Lexical Summary eknéphó: To become sober, to be sober-minded, to regain one's senses. Original Word: ἐκνήφω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance to come to one's sensesFrom ek and nepho; (figuratively) to rouse (oneself) out of stupor -- awake. see GREEK ek see GREEK nepho HELPS Word-studies 1594 eknḗphō (from 1537 /ek, "wholly out of" and 3525 /nḗphō, "be sober") – properly, delivered out of drunkenness and to sobriety (seriousness), i.e. with the awareness outcome of being responsibly aware; (figuratively) aroused (awakened) out of the stupor of spiritual delusion (apathy); "to come to one's senses" (L & N, 1, 30.26); sober-minded because "snapped out of" the intoxicating influence of sin (darkness) and brought into keen alertness of spiritual truth (conviction, faith, etc.). 1594 (eknḗphō) is only used in 1 Cor 15:34. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ek and néphó Definition to become sober (after drunkenness) NASB Translation become sober-minded (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1594: ἐκνήφωἐκνήφω: 1 aorist ἐξενηψα; a. properly, to return to oneself from drunkenness, become sober (Genesis 9:24; (1 Samuel 25:37); Joel 1:5; (Sir. 34:2 (Sir. 31:2)); Lynceus quoted in Ath. 4, 5, p. 130 b.). b. metaphorically, to return to soberness of mind (cf. ἀνανήφω): 1 Corinthians 15:34 (Plutarch, Demosthenes 20). Strong’s Greek 1594 captures Paul’s summons to a startled awakening—an urgent call for believers to rouse themselves from the stupor of sin and error. Unlike mere physical sobriety, the apostle speaks of moral and doctrinal clear-mindedness that leads to righteous living and faithful witness. Context in 1 Corinthians The verb occurs uniquely in 1 Corinthians 15:34, positioned at the heart of Paul’s defense of the resurrection. False teachers had muddled the Corinthian church with the notion that “there is no resurrection of the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:12). Paul’s imperative—“Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning”—functions as a pastoral alarm. The denial of bodily resurrection, far from an abstract theological error, had practical consequences: it fostered moral laxity, sapped evangelistic zeal, and obscured the majesty of Christ’s redemptive work. Spiritual Sobriety Versus Carnal Intoxication Scripture often pairs drunkenness with moral darkness (Isaiah 5:11; Romans 13:13). Paul’s choice of imagery reminds readers that error and vice deaden spiritual perception just as wine clouds physical senses. The Corinthians were to break free from this haze, embrace resurrection truth, and thereby recover ethical clarity. Similar calls appear in 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8, where believers are urged to be “sober” while waiting for the Lord’s return. Relationship to the Resurrection Doctrine Resurrection is not an optional appendix to the gospel; it is its very hinge. By asserting, “If the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised” (1 Corinthians 15:16), Paul exposes the gravity of the Corinthians’ slumber. To awaken is therefore to recognize the historical, bodily rising of Jesus Christ and to reorder life under its power: steadfast labor (1 Corinthians 15:58), fearless witness, and holiness. Old Testament Echoes Prophets frequently cried, “Wake up!” to a people lulled by idolatry (Isaiah 52:1-2; Joel 1:5). The apostle inherits this prophetic cadence, addressing the church as the covenant people now fulfilled in Christ. The theme underlines Scripture’s seamless unity: God’s people, past and present, must shake off lethargy whenever truth is eclipsed. Comparative New Testament Vocabulary While eknēphō appears only once, related terms reinforce its force. Paul tells Titus that grace trains us “to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives” (Titus 2:12). Peter exhorts, “Be sober-minded; be watchful” (1 Peter 5:8). These parallels show that alertness is the normal Christian posture, sustained by the Holy Spirit and grounded in sound doctrine. Patristic and Historical Witness Early expositors like Clement of Alexandria and Chrysostom viewed 1 Corinthians 15:34 as a cornerstone for catechesis. They linked doctrinal precision with ethical purity, warning that heresy and immorality grow together. During the Reformation, commentators emphasized the verse when confronting skepticism about miracles, insisting that the same authority that guarantees Christ’s resurrection also governs Christian conduct. Ministry Implications 1. Preaching: Pastors must contend for bodily resurrection, recognizing that doctrinal indifference breeds sin. Personal Application and Prayer Every believer is vulnerable to spiritual numbness—whether through false teaching, complacency, or hidden sin. The Spirit’s antidote is the same today: awaken to Christ’s victory, renounce ungodliness, and live in resurrection hope. “Lord, shake me from slumber; enlighten my mind with Your truth, that I may walk in holiness and proclaim with clarity, ‘He is risen indeed.’” |
    |