly in relation to God.

2. Detailed Description

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In BDAG (Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich), blasphemia is defined as “speech that denigrates or defames, reviling, denigration, disrespect, slander.” The lexicon emphasizes that this term is often used in a religious context to denote speech that is considered irreverent or disrespectful toward God, the divine, or sacred entities. BDAG notes that blasphemia can also refer to slanderous speech against people, but its most serious implications are in the religious sphere, where it is seen as an affront to the sacred.

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon provides a similar definition, focusing on blasphemia as “slander, detraction, speech injurious to another’s good name,” especially when that “good name” belongs to a deity or sacred figure. Thayer’s underscores the weight of blasphemia in the New Testament, where it often carries the connotation of an offense against God or the Holy Spirit, making it a grave sin in Christian theology.

Vine’s Expository Dictionary highlights that blasphemia is not just limited to direct insults but can also include any form of disrespectful or injurious speech that diminishes the esteem of the person or object being spoken about. Vine’s notes that in the New Testament, blasphemia frequently refers to accusations against Jesus or the apostles, as well as warnings about the consequences of blaspheming the Holy Spirit (e.g., Mark 3:29).

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance lists blasphemia under G988, defining it as “vilification (especially against God): blasphemy, evil speaking, railing.” Strong’s points out that the term is used in the New Testament to describe acts of speaking against God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit, as well as against sacred things, such as the Law or the Temple. For example, blasphemia is used in passages like Matthew 12:31, where Jesus speaks about the unforgivable sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit, and in Colossians 3:8, where Paul urges believers to rid themselves of blasphemy as part of their new life in Christ.

3. Usage in Classical Greek Literature

In classical Greek literature, blasphemia is used in various contexts, often with a focus on slander or harmful speech. Here are three examples:

1. Herodotus’ “Histories”: Herodotus uses blasphemia to describe speech that defames or dishonors individuals, particularly in the context of political or social disputes, showing how the term was used in both public and private spheres.
2. Plato’s “Apology”: In this dialogue, Plato uses blasphemia in discussions about the accusations against Socrates, particularly those that involve speaking irreverently about the gods, illustrating the term’s significance in legal and philosophical contexts.
3. Euripides’ “Hippolytus”: Euripides employs blasphemia in a dramatic context to convey the idea of speaking against divine or sacred figures, highlighting the tragic consequences of such speech in Greek tragedy.

These examples demonstrate the wide-ranging application of blasphemia in classical literature, where it was used to describe slanderous or irreverent speech in both secular and religious contexts.

4. Summary

Βλασφημία (Blasphemia) is a Greek noun that refers to “blasphemy,” “slander,” or “defamation.” It derives from the verb blasphemeō, meaning “to speak evil of” or “to slander,” and carries the connotation of harmful speech, particularly when directed against the divine or sacred. Lexicons such as BDAG, Thayer’s, Vine’s, and Strong’s emphasize the word’s significance in both religious and secular contexts, where it is used to describe speech that dishonors or defames God, sacred figures, or holy things. In classical Greek literature, blasphemia is used in a variety of contexts, from legal accusations to tragic consequences, illustrating the serious implications of slanderous or irreverent speech. In the New Testament, blasphemia frequently appears in discussions about the consequences of speaking against God or the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the term’s enduring significance in religious discourse.