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Has anyone ever told you: יהוה (Yahweh) God loves you and has a great plan for your life?
Has anyone ever told you: יהוה (Yahweh) God loves you and has a great plan for your life?
Pronunciation Guide: eye-tee’-ah-mah
Strong’s G157: A legal charge or accusation, specifically referring to a formal complaint or criminal allegation brought against someone in a court proceeding. This technical legal term describes an official indictment or accusation that requires substantiation through evidence and testimony. The word carries connotations of gravity and formality in judicial contexts.
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αἰτίαμα Morphology:
The word αἰτίαμα emerges from classical Greek legal vocabulary, where it functioned as a technical term in judicial proceedings. Its root αἰτία was extensively used in Greek philosophical writings, particularly by Aristotle in his discussions of causation and responsibility.
The development of this term reflects the sophisticated legal system of ancient Greece, where formal accusations required specific procedural elements. The word appears in various Greek legal papyri from the Ptolemaic and Roman periods, demonstrating its established role in Hellenistic jurisprudence.
αἰτίαμα Translation Options:
In the New Testament, αἰτίαμα appears exclusively in Acts 25:7, where it describes the serious charges brought against Paul by his Jewish accusers before Festus. The singularity of its usage underscores its technical nature and specific application to formal legal proceedings.
This usage occurs at a crucial moment in Paul’s legal trials, reflecting the intersection of Jewish religious concerns and Roman judicial procedure. The term’s precision helps readers understand the formal nature of the accusations against Paul and the legal gravity of his situation.
The use of αἰτίαμα reflects the sophisticated legal system of the Roman Empire, where formal accusations followed specific protocols. In Roman courts, charges needed to be presented in a structured manner, with accusers bearing responsibility for proving their allegations. This procedural requirement explains why Luke specifically notes that Paul’s accusers “could not prove” their charges.
This technical term would have resonated with Roman readers familiar with legal proceedings, while also conveying to Jewish readers the seriousness of the situation within their own legal framework, where false accusations were considered a grave sin.
The precise use of αἰτίαμα in Acts carries profound theological implications. Just as Jesus faced false accusations during His trial, Paul’s experience mirrors his Master’s suffering, demonstrating how legal persecution often accompanied faithful gospel ministry. The inability of Paul’s accusers to prove their charges highlights God’s sovereignty in protecting His servants and the ultimate triumph of truth over false accusations.
This word reminds us that God is the ultimate Judge, and human legal systems, while important, are subordinate to Divine justice. The fact that Paul’s accusers brought formal charges but couldn’t prove them reveals how human justice systems can be manipulated, yet God’s justice prevails.
When facing accusations or criticism in our own lives, we can draw comfort from understanding how God protected His servants like Paul from false αἰτιάματα. This reminds us to trust in God’s justice rather than human systems and to maintain our integrity even when facing serious allegations.
In our modern context, this word challenges us to be truthful in our accusations and careful in our judgments of others, remembering that we serve a God who sees all evidence and judges righteously.
αἰτίαμα stands as a powerful reminder that while human justice systems may bring false charges, God’s perfect justice ultimately prevails through His sovereign purposes.
Note: While this entry strives for accuracy, readers engaged in critical research should verify citations and keyword occurrences in their Bible translation of choice. For Biblical citations, the F.O.G Bible project recommends Logos Bible software.
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