Lexical Summary holokléria: Completeness, wholeness, soundness Original Word: ὁλοκληρία Strong's Exhaustive Concordance perfect soundness. From holokleros; integrity, i.e. Physical wholeness -- perfect soundness. see GREEK holokleros HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 3647 holoklēría – properly, the condition of wholeness, where all the parts work together for "unimpaired health" (Souter). It is only used in Ac 3:16. See 3648 (holoklēros). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom holokléros Definition completeness, soundness NASB Translation perfect health (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3647: ὁλοκληρίαὁλοκληρία, ὁλοκηριας, ἡ (ὁλόκληρος, which see), Latinintegritas; used of an unimpaired condition of body, in which all its members are healthy and fit for use; Vulg.integra sanitas (A. V. perfect soundness): Acts 3:16 (joined with ὑγίεια, Plutarch, mor., p. 1063 f.; with τοῦ σώματος added, ibid., p. 1047 e.; cf. (Diogenes Laërtius 7, 107;corporis integritas, equivalent to health, in Cicero, de fin. 5, 14, 40; the Sept. for מְתֹם, Isaiah 1:6). Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Conceptual Background The term denotes a state of intactness in every part—an undivided, fully-functioning wholeness. In Scripture it points beyond mere physical recovery to the restoration of a person to the integrity God intends, body and soul. Single New Testament Occurrence: Acts 3:16 Peter explains the healing of the man who had been lame from birth: “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know has been made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has given him this complete healing in your presence” (Acts 3:16). The word translated “complete healing” highlights the total, observable perfection of the cure—legs strengthened, joints aligned, faculties restored. Luke’s medical precision underscores that nothing partial or temporary took place. Old Testament Resonances 1. Wholeness and peace (shalom) in passages such as Isaiah 53:5 (“with His wounds we are healed”) anticipate the comprehensive restoration embodied in Acts 3. Theological Significance • Christ-centered: The miracle validates Jesus’ exaltation and shows that His name carries divine authority to restore creation (Acts 4:10–12). Historical Context Performed at the Beautiful Gate of the Jerusalem temple shortly after Pentecost, the healing functions as a public demonstration to devout Jews gathering for prayer (Acts 3:1). Temple authorities could not deny the miracle’s completeness (Acts 4:14), forcing them to confront the risen Messiah’s power. Implications for Ministry 1. Evangelistic Authentication: Holistic acts of mercy corroborate gospel proclamation (Mark 16:20). Pastoral Applications • Encourage prayer for full restoration, recognizing God’s sovereignty over outcomes. Homiletical Outline Suggestion 1. The Lame Man’s Condition: Human inability. Key Cross-References Isaiah 35:5-6; Matthew 11:4-5; Luke 7:22; 1 Peter 2:24; Revelation 22:2. Forms and Transliterations ολοκληρία ολοκληριαν ολοκληρίαν ὁλοκληρίαν holoklerian holoklerían holoklērian holoklērían oloklerian oloklērianLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
    |