1513. ei pos

Lexical Summary

ei pos: if somehow, if by any means

Original Word: εἴ πως
Part of Speech: Conjunction
Transliteration: ei pos
Pronunciation: ā pōs
Phonetic Spelling: (i poce)
KJV: if by any means
Word Origin: [from G1487 (εἰ - if) and G4458 (πώς - perhaps)]

1. if somehow

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

if by any means, if somehow

From ei and pos; if somehow -- if by any means.

see GREEK ei

see GREEK pos

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1513: εἴπως

εἴπως, see εἰ, III. 14.

Topical Lexicon

Meaning and Nuance

εἴ πως carries the sense of “if somehow,” “if perhaps,” or “by any means.” It conveys humility and contingency: the speaker acknowledges that the desired outcome rests finally in God’s providence, not in human effort. The construction suggests earnest longing without presumption, blending hope with submission.

Contextual Usage in Scripture

• Acts 27:12 — Facing a dangerous harbor, the crew “hoped to reach Phoenix and winter there”. Their use of εἴ πως underscores the uncertainty of navigation and the recognition that their plans were subject to forces beyond their control.
• Romans 1:10 — Paul prays “that now at last by God’s will I may succeed in coming to you”. The phrase shelters his pastoral desire inside the larger will of God, modeling how believers should frame personal plans.
• Romans 11:14 — Paul seeks to “provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them”. Here εἴ πως reflects missional urgency balanced with realism; salvation remains God’s work even as Paul acts vigorously.
• Philippians 3:11 — Paul longs “somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead”. The wording captures both certainty about the resurrection’s reality and humility concerning his own perseverance.

Theological Implications

1. Dependence on Divine Sovereignty: Every occurrence links human desire to God’s overruling purpose, reinforcing James 4:15’s call to say, “If the Lord wills.”
2. Persevering Hope: The phrase never denies the possibility of the event; instead, it frames hope within faith.
3. Mission and Prayer: Whether Paul’s travel (Romans 1:10), evangelism (Romans 11:14), or personal sanctification (Philippians 3:11), εἴ πως teaches that confident action and humble petition must coexist.

Historical Insight

In secular Koine Greek, similar constructions expressed tentative requests before officials or uncertain ventures in commerce. When adopted by New Testament writers, the term was baptized into a theology of providence: outcomes are no longer merely uncertain but ultimately governed by a personal God who invites prayerful dependence.

Ministry Application

• Planning: Leaders may outline strategies yet keep plans open to divine redirection, echoing Paul’s language in Romans 1:10.
• Evangelism: εἴ πως reminds workers that only God grants repentance; persuasive efforts must rest on prayer (Romans 11:14).
• Personal Growth: Disciples press on toward Christlikeness (Philippians 3:11) while confessing their need for sustaining grace.
• Crisis Navigation: Like the sailors of Acts 27:12, believers facing peril acknowledge factors they cannot master but still act wisely.

Related Expressions

Contrast εἴ πως with:
• ἐάν (if) — broader conditional without the nuance of earnest pursuit.
• μήπως (lest perhaps) — expresses concern or caution rather than hopeful desire.
• ἴσως (perhaps) — conveys possibility but lacks the petitionary tone.

By choosing εἴ πως, New Testament writers blend possibility with petition, hope with humility.

Summary

εἴ πως threads through Scripture as the language of godly ambition tempered by surrender. Whether navigating seas, arranging ministry travel, evangelizing the lost, or yearning for final resurrection, believers speak with confidence in God’s power and readiness to overrule. The phrase calls the Church to plan boldly, pray earnestly, labor diligently, and trust completely.

Forms and Transliterations

ει είπως ειρ

Englishman's Concordance

ὄντι — 4 Occ.
ὄντων — 6 Occ.
ὄντος — 15 Occ.
οὖσα — 6 Occ.
οὖσαι — 1 Occ.
οὖσαν — 6 Occ.
οὔσῃ — 4 Occ.
οὔσης — 6 Occ.
οὖσιν — 9 Occ.
οὐσῶν — 1 Occ.
εἰρηνεύετε — 3 Occ.
εἰρηνεύοντες — 1 Occ.
εἰρήνη — 48 Occ.
εἰρήνην — 25 Occ.
εἰρήνης — 19 Occ.
εἰρηνική — 1 Occ.
εἰρηνικὸν — 1 Occ.
εἰρηνοποιήσας — 1 Occ.
εἰρηνοποιοί — 1 Occ.
εἰς — 1774 Occ.