ἁγιωσύνη – Pronunciation Guide: hag-ee-o-soo’-nay (emphasis on ‘soo’)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G42: Holiness, sanctification, moral purity. This feminine noun describes the state or process of being set apart for God’s purposes, emphasizing both the divine gift of holiness and its practical outworking in the believer’s life.

Word Study

• Part of Speech: Feminine Noun
• Root Origin: From ἅγιος (hagios), meaning holy or set apart
• Language Family: Koine Greek

Morphology:

• ἁγιωσύνη (nominative singular) – holiness
• ἁγιωσύνης (genitive singular) – of holiness
• ἁγιωσύνῃ (dative singular) – in/by holiness

Word Origin & History

The term ἁγιωσύνη emerges from the rich theological soil of the Old Testament concept of קָדוֹשׁ (qadosh), meaning “holy” or “set apart.” In classical Greek literature, this word family was primarily used in religious contexts to describe things consecrated to the gods, though it was less common than in biblical usage.

This particular form appears in the Septuagint as a translation for Hebrew terms related to holiness, showing its deep connection to Jewish understanding of divine consecration and moral purity.

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, ἁγιωσύνη appears only three times, but each occurrence carries profound theological weight. The word emphasizes both God’s inherent holiness and the transformative process He works in believers, making it distinct from related terms that focus solely on the act of consecration.

Key Passages:

• Romans 1:4 – “declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness”
• 2 Corinthians 7:1 – “perfecting holiness in the fear of God”
• 1 Thessalonians 3:13 – “establish your hearts blameless in holiness”

Cultural Insights

In the Greco-Roman world, holiness was primarily understood as ritual purity or separation from the profane. However, the biblical concept represented by ἁγιωσύνη transformed this understanding, presenting holiness as both a state of being and an active process of transformation that affects every aspect of life.

Theological Significance

ἁγιωσύνη represents the perfect fusion of positional and practical holiness. It points to the Messiah Jesus as the source of true holiness, while simultaneously calling believers to participate in the process of sanctification.

This term bridges the gap between God’s transcendent holiness and His immanent work in believers’ lives, showing that divine holiness is both a gift and a calling. It demonstrates that true holiness is not merely external conformity but internal transformation by the Holy Spirit.

Personal Application

Living in light of ἁγιωσύνη means embracing both our position as saints and our calling to progressive sanctification. This understanding should inspire us to pursue holiness not from fear or mere duty, but from a deep appreciation of our identity in the Messiah and the Spirit’s transforming work within us.

Related Words

• ἅγιος (hagios) – holy, set apart – See G40
• ἁγιασμός (hagiasmos) – sanctification – See G38
• ἁγιάζω (hagiazo) – to make holy, sanctify – See G37

Did you Know?

• ἁγιωσύνη is one of the few Greek words that appears more frequently in Christian literature than in classical Greek texts
• The concept influenced early Christian architecture, with church buildings designed to reflect progressive movement toward holiness
• Modern Greek still uses this word family in ecclesiastical contexts, preserving its sacred connotations

Remember This

ἁγιωσύνη reveals that true holiness is both a divine gift and a transformative journey, marking the path where God’s perfect nature meets our progressive sanctification.

Part of speech: Feminine Noun