Sacred Character: ταπεινοφροσύνη (Strong’s G5012: tapeinophrosunē) Embodies Christ’s Mind

Strong’s G5012: A compound noun meaning “humility of mind, lowliness of thought,” ταπεινοφροσύνη represents a distinctly Christian virtue. Unknown in classical Greek, it describes the humble mindset that characterized the Messiah and should mark His followers.

U- Unveiling the Word

ταπεινοφροσύνη embodies a revolutionary concept in human virtue – the deliberate choice to adopt a humble mindset. As a compound word unique to Christian literature, it unites lowliness with mental disposition, describing not merely external behavior but internal orientation. In its New Testament context, it represents both the mind of the Messiah and the essential character of His followers. The early church recognized this term as expressing a uniquely Christian understanding of greatness through humility. Today, it continues to challenge prevailing cultural values by presenting humble-mindedness as the path to true spiritual maturity and community harmony.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ταπεινοφροσύνη, tapeinophrosunē, /ta-pei-no-fro-SOO-nay/
• Phonetic Guide: “ta” as in “father,” “pei” as in “pay,” “no” as in “no,” “fro” as in “fro,” “soo” as in “soon,” “nay” as in “nay”
• Part of Speech: Noun (Feminine)

Etymology:

• ταπεινός (tapeinos) – “humble, lowly”
• φρήν (phrēn) – “mind, thinking”
• -σύνη (-sunē) – abstract noun suffix indicating quality or state

D – Defining Meanings

• Humility of mind
• Lowliness of thought
• Humble-mindedness

For compound words:

• ταπεινός contributes the concept of humility
• φρήν adds the element of mental disposition
• -σύνη makes it an abstract quality

Translation Options:

• Humble-mindedness – emphasizes mental aspect
• Lowliness of mind – captures compound meaning
• Humility – broader general term

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ταπεινός (tapeinos) /ta-pei-NOS/ – “humble” as adjective
  See G5011
• ταπείνωσις (tapeinōsis) /ta-pei-NO-sis/ – “humiliation” as action
  See G5014

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological Features:

• Case: Varies (Nominative, Genitive, etc.)
• Number: Singular
• Gender: Feminine
• Declension: First

As an abstract noun, it follows first declension patterns. In English translations, it typically remains “humility” or “humble-mindedness,” with possessive form “humility’s.”

• Cross-references: ταπεινόω (tapeinoō) – “to humble”

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes ταπεινοφροσύνη’s unique status as a Christian virtue, noting its absence from classical Greek literature. Thayer’s explores its compound nature, showing how it unites external humility with internal disposition. LSJ, dealing primarily with classical Greek, must reference Christian sources for this term. Vine’s highlights its frequent use in Pauline literature, connecting it to Christian character development. Strong’s emphasizes the mental aspect through its compound formation. Moulton and Milligan note its emergence in Christian contexts, demonstrating its distinctive contribution to moral vocabulary.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:
Acts 20:19: “Serving the Lord with all [ταπεινοφροσύνη] humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations.”

Additional References:
Ephesians 4:2
Philippians 2:3
Colossians 2:18
Colossians 2:23
Colossians 3:12
1 Peter 5:5

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

ταπεινοφροσύνη powerfully expresses the revolutionary character of Christian virtue. This uniquely Christian term reveals that true humility begins in the mind and manifests in behavior. The good news shines through as we see that this virtue, modeled perfectly by the Messiah, becomes possible through His indwelling Spirit. It reminds us that genuine spiritual transformation involves renewing our minds to think as He thought.

D – Did You Know?

1. This word appears to have been coined by Christian writers.
2. Ancient Greek philosophy had no equivalent term for positive humble-mindedness.
3. Early church fathers considered this virtue the foundation of all others.

Strong’s G5012: A compound noun meaning “humility of mind, lowliness of thought,” ταπεινοφροσύνη represents a distinctly Christian virtue. Unknown in classical Greek, it describes the humble mindset that characterized the Messiah and should mark His followers.

Part of speech: Noun (Feminine)

Tags: humility, Christian virtue, Christ-like mind, humble thinking, spiritual character, Christian ethics, mental disposition, spiritual transformation, Christian distinctives, moral virtue​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​