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Unveiling the Word

In biblical studies, the Greek word μόλις (molis), often translated as “barely” or “with difficulty,” plays a critical role in understanding certain nuances in New Testament passages. Understanding this adverb offers deeper insight into the intensity or struggle expressed in key biblical verses. An example is found in Acts 14:18, where molis is used to describe how Paul and Barnabas barely restrained the people from offering sacrifices to them. This word captures not just a moment of tension but the effort and difficulty involved, making it significant in interpreting New Testament narratives.

Necessary Information

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Greek Word: μόλις (molis), pronounced MOH-lis.

Etymology: Derived from an unknown root, molis is an adverb used to express difficulty or effort. It conveys a sense of something being accomplished only with great effort or barely happening.

Part of Speech: μόλις is an adverb, a part of speech used to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, giving further detail about the manner in which an action is performed. In this case, it expresses the difficulty or near impossibility of an action.

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Defining Meanings

1. With Difficulty: The most common use of molis is to denote that something happens only after significant effort or challenge. It conveys that an event is barely achieved or narrowly avoided.

2. Barely or Scarcely: Another key meaning of molis is to imply a narrow margin by which something occurs. In Acts 14:18, it suggests that Paul and Barnabas “barely” stopped the people from offering sacrifices to them, emphasizing the close call.

3. Hardly: The word can also mean “hardly” or “with great struggle,” highlighting the effort needed in difficult circumstances.

Exploring Similar Words

1. δυσκόλως (dyskolōs) [pronounced dys-KOH-lohs]: This word also means “with difficulty” but can imply something that is not only hard to achieve but also unpleasant or troublesome. It differs from molis in that dyskolōs often adds a tone of discomfort or irritation.

2. σπανίως (spaniōs) [pronounced spa-NEE-ohs]: Translated as “rarely,” this word conveys infrequency rather than difficulty. While molis stresses the challenge in achieving something, spaniōs simply refers to how seldom something happens.

3. μόγος (mogos) [pronounced MOH-gos]: This noun means “toil” or “labor,” emphasizing the hard work involved in an action. While molis is more about the difficulty of completion, mogos focuses on the effort exerted.

Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Since molis is an adverb, it does not undergo declension like nouns or adjectives. Instead, it remains unchanged in form and is used to modify the meaning of verbs or adjectives, indicating the manner or degree of an action. In the context of Acts 14:18, it modifies the verb “restrained,” showing the difficulty Paul and Barnabas had in stopping the crowds from sacrificing to them.

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Studying Lexicon Insights

Lexical sources consistently describe μόλις (molis) as an adverb of difficulty. In Thayer’s lexicon, it is defined as “with difficulty, hardly, scarcely,” emphasizing its use to indicate something only just happening. BDAG expands on this by noting its use in the New Testament to describe instances where an event barely comes to pass, often through struggle. In classical Greek, molis was similarly employed to describe events that occurred after great difficulty, whether physically, emotionally, or socially.

This overview synthesizes insights from BDAG, Thayer’s, LSJ, Vine’s, Strong’s, LEH, and Moulton and Milligan.

Tracing Related Scriptures

1. Acts 14:18 – “And even with these words, they [molis] barely restrained the people from sacrificing to them.”

2. 1 Peter 4:18 – “And if the righteous [molis] are scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

3. Acts 27:7 – “And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarcely [molis] were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone.”

Analyzing Classical Usage

Author Name of Work English Text with Greek Word

Plato Laws “He had barely (μόλις) escaped from the disaster.”

Xenophon Anabasis “The soldiers could hardly (μόλις) make their way through the snow.”

Herodotus Histories “They barely (μόλις) survived the harsh winter.”

Noteworthy Summary

The Greek adverb μόλις (molis) plays a significant role in emphasizing difficulty or effort. It captures the sense of something being barely accomplished or narrowly avoided, making it a crucial word in contexts where the challenge of an action needs to be highlighted. Its use in the New Testament, particularly in Acts 14:18, reflects moments of tension and close calls, adding depth to the narrative. Understanding molis helps readers grasp the gravity of certain situations, whether physical challenges, spiritual struggles, or close escapes.

Did You Know?

1. The word molis can be found in both classical and New Testament Greek, often used in dramatic moments to emphasize the difficulty of a situation.

2. In 1 Peter 4:18, the word molis is used to describe how the righteous are “scarcely saved,” underscoring the narrow margin by which salvation is achieved.

3. Ancient Greek writers such as Plato and Herodotus frequently used molis in contexts of survival, battle, and endurance, making it a powerful word in both literature and Scripture.