The Call to Love Your Children: φιλότεκνος (Strong’s G5388: philoteknos) Nurtures Hearts

Strong’s G5388: A compound adjective combining philos (loving) and teknon (child), indicating one who demonstrates devoted affection and nurturing care toward children. This term, appearing in Paul’s letter to Titus, establishes parental love as a foundational Christian virtue, emphasizing intentional, selfless dedication to raising children in godly ways.

U- Unveiling the Word

φιλότεκνος represents a profound theological concept that interweaves natural parental affection with spiritual responsibility. This compound word beautifully captures the essence of Christian parenting by combining the deep, friendship-style love (philos) with the object of that love – children (teknon). In the context of Titus 2:4, it specifically addresses young wives, establishing that loving one’s children is not merely a natural instinct but a Christian virtue to be cultivated and taught. This word carries particular weight in early church teachings, where the family unit was seen as a microcosm of the church itself. The emphasis on intentional, devoted love for children reflects the Heavenly Father’s love for His children and continues to challenge modern believers to prioritize family relationships in an increasingly individualistic world.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: φιλότεκνος, philoteknos, /fil-ot’-ek-nos/
• Detailed Pronunciation: phi (as in “fee”) + lo (as in “low”) + tek (as in “take”) + nos (as in “nose”)
• Part of Speech: Adjective

Etymology:

• φίλος (philos) – prefix meaning “loving, fond of”
• τέκνον (teknon) – root word meaning “child”
• -ος (-os) – adjectival suffix indicating the quality or characteristic of loving children

D – Defining Meanings

• One who demonstrates active love and affection for children
• Characterized by nurturing and cherishing offspring
• Showing devotion to the welfare and upbringing of children

For compound words:

• φίλος (philos) – contributes the sense of willing, chosen, friendship-style love
• τέκνον (teknon) – adds the specific focus on children as the recipients of this love
• -ος (-os) – transforms the compound into an adjective describing this characteristic

Translation Options:

• “Children-loving” – captures the literal compound nature of the word
• “Child-cherishing” – emphasizes the nurturing aspect of the love
• “Devoted to children” – reflects the intentional, active nature of the love

E – Exploring Similar Words

• φιλάδελφος (philadelphos) /fil-ad’-el-fos/ – brotherly love, differs in focusing on sibling relationships – See G5361
• φιλόστοργος (philostorgos) /fil-os’-tor-gos/ – natural family affection, broader than just children – See G5387
• φιλόξενος (philoxenos) /fil-ox’-en-os/ – love of strangers/hospitality, different recipient of love – See G5382

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological Features:

• Case: Nominative/Accusative
• Number: Singular
• Gender: Masculine/Feminine
• Declension: Second

The word can appear in different forms:

• Masculine singular: φιλότεκνος
• Feminine singular: φιλότεκνη
• Neuter singular: φιλότεκνον
• Plural forms add appropriate endings based on case and gender

Related words:

• Verbal form: φιλοτεκνέω (to love children)
• Abstract noun: φιλοτεκνία (love of children)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

In examining φιλότεκνος across major lexicons, we find a rich tapestry of meaning that goes beyond simple parental affection. BDAG emphasizes its connection to household management virtues in the Pastoral Epistles. Thayer’s highlights its usage in describing the ideal Christian mother, while LSJ provides evidence of its broader cultural usage in Greco-Roman society. Vine’s draws attention to its connection with other φιλο- compound words in the New Testament, showing how it fits into a broader pattern of Christian love. Moulton and Milligan’s papyrological evidence suggests it was commonly used in family contexts to praise exemplary parents. The word appears in both Jewish and Gentile contexts, indicating its universal appeal in describing proper parental care.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:

“That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children [φιλοτέκνους]” – Titus 2:4

Additional References:
As a Biblical hapax legomenon, this word appears only in Titus 2:4.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

φιλότεκνος stands as a powerful testament to the divine design of parental love. This compound word beautifully captures both the emotional and practical aspects of loving children, reflecting our Heavenly Father’s love for His children. In a world where family values are increasingly challenged, this word reminds us that loving our children is not optional but essential to Christian discipleship. It proclaims the good news by showing how King Jesus transforms family relationships, making them reflections of His kingdom where love, nurture, and discipleship naturally flow together. This word challenges us to love our children not just emotionally but with purposeful, Christ-centered devotion.

D – Did You Know?

1. φιλότεκνος was frequently used in ancient epitaphs to honor mothers who demonstrated exceptional devotion to their children.
2. The concept influenced early Christian household codes and continues to shape Christian parenting literature today.
3. Ancient Greek philosophers often used this term to discuss natural law and the divine design of family relationships.

Strong’s G5388: A compound adjective combining philos (loving) and teknon (child), indicating one who demonstrates devoted affection and nurturing care toward children. This term, appearing in Paul’s letter to Titus, establishes parental love as a foundational Christian virtue, emphasizing intentional, selfless dedication to raising children in godly ways.

Part of speech: Adjective

Tags: parenting, love, family, children, maternal love, paternal love, Christian virtues, household codes, pastoral epistles, Paul, Titus, biblical parenting, Christian family​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​