Brief Overview of παραμένω (Strong’s G3887: paramenō)
This Greek verb means “to remain beside” or “to continue with,” expressing the concept of staying near or abiding with someone or something. In the New Testament, it appears in contexts of both physical presence and spiritual faithfulness.
U – Unveiling the Word
παραμένω combines παρά (beside) with μένω (to remain/abide), creating a term that emphasizes faithful continuance or persistent presence. Its theological significance lies in expressing both physical and spiritual perseverance, particularly in ministry contexts. Today, it remains relevant in discussions of spiritual commitment, pastoral care, and faithful service.
N – Necessary Information
- Greek Word: παραμένω, paramenō, /par-a-MEN-oh/
- Etymology: From παρά (para, “beside”) + μένω (menō, “to remain”)
- Part of Speech: Verb
D – Defining Meanings
Primary meaning: To remain beside, to continue with
Secondary meaning: To persevere, to stay faithful
Extended meaning: To abide permanently, to endure
E – Exploring Similar Words
- διαμένω (diamenō): Emphasizes continuous duration
- ἐπιμένω (epimenō): Stresses persistence or remaining upon
- καταμένω (katamenō): Indicates settling down or remaining fixed
R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology
As a verb, παραμένω exhibits:
- Tense: Present, Future, Aorist
- Voice: Active
- Mood: Indicative, Subjunctive, Participle
- Person: First, Second, Third
- Number: Singular, Plural
Example conjugations:
- Present: παραμένω (I remain)
- Future: παραμενῶ (I will remain)
- Aorist: παρέμεινα (I remained)
S – Studying Lexicon Insights
BDAG emphasizes its use in contexts of faithful service. Thayer’s notes both literal and metaphorical applications. LSJ provides examples of loyalty in classical literature. Vine’s connects it to Christian perseverance. Moulton and Milligan cite papyri showing usage in business relationships.
T – Tracing the Scriptures
First appearance: 1 Corinthians 16:6
“Perhaps I will stay [παραμενῶ] with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go.”
A – Analyzing Classical Usage
| Author | Work | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Xenophon | Memorabilia | “He remained faithful [παραμένω] to his principles” |
| Plato | Republic | “The guardians who remain [παραμένουσι] at their posts” |
| Thucydides | History | “The allies who stayed [παρέμειναν] loyal to Athens” |
N – Noteworthy Summary
παραμένω represents faithful continuance and persistent presence, expressing both physical staying and spiritual faithfulness in various contexts.
D – Did You Know?
- The term was commonly used in ancient service contracts
- It appears in early Christian letters discussing pastoral commitment
- The word influenced early monastic vocabulary about stability
Strong’s G3887: παραμένω – A verb expressing faithful continuance and persistent presence, combining physical staying with spiritual faithfulness. Used in NT for both literal remaining and metaphorical faithfulness. Important in early Christian discussions of pastoral care and spiritual commitment.
Part of Speech: Verb
Tags: #Faithfulness #PastoralCare #Perseverance #ChristianService #PaulineVocabulary #SpiritualCommitment #ChurchLife
Note: While this entry strives for accuracy, readers engaged in critical research should verify citations independently.
Note: While this entry strives for accuracy, readers engaged in critical research should verify citations and keyword occurrences in their Bible translation of choice. For Biblical citations, the F.O.G Bible project recommends Logos Bible software.
