Brief Overview of πλουσίως (Strong’s G4146: plousiōs)
Strong’s G4146: An adverb meaning “richly” or “abundantly,” from πλούσιος (rich). In ancient Greek, it described lavish or generous action. In New Testament usage, it primarily describes God’s abundant provision of spiritual blessings and the rich indwelling of Christ’s word.
U- Unveiling the Word
πλουσίως expresses abundance and generosity in action, particularly regarding spiritual realities. In the New Testament, it appears in contexts describing God’s lavish grace and the abundant presence of Christ’s word in believers. Early church fathers emphasized this term when discussing the generous outpouring of divine blessings and spiritual truth. Today, it continues to express both the abundance of God’s provision and our response of generous living.
N – Necessary Information
- Greek Word: πλουσίως, plousiōs, /ploo-SEE-oce/
- Detailed pronunciation: ploo-SEE-oce (emphasis on second syllable)
- Part of Speech: Adverb
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Etymology:
- Root: πλουτ- (plout-) meaning “wealth”
- Stem: πλούσι- (plousi-) from πλούσιος, “rich”
- Suffix: -ως (-ōs) adverbial ending
D – Defining Meanings
- Richly
- Abundantly
- Generously
For compound words: Not a compound word, but formed from adjective with adverbial suffix
Translation Options:
- Richly – Emphasizes fullness
- Abundantly – Captures overflowing nature
- Generously – Highlights giving aspect
E – Exploring Similar Words
- περισσῶς (perissōs) /per-is-SOCE/ – abundantly, exceedingly
See G4057 - δαψιλῶς (dapsilōs) /dap-see-LOCE/ – bountifully
See G1432
R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology
Adverb Features:
- Indeclinable
- Derived from adjective πλούσιος
- Typical -ως ending for manner adverbs
- Modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs
- Cross-references to adjective πλούσιος and related terms
S – Studying Lexicon Insights
BDAG emphasizes its spiritual applications. Thayer’s notes its development from material to spiritual abundance. LSJ documents general usage patterns. Vine’s highlights its theological significance. Strong’s connects it to generous provision. LEH provides Septuagint context. Moulton and Milligan cite examples of generous giving.
T – Tracing the Scriptures
First appearance:
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16
Additional References:
1 Timothy 6:17, Titus 3:6
A – Analyzing Classical Usage
Author: Work | Text |
---|---|
Xenophon: Symposium | “He entertained his guests abundantly with the finest foods” |
Isocrates: Antidosis | “The city provided richly for public festivals” |
Plutarch: Moralia | “Nature has furnished us abundantly with resources” |
N – Noteworthy Summary
πλουσίως beautifully expresses both God’s generous provision and our proper response. It reminds us that God has richly blessed us in Christ and calls us to let His word dwell richly in us. This abundance shapes our worship, teaching, and giving to others.
D – Did You Know?
- The term was often used in inscriptions praising public benefactors.
- Early Christian liturgies used this word to describe divine grace.
- It influenced Christian vocabulary about spiritual abundance.
Strong’s G4146: An adverb describing rich or abundant action, particularly regarding spiritual blessings. In New Testament usage, it emphasizes both God’s generous provision and the abundant presence of Christ’s word in believers’ lives.
Part of speech: Adverb
Tags: abundance, generosity, spiritual blessing, God’s provision, Christ’s word, worship, Paul’s epistles, biblical Greek, spiritual richness, divine grace, indwelling word, spiritual abundance
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