Sacred Calling: τεκνογονία (Strong’s G5042: teknogonia) Reveals God’s Redemptive Purpose

Strong’s G5042: A feminine noun denoting childbearing and childrearing, encompassing both the act and ongoing process. Used in pastoral epistles to discuss the sanctified role of motherhood in God’s redemptive plan, connecting women’s maternal calling to spiritual salvation and sanctification.

U – Unveiling the Word

τεκνογονία represents a profound theological concept that goes beyond mere biological reproduction. This compound noun combines τέκνον (child) and γονή (offspring/generation) to express the divine institution of motherhood. In 1 Timothy 2:15, it appears in a complex theological context discussing women’s salvation through childbearing, which early church fathers interpreted as both literal childbearing and the spiritual nurture of children in the faith. The word encapsulates God’s blessing of procreation from Genesis and points to the ultimate fulfillment in Mary’s bearing of the Messiah. Today, it continues to affirm the sacred dignity of motherhood in a culture that often devalues this divine calling.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: τεκνογονία, teknogonia, tek-nog-on-ee’-ah
• Phonetic Guide: tek (as in “tech”) + no (as in “know”) + gon (as in “gone”) + ee + ah
• Part of Speech: Noun

Etymology:

• τέκνον (teknon) – child, offspring
• γονή (gonē) – generation, birth, offspring
• -ία (-ia) – abstract noun suffix indicating state or condition

D – Defining Meanings

• The bearing of children
• The state or condition of motherhood
• The process of bringing forth and raising children

For compound words:

• τέκνον provides the focus on children as valued members of the family
• γονή contributes the aspect of generation and bringing forth
• -ία suffix transforms the concept into an abstract noun indicating a state

Translation Options:

• “childbearing” – emphasizes the physical act but may miss broader implications
• “motherhood” – captures the full state and condition implied by the -ία suffix
• “child-rearing” – encompasses both bearing and ongoing nurture

E – Exploring Similar Words

• τεκνογονέω (teknogoneō) – the act of bearing children See G5041
• τεκνοτροφέω (teknotropheō) – to bring up children See G5044
• παιδογονία (paidogonia) – procreation See related concept in G3816

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Nominal Features:

• Case: Used in nominative, genitive, dative, and accusative
• Number: Singular (abstract concept)
• Gender: Feminine
• Declension: First declension

Examples of case forms:

• Nominative: τεκνογονία (childbearing)
• Genitive: τεκνογονίας (of childbearing)
• Dative: τεκνογονίᾳ (by/through childbearing)
• Accusative: τεκνογονίαν (childbearing as direct object)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG presents τεκνογονία as encompassing both the act of childbearing and the ongoing process of motherhood, while Thayer’s emphasizes its connection to salvation in the context of 1 Timothy 2:15. LSJ notes its rare usage outside biblical literature, suggesting its specialized theological significance. Vine’s connects it to God’s original creation mandate, while Strong’s emphasizes its compound nature. Moulton and Milligan observe its usage in papyri relating to family matters and inheritance. The lexical evidence suggests this term was carefully chosen to convey both physical and spiritual dimensions of motherhood within God’s redemptive plan.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
“But women will be preserved through the childbearing [τεκνογονίας] if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.” 1 Timothy 2:15

Additional References:
This word appears only once in the New Testament.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

τεκνογονία embodies the sacred calling of motherhood within God’s redemptive plan. Its appearance in 1 Timothy 2:15 connects the physical act of bearing children with spiritual salvation, pointing ultimately to the birth of the Messiah through Mary. This word reminds us that motherhood is not merely biological but a divine calling that participates in God’s ongoing work of redemption. Through τεκνογονία, we see how God uses the intimate bond between mother and child to reflect His own nurturing love for His people, fulfilled perfectly in the Messiah’s relationship with His church.

D – Did You Know?

• τεκνογονία appears in one of the most debated verses in pastoral theology regarding women’s roles
• The word’s singular New Testament appearance connects childbearing with salvation
• Early church fathers saw this word as prophetically pointing to Mary’s role in bearing the Messiah

Strong’s G5042: A feminine noun denoting childbearing and childrearing, encompassing both the act and ongoing process. Used in pastoral epistles to discuss the sanctified role of motherhood in God’s redemptive plan, connecting women’s maternal calling to spiritual salvation and sanctification.

Part of speech: Noun

Tags: motherhood, childbearing, salvation, women, pastoral-epistles, family, Timothy, nurture, sanctification, Mary​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​