Brief Overview of προελπίζω (Strong’s G4276: proelpizō)

Strong’s G4276: From pro (before) and elpizō (to hope), προελπίζω means to hope before or first, to exercise hope in advance. In biblical context, it specifically refers to those who first trusted in Christ, emphasizing the priority and precedence of hope in salvation history.

U- Unveiling the Word

Προελπίζω represents a unique theological concept combining anticipatory hope with temporal priority. As a compound word, it joins προ (before/first) with ἐλπίζω (to hope), creating a term that speaks to both the timing and nature of Christian hope. In Ephesians 1:12, it describes those who first hoped in Christ, likely referring to Jewish believers who anticipated the Messiah before His coming. Early church fathers used this term to discuss the relationship between Old Testament prophecy and New Testament fulfillment. Today, it continues to illuminate our understanding of how hope in Christ bridges both dispensations and unites believers across time.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: προελπίζω, proelpizō, /pro-el-pi’zō/
• Detailed pronunciation: pro (as in “professional”) + el (as in “elephant”) + pi (as in “pizza”) + zō (as in “zone”)
• Part of Speech: Verb

Etymology:

• προ- (pro-): prefix meaning “before” or “first”
• ἐλπίζω (elpizō): root verb meaning “to hope”
• -ω (-ō): primary verb ending

D – Defining Meanings

• To hope before
• To exercise hope in advance
• To be the first to hope
• To anticipate with hope

For compound words:
The prefix προ- adds both temporal priority (“before”) and precedence (“first”) to the root verb ἐλπίζω (to hope), creating the concept of hoping before others or being among the first to place hope in something.

Translation Options:

• “to hope before” – emphasizes the temporal aspect
• “to first trust” – captures the precedence aspect
• “to hope in advance” – combines both temporal and anticipatory elements

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ἐλπίζω (elpizō) /el-pi’zō/ – to hope, without the element of precedence
• προσδοκάω (prosdokaō) /pros-do-ka’ō/ – to expect or wait for, emphasizing anticipation
• ἀπεκδέχομαι (apekdechomai) /ap-ek-de’cho-mai/ – to await eagerly, emphasizing patient waiting

See G4276

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a verb, προελπίζω demonstrates these features:

• Tense: Present, Aorist, Perfect
• Voice: Active
• Mood: Indicative, Subjunctive, Optative, Imperative
• Person: First, Second, Third
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Aspect: Imperfective (Present), Perfective (Aorist), Stative (Perfect)

Examples in English:

• I hope beforehand
• You hope beforehand
• He/She/It hopes beforehand
• We hope beforehand
• You (plural) hope beforehand
• They hope beforehand

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its unique usage in Ephesians regarding those who first trusted in Christ. Thayer’s connects it to messianic expectation. LSJ notes its rare occurrence in classical Greek. Vine’s highlights its significance in salvation history. Strong’s emphasizes its compound nature. LEH discusses its usage in Jewish anticipation of the Messiah. Moulton and Milligan note its rarity in non-biblical Greek literature.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:

So that we who were the first to [προελπίζω] hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:12

Additional References:
This is the only occurrence in the New Testament.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Προελπίζω beautifully captures the continuity of God’s redemptive plan across time. It reminds us that hope in Christ didn’t begin with His incarnation but was alive in the hearts of faithful believers long before. This proclaims the good news that Jesus is the fulfillment of all hopes and promises, bridging the gap between anticipation and realization, prophecy and fulfillment, making Him the focus of hope for all generations.

D – Did You Know?

1. This verb appears only once in the New Testament, making it a hapax legomenon.
2. Early Christian writers used it to describe Old Testament saints who hoped in Christ before His coming.
3. The concept helped early church fathers explain the unity of God’s plan across both testaments.

Strong’s G4276: From pro (before) and elpizō (to hope), προελπίζω means to hope before or first, to exercise hope in advance. In biblical context, it specifically refers to those who first trusted in Christ, emphasizing the priority and precedence of hope in salvation history.

Part of speech: Verb

Tags: hope, anticipation, first believers, messianic expectation, compound verb, Jewish believers, salvation history, prophecy, fulfillment, trust​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​