Brief Overview of προκοπή (Strong’s G4297: prokopē)

Strong’s G4297: A compound noun derived from “pro” (forward) and “koptō” (to cut), literally meaning “a cutting forward,” metaphorically referring to progress or advancement. In biblical context, it signifies spiritual and practical progress, particularly in relation to the advancement of the gospel and personal spiritual growth.

U- Unveiling the Word

Προκοπή carries the vivid imagery of forward movement through obstacle removal, like pioneers cutting through forest to make progress. In the New Testament, it appears in contexts of both personal spiritual development and the advancement of the gospel message. Paul uses it in Philippians 1:12 to describe how his imprisonment actually served to advance the gospel, and in 1 Timothy 4:15 regarding spiritual progress. The early church understood this term as emphasizing the unstoppable nature of God’s work despite obstacles. Today, it reminds us that spiritual growth and gospel advancement often come through challenging circumstances.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: προκοπή, prokopē, pro-ko-PAY
• Pronunciation Guide: pro (as in “pro-fessional”) + ko (as in “cope”) + PAY (as in “pay”)
• Part of Speech: Noun

Etymology:

• πρό (pro-) – prefix meaning “forward”
• κοπή (kopē) – from κόπτω (koptō), meaning “to cut”
• -η (-ē) – feminine noun ending

D – Defining Meanings

• Progress or advancement
• Forward movement
• Improvement or growth

For compound words:
The prefix πρό (pro-) adds the directional sense of “forward,” while κοπή (kopē) provides the image of cutting or clearing, creating the metaphor of making progress by removing obstacles.

Translation Options:

• “progress” – emphasizes the forward movement
• “advancement” – highlights the improvement aspect
• “furtherance” – stresses the ongoing nature of development

E – Exploring Similar Words

• προκόπτω (prokoptō, pro-KOP-tō) – See G4298: the verbal form meaning “to advance”
• αὔξησις (auxēsis, OW-xay-sis) – See G838: emphasizes growth rather than forward progress
• προάγω (proagō, pro-A-gō) – See G4254: focuses on leading forward

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a noun, προκοπή exhibits:

• Case: Nominative/Accusative/Dative/Genitive
• Number: Singular/Plural
• Gender: Feminine
• Declension: First

The morphological features affect usage:

• Nominative: ἡ προκοπή (subject)
• Accusative: τὴν προκοπήν (direct object)
• Genitive: τῆς προκοπῆς (possession)
• Dative: τῇ προκοπῇ (indirect object)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes the word’s development from literal pioneering to metaphorical progress. Thayer’s highlights its use in both spiritual and practical contexts. LSJ notes its frequent use in Hellenistic Greek for advancement in various fields. Vine’s connects it to spiritual growth and gospel advancement. Strong’s emphasizes the forward movement implied in the compound structure. Moulton and Milligan cite examples from papyri showing its use in professional and personal advancement.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:
Philippians 1:12: “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance [προκοπὴν] the gospel.”

Additional References:
1 Timothy 4:15

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Προκοπή beautifully captures the unstoppable nature of God’s work in both individual lives and the spread of the gospel. This word proclaims the good news by showing that even apparent obstacles become opportunities for advancement in God’s kingdom. It reminds us that Christ’s work continues to progress despite—and often through—challenges, just as Paul’s imprisonment served to advance the gospel.

D – Did You Know?

• Προκοπή originally described pioneers cutting through forest to make paths
• The word became a technical term in Stoic philosophy for moral progress
• In early Christian literature, it became associated with both individual spiritual growth and church expansion

Strong’s G4297: A compound noun literally meaning “a cutting forward,” metaphorically signifying progress or advancement. Used in the New Testament to describe both the advancement of the gospel and personal spiritual growth, often emphasizing progress through obstacles.

Part of speech: Noun

Tags: progress, advancement, growth, spiritual-development, gospel-advancement, obstacles, opportunity, philippians, timothy, ministry, evangelism, perseverance​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​