Lexical Summary artigennétos: Newborn, newly born Original Word: ἀρτιγέννητος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance new born. From arti and gennetos; just born, i.e. (figuratively) a young convert -- new born. see GREEK arti see GREEK gennetos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom arti and gennaó Definition newborn NASB Translation newborn (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 738: ἀρτιγέννητοςἀρτιγέννητος, ἀρτιγεννητον (ἄρτι and γεννάω), just born, newborn: 1 Peter 2:2. (Lucian, Alex. 13; Long. past. 1 (7) 9; 2, (3) 4.) Topical Lexicon Context within 1 Peter In 1 Peter 2:2, the apostle exhorts believers, “Like newborn infants, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation”. The single occurrence of the term emphasizes an early, delicate stage of spiritual life that nevertheless carries a divinely intended trajectory toward maturity. Peter has just reminded his readers that they have been “born again…through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Peter 1:23). The image of a just-born child therefore flows naturally from the new-birth motif that frames the entire epistle (1 Peter 1:3; 1 Peter 1:23). Literary Picture of Spiritual Infancy The newborn metaphor communicates three intertwined ideas: 1. Dependence – An infant’s survival is wholly contingent on receiving nourishment. Likewise, the Christian’s earliest days depend on continuous intake of the Word and prayer. Connection to the Milk Motif in Scripture While Peter alone employs this particular Greek word, the broader milk imagery appears elsewhere: Together with 1 Peter 2:2, these passages trace a balanced pattern: milk is vital and God-ordained for the new believer, yet meant to lead into deeper sustenance. Historical and Cultural Background In the first-century Greco-Roman world, infants were nursed exclusively by mothers or wet-nurses for extended periods. Early Christian readers would readily grasp the vulnerability and utter dependence implicit in Peter’s imagery. Moreover, Jewish instruction stressed early education in Torah, paralleling the apostolic insistence on early immersion in Scripture. Theological Significance 1. Regeneration and Growth – The term presupposes a decisive spiritual birth (regeneration) effected by God (1 Peter 1:3). Growth is not optional; it is the telos of new life. Ministry Application • Discipleship: New believers require structured, consistent exposure to Scripture, much like scheduled feedings. Warnings Against Stunted Growth Other New Testament writers caution against perpetual infancy. Hebrews 5:12-14 illustrates the danger of remaining on milk, while 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 links ongoing immaturity to carnality and division. Peter’s positive exhortation therefore carries an implicit warning: failure to advance dishonors the grace that birthed the believer. Hope-Filled Outlook Just as a healthy newborn inevitably develops, the believer who continually receives “pure spiritual milk” will “grow up in salvation,” moving toward the ultimate goal of conformity to Christ. The term thus encapsulates both tender beginnings and assured progress, rooted in the infallible Word and sustained by the goodness of the Lord. Forms and Transliterations αρτιγεννητα αρτιγέννητα ἀρτιγέννητα artigenneta artigennēta artigénneta artigénnētaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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