Brief Overview of προμαρτύρομαι (Strong’s G4303: promaryromai)

Strong’s G4303: A compound verb combining “pro” (beforehand) and “martyromai” (to witness/testify), meaning to testify beforehand or bear witness in advance. In biblical context, it specifically refers to the Spirit’s advance testimony through the prophets concerning Christ’s sufferings and glory.

U- Unveiling the Word

Προμαρτύρομαι uniquely captures the concept of prophetic testimony, particularly regarding Christ’s redemptive work. As a compound word, it combines anticipatory action with authoritative witness-bearing. In 1 Peter 1:11, it describes the Spirit’s role in predicting Christ’s sufferings and subsequent glories through the prophets. The early church recognized this term as vital for understanding the unity of divine revelation across both testaments. Today, it continues to affirm the Spirit’s role in prophetic testimony and the coherent nature of God’s redemptive plan.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: προμαρτύρομαι, promaryromai, pro-mar-TU-ro-mai
• Pronunciation Guide: pro (as in “pro-fessional”) + mar (as in “mar”) + TU (as in “too”) + ro (as in “row”) + mai (as in “my”)
• Part of Speech: Verb

Etymology:

• πρό (pro-) – prefix meaning “before, beforehand”
• μαρτύρομαι (martyromai) – root verb meaning “to witness, testify”
• -μαι (-mai) – middle voice ending

D – Defining Meanings

• To testify beforehand
• To bear witness in advance
• To predict with divine authority

For compound words:
The prefix πρό (pro-) adds the temporal aspect of “beforehand,” while μαρτύρομαι (martyromai) provides the sense of authoritative testimony or witness.

Translation Options:

• “to testify beforehand” – emphasizes the prophetic aspect
• “to witness in advance” – highlights the anticipatory nature
• “to foretell as a witness” – stresses the authoritative declaration

E – Exploring Similar Words

• μαρτυρέω (martyreō, mar-tu-RE-ō) – See G3140: basic form meaning “to witness”
• προφητεύω (prophēteuō, pro-fay-TEU-ō) – See G4395: emphasizes prophetic prediction
• διαμαρτύρομαι (diamartyromai, dee-a-mar-TU-ro-mai) – See G1263: emphasizes solemn testimony

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a deponent verb, προμαρτύρομαι exhibits:

• Tense: Present/Imperfect
• Voice: Middle (with active meaning)
• Mood: Indicative/Participle
• Person: Third
• Number: Singular
• Aspect: Progressive

The deponent nature means:

• Present: “I testify beforehand”
• Participle: “testifying beforehand”
• Imperfect: “was testifying beforehand”

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes the word’s unique usage in prophetic contexts. Thayer’s highlights its connection to Spirit-inspired testimony. LSJ notes its rare usage in classical Greek. Vine’s connects it specifically to Messianic prophecy. Strong’s emphasizes the compound nature suggesting anticipatory witness. Moulton and Milligan note its specialized religious usage.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:
1 Peter 1:11: “searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand [προμαρτυρόμενον] the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.”

Additional References:
As a hapax legomenon, προμαρτύρομαι appears only once in the New Testament.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Προμαρτύρομαι beautifully captures the Spirit’s role in revealing Christ throughout Scripture. This word proclaims the good news by showing how God’s Spirit testified in advance about Jesus’s sufferings and glory, demonstrating that the gospel was always God’s plan. It reminds us that all Scripture points to Christ and that the Spirit has always been active in revealing God’s redemptive purpose.

D – Did You Know?

• Προμαρτύρομαι is a hapax legomenon in the New Testament
• The word combines legal testimony with prophetic prediction
• Early church fathers used it to discuss the unity of Old and New Testament prophecy

Strong’s G4303: A compound verb meaning to testify beforehand, specifically used of the Holy Spirit’s advance testimony through the prophets regarding Christ’s sufferings and subsequent glory, emphasizing the divine origin and unity of biblical prophecy.

Part of speech: Verb (Deponent)

Tags: prophecy, testimony, witness, holy-spirit, christ’s-suffering, glory, peter, messianic-prophecy, divine-revelation, old-testament, prophets, redemption​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​