Gospel Impact: σχεδόν (Strong’s G4975: schedon) Reveals Kingdom Growth
Strong’s G4975: An adverb indicating “nearly” or “almost,” σχεδόν appears in Acts to describe the widespread impact of Gospel preaching. It emphasizes the extensive reach of God’s Word and its power to draw large crowds to hear His truth.
U- Unveiling the Word
σχεδόν serves as a quantitative marker expressing nearness to completion or totality. In Acts, it describes the remarkable response to Paul’s preaching when “almost” the whole city gathered to hear God’s Word. The early church saw this word as evidence of the Gospel’s power to attract widespread attention and transform communities. Today, it reminds us of both the Gospel’s universal appeal and its capacity to draw people to the Messiah.
N – Necessary Information
- Greek Word: σχεδόν, schedon, /skhe-do’n/
- Pronunciation Guide: “skhe-DOHN” (stress on second syllable)
- Part of Speech: Adverb
Etymology:
- From root σχε- (sche-) related to “holding”
- -δόν (-don) adverbial suffix
- Related to idea of proximity or closeness
D – Defining Meanings
- Almost
- Nearly
- About to be complete
Translation Options:
- “Almost” – Best captures the near completeness
- “Nearly” – Emphasizes proximity to totality
- “Just about” – Modern equivalent expressing nearness
E – Exploring Similar Words
- ἐγγύς (engys) /en-gü’s/ – near – See G1451
- μικροῦ (mikrou) /mē-kroo’/ – almost – See G3398
- πλησίον (plésion) /plā-sē’-on/ – near – See G4139
R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology
As an adverb, σχεδόν:
- Is indeclinable (maintains same form)
- Modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs
- Can appear in different positions in sentence
- Often used with quantitative expressions
Cross-references:
- Related adjective forms not attested in New Testament
- Used in combination with other modifiers
S – Studying Lexicon Insights
BDAG emphasizes its use with quantities. Thayer’s notes its approximating function. LSJ documents its classical usage for near completeness. Vine’s connects it to extensive Gospel impact. Strong’s highlights its meaning of nearness. Moulton and Milligan note its common use in everyday language.
T – Tracing the Scriptures
First appearance:
Acts 13:44: “On the next Sabbath almost [σχεδόν] the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.”
Additional References:
A – Analyzing Classical Usage
| Author: Work | Text |
|---|---|
| Plato: Republic | “Almost [σχεδόν] everyone agreed with his argument.” |
| Xenophon: Anabasis | “Nearly [σχεδόν] all the soldiers gathered for the assembly.” |
| Thucydides: History | “The plague affected almost [σχεδόν] the entire population.” |
N – Noteworthy Summary
σχεδόν testifies to the Gospel’s power to draw multitudes to the Messiah. This word proclaims the good news that God’s Word has universal appeal and transformative power, capable of attracting entire communities to hear His truth.
D – Did You Know?
- The word appears three times in the New Testament
- It’s often used in Acts to describe Gospel impact
- Ancient historians used it to describe widespread events
Strong’s G4975: An adverb indicating “nearly” or “almost,” σχεδόν appears in Acts to describe the widespread impact of Gospel preaching. It emphasizes the extensive reach of God’s Word and its power to draw large crowds to hear His truth.
Part of speech: Adverb
Tags: almost, nearly, Gospel impact, mass response, Paul’s ministry, Acts, widespread influence, evangelism, community transformation, divine attraction
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.
