Lexical Summary homologia: Confession, profession, acknowledgment Original Word: ὁμολογία Strong's Exhaustive Concordance confession, profession. From the same as homologeo; acknowledgment -- con- (pro-)fession, professed. see GREEK homologeo HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 3671 homología (from 3674 /homoú, "the same, together" and 3004 /légō, "speak to a conclusion, lay to rest") – properly, a conclusion embraced by common confession (profession, affirmation). 3671 /homología ("common confession") can refer to the collective agreement of Christians about what God loves and hates – and the courage to proclaim it! See also 3670 (homologéō). [The cognate verb, 3670 /homologéō, also means "to say the same thing about." 3671 (homologia) in classical Greek means, "an agreement, assent, compact (in the papyri, of a contract; Deiss., BS, 249), hence a confession" (Abbott-Smith).] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom homologeó Definition an agreement, confession NASB Translation confession (6). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3671: ὁμολογίαὁμολογία, ὁμολογίας, ἡ (ὁμολογέω, which see (cf. Winers Grammar, 35 (34))), in the N. T. profession (R. V. uniformly confession); a. subjectively: ἀρχιερέα τῆς ὁμολογίας ἡμῶν, i. e. whom we profess (to be ours), Hebrews 3:1 (but others refer this to b.). b. objectively, profession (confession) i. e. what one professes (confesses): Hebrews 4:14; 1 Timothy 6:12 (see ὁμολογέω, 3); 13 (see μαρτυρέω, a. p. 391a); τῆς ἐλπίδος, the substance of our profession, which we embrace with hope, Hebrews 10:23; εἰς τό εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ Χριστοῦ, relative to the gospel, 2 Corinthians 9:13 (translate, for the obedience ye render to what ye profess concerning the gospel; cf. ἡ εἰς τόν τοῦ Θεοῦ Χριστόν ὁμολογία, Justin Martyr, dialog contra Trypho, c. 47 — a construction occasioned perhaps by ἡ εἰς τόν Χριστόν πίστις, Colossians 2:5; (cf. Winers Grammar, 381 (357))). ((Herodotus, Plato, others.)) Strong’s Greek 3671 (ὁμολογία) gathers the New Testament’s teaching on verbal and lived confession of faith. Its six uses portray confession as both a decisive declaration of allegiance to Jesus Christ and a continuing lifestyle that displays that allegiance before a watching world. Confession in the Pastoral Setting – 1 Timothy 6:12–13 1 Timothy 6:12–13 frames confession at the moment of vocation and in the face of persecution. Timothy “made the good confession before many witnesses,” a public attestation linked with baptism and ordination. Paul immediately points to Christ, “who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate,” rooting every minister’s confession in the Lord’s own fearless witness. Here confession functions as: • A covenantal pledge that accompanies entry into ministry. Confession and Perseverance – Hebrews 3:1; 4:14; 10:23 Hebrews elevates confession to a communal, eschatological imperative. Hebrews 3:1 – “Set your minds on Jesus… whom we confess.” Believers are united as a “holy” household precisely through their shared confession of Christ’s supremacy. Hebrews 4:14 – “Let us hold firmly to what we profess.” Perseverance is anchored in the exalted High Priest who has “passed through the heavens,” providing continual access and assurance. Hebrews 10:23 – “Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” The verb “hold” joins confession with steadfast hope; apostasy is resisted by gripping the content of gospel confession and the character of the One confessed. Collectively, Hebrews presents confession as: Confession and Generosity – 2 Corinthians 9:13 “Because of the proof this ministry provides, they will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ” (2 Corinthians 9:13). Paul weds doctrinal confession to material generosity. The Macedonians’ offering verifies that their gospel confession is genuine. Thus, confession: • Is “obedient”—it produces observable works. Christological Center Across all uses, the object of confession is Jesus Christ—His person, work, and lordship. Whether before Pilate, within the ecclesial assembly, or expressed through charity, the confession remains christocentric. Historical Background In the first-century Mediterranean world, public declarations of loyalty carried legal and social weight. Confessing “Jesus is Lord” challenged imperial claims and synagogue expectations. For Jewish believers, it redefined covenant identity; for Gentiles, it renounced pagan cults. The term thus carried connotations of: • Legal testimony (as in Roman courts). Liturgical Echoes Early baptismal formulas (“the good confession”) likely drew from these passages, requiring candidates to state their faith aloud before witnesses. Similarly, creedal recitations during the Lord’s Supper echoed Hebrews’ call to “hold firmly.” Ethical and Missional Dimensions Confession is never merely mental assent. It demands: 1. Integrity – words and deeds aligned (2 Corinthians 9:13). Such confession serves missionally by displaying the gospel’s truth and power to unbelievers, provoking glory to God. Pastoral Application • Catechesis should link doctrinal confession with discipleship practices—prayer, generosity, and service. Summary Strong’s 3671 captures the Christian life’s audible heartbeat: a confession anchored in Christ, proclaimed before witnesses, authenticated by love, and maintained with unwavering hope until the day faith becomes sight. Englishman's Concordance 2 Corinthians 9:13 N-GFSGRK: ὑποταγῇ τῆς ὁμολογίας ὑμῶν εἰς NAS: for [your] obedience to your confession of the gospel KJV: for your professed subjection unto INT: submission of the confession of you to 1 Timothy 6:12 N-AFS 1 Timothy 6:13 N-AFS Hebrews 3:1 N-GFS Hebrews 4:14 N-GFS Hebrews 10:23 N-AFS Strong's Greek 3671 |
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