Brief Overview of ἀποκατάστασις (G605: Apokatastasis)

1. Brief Overview:

Transliteration: Apokatastasis

Root Words: Derived from ἀπό (apo), meaning “from” or “away from,” and κατάστασις (katastasis), meaning “a setting up” or “a state.” Thus, ἀποκατάστασις conveys the idea of “restoration” or “reestablishment,” emphasizing the act of returning to a previous state or condition.

Primary Meanings:

• The act of restoring or reestablishing something to its former state or condition.
• Restoration or return to a prior state, often used in theological contexts to refer to the restoration of all things.
• In Christian theology, it refers to the ultimate restoration or renewal of the universe and humanity.

2. Detailed Description:

BDAG (Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich): BDAG defines ἀποκατάστασις as “restoration” or “reestablishment.” It emphasizes the concept of returning to a previous state, particularly in theological contexts where it denotes the ultimate restoration of all things in the eschatological sense.

Thayer’s: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon describes ἀποκατάστασις as “restoration” or “restitution.” It highlights the term’s use in referring to the restoration of the universe or humanity to its original or intended state.

Vines: According to Vines’ Expository Dictionary, ἀποκατάστασις means “restoration” or “reestablishment,” especially in the context of the ultimate restoration of all things. It conveys the idea of returning to a prior, ideal state.

LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones): LSJ defines ἀποκατάστασις as “restoration” or “returning to a former state.” It notes its use in classical Greek to describe the process of reestablishing conditions or states.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Strong’s defines ἀποκατάστασις as “restoration” or “reestablishment,” focusing on the idea of returning to a previous or ideal state.

3. Usage in Classic Greek Literature:

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Plato (Timaeus, 4th century BCE): Plato uses related terms to discuss the idea of restoring or reestablishing cosmic order or states of being, reflecting the concept of restoration.

Aristotle (Metaphysics, 4th century BCE): Aristotle explores themes of restoration and the return to a prior state in his philosophical discussions, illustrating the application of similar ideas.

Diodorus Siculus (Library of History, 1st century BCE): Diodorus employs terms related to restoration to describe the return to former conditions or states in historical contexts.

4. Summary:

The Greek word ἀποκατάστασις (Apokatastasis) means “restoration” or “reestablishment.” It conveys the idea of returning to a previous or ideal state, whether in a physical, historical, or theological context. In classical Greek literature, it is used to describe the process of restoring or reestablishing conditions. In Christian theology, it refers to the ultimate restoration of all things, highlighting the concept of renewing or returning to a prior state of harmony or order.