Pronunciation Guide: ah-nah-bo-LAY

Basic Definition

Strong’s G311: ἀναβολή represents a deliberate postponement or delay, specifically referring to the act of putting something off for a strategic purpose. This word conveys the idea of a calculated deferment rather than mere procrastination. In biblical usage, it often carries implications of divine timing and purposeful waiting.

Etymology and Morphology

• Noun (feminine)
• Compound word from ἀνά (up, again) + βάλλω (to throw, cast)
• Primary usage in narrative and legal contexts
• Common in Hellenistic administrative and legal documents

ἀναβολή Morphology:

• ἀναβολή (nominative singular) – a delay, postponement
• ἀναβολῆς (genitive singular) – of a delay
• ἀναβολῇ (dative singular) – in/with a delay
• ἀναβολήν (accusative singular) – the delay (direct object)

Origin & History

The term ἀναβολή emerged from classical Greek administration and legal proceedings, where it described formal postponements of trials or official proceedings. Thucydides employs it in his “History of the Peloponnesian War” when discussing military strategy and delayed engagements. The term appears in Plutarch’s works regarding political timing and strategic delays.

In Hellenistic papyri, ἀναβολή frequently appears in legal contexts, particularly in documents relating to court proceedings and administrative delays. The Septuagint employs this term sparingly, primarily in contexts involving administrative or legal postponements.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• A formal or legal postponement
• Strategic delay for a specific purpose
• Deferment with intent
• Administrative suspension of proceedings

ἀναβολή Translation Options:

• “Delay” – Most common translation, emphasizing the temporal aspect
• “Postponement” – Preferred when highlighting formal or legal contexts
• “Deferment” – Used when emphasizing the strategic nature of the delay
• “Adjournment” – Specific to legal or administrative contexts

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, ἀναβολή appears only once, in Acts 25:17, where it describes Festus’s handling of Paul’s case. The context emphasizes efficient administration of justice, with Festus highlighting his prompt attention to the case by stating he made “no delay.” This usage reflects the term’s technical legal meaning while also serving to characterize Festus’s administrative style.

The word’s singular appearance is significant, as it demonstrates the precise technical vocabulary Luke employs in Acts, particularly in legal contexts. While the word appears only once, its usage is precise and contextually rich.

• “Therefore, when they had come together, without any delay [ἀναβολή] on the next day I took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought forward.” Acts 25:17

Cultural Insights

In the Roman legal system, delays (ἀναβολή) were both common and strategically important. Governors like Festus had to balance various interests: Roman justice, local politics, and practical considerations. The ability to grant or deny delays was a significant aspect of Roman judicial power, often used to demonstrate either favor or disfavor toward the accused.

The term carried particular weight in provincial administration, where governors needed to demonstrate both efficiency and fairness in their handling of cases. Festus’s emphasis on avoiding delay would have resonated with both Roman and Jewish audiences, as swift justice was valued in both cultures.

Theological Significance

The strategic use of ἀναβολή in Acts reveals God’s sovereignty over human timing and legal proceedings. While human authorities might grant or deny delays, ultimately God’s timing prevails. This is particularly evident in Paul’s case, where various delays and non-delays worked together to fulfill God’s purpose of bringing the Gospel to Rome.

The concept also reflects the broader biblical theme of divine timing – that God neither hurries nor delays but acts precisely according to His perfect will. This understanding challenges our human tendency to view delays merely as obstacles rather than potential instruments of divine purpose.

Personal Application

Understanding ἀναβολή invites us to reconsider our perspective on delays in our own lives. When faced with postponements or waiting periods, we can ask whether these might be strategic delays in God’s timing rather than mere obstacles. This shifts our focus from frustration with delays to anticipation of God’s purpose being revealed through them.

Related Words

• χρονοτριβέω (chronotribeō) – to spend time, delay – Similar in referring to the passage of time but lacks the strategic element (See G5551)
• βραδύνω (bradynō) – to delay, be slow – Emphasizes slowness rather than strategic postponement (See G1019)
• μέλλω (mellō) – to be about to, delay – Focuses on future intention rather than current postponement (See G3195)

Did you Know?

• In ancient Greek medical texts, ἀναβολή was sometimes used to describe the strategic delay of treatments to achieve better healing outcomes, showing how the concept of beneficial delay was understood across various fields.
• The word ἀναβολή shares its root with the modern term “anabolic” (as in anabolic steroids), though the modern usage focuses on the “building up” aspect of the ἀνά prefix rather than delay.
• In Byzantine legal documents, ἀναβολή became a technical term for specific types of court postponements, each with its own procedural requirements and time limits.

Remember This

ἀναβολή teaches us that what appears as delay in human timing may be precisely on schedule in God’s divine calendar.