Lexical Summary rhipé: Flash, twinkling, moment Original Word: ῥιπή Strong's Exhaustive Concordance twinkling. From rhipto; a jerk (of the eye, i.e. (by analogy) an instant) -- twinkling. see GREEK rhipto NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom rhiptó Definition any rapid movement, spec. a twinkling (of lights or the eye) NASB Translation twinkling (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4493: ῤιπῇῤιπῇ, ῥιπης, ἡ (ῤίπτω), used by the Greek poets from Homer down; a throw, stroke, beat: ὀφθαλμοῦ (Vulg.ictus oculi (A. V. the twinkling of an eye)), a moment of time, 1 Corinthians 15:52 (L marginal reading ῤοπή, which see). STRONGS NT 4493: ῤοπή [ῤοπή, ῥοπης, ἡ (ῤέπω), from Aeschylus, Plato, down, inclination downward, as of the turning of the scale: ἐν ῤοπή ὀφθαλμοῦ, 1 Corinthians 15:52, L marginal reading (cf. Tdf.s note at the passage); see ῤιπῇ.] Strong’s Greek 4493 (ῥιπή) appears once in the New Testament: “in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet” (1 Corinthians 15:52). Paul employs the term to convey the breathtaking suddenness of the bodily resurrection and transformation of believers at Christ’s return. Eschatological Significance The word underscores the immediacy of the final change that accompanies the sounding of “the last trumpet.” This aligns with the broader eschatological pattern of divine intervention occurring without warning—compare Matthew 24:27; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10. The teaching assures believers that glorification will not be a drawn-out process but an instantaneous act of God. Suddenness of Divine Action Throughout Scripture the Lord often moves decisively: the Red Sea parts “that night” (Exodus 14:21), the angel of the Lord strikes Herod “immediately” (Acts 12:23), and the Spirit descends “suddenly” at Pentecost (Acts 2:2). The lone New Testament use of ῥιπή gathers these motifs into a climactic promise—God will finish redemption history in a heartbeat. Call to Vigilance and Hope Because the culmination is “in an instant,” believers are exhorted to readiness. Paul prefaces 1 Corinthians 15:52 with “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). The certainty and speed of the coming change motivate holy living and diligent service. Comparative Biblical Language Old Testament prophets used imagery of rapid divine intervention: “Suddenly My temple will come the Lord” (Malachi 3:1), and “Behold, I am bringing disaster on this place, which will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle” (2 Kings 21:12). Paul’s choice of ῥιπή echoes such expressions, knitting together canonical testimony about God’s swift acts. Witness of the Early Church Early Christian writers appealed to the phrase “twinkling of an eye” to comfort the persecuted. Ignatius, Polycarp, and later Augustine cited 1 Corinthians 15 when expounding the hope of the resurrection. Their pastoral use mirrors Paul’s own purpose: to fortify believers amid suffering with the assurance of imminent glorification. Practical Ministry Applications • Funeral messages: The term offers vivid consolation that departed saints will rise instantaneously. Homiletical Insights ῥιπή invites illustration: the flicker of a camera shutter, the flash of lightning, or the blink of an eye. Such images help congregations grasp both the brevity and certainty of the promised event. Doctrinal Implications 1. Glorification is entirely God-initiated and instantaneous. Conclusion Though appearing only once, ῥιπή encapsulates the Christian hope of a sudden, total transformation at Christ’s return. It calls believers to steadfast faith, urgent mission, and joyful anticipation of the moment when “the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52). |
    |