### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek noun δεισιδαιμονία (deisidaimonía, `{{G1175}}`) is a compound word derived from δεισιδαιμονέστερος (deisidaimonesteros, `{{G1174}}`), which itself combines δειδω (deidō, to fear) and δαίμων (daimōn, a divine being or deity, which in later contexts can also mean demon). Thus, the literal etymological meaning is "fear of divine beings" or "fear of gods/demons." This etymology gives rise to a significant semantic range, allowing the word to carry both positive and negative connotations depending on the context. In a positive sense, it can denote piety, religious awe, reverence, or devotion to the divine. In a negative sense, it can signify superstition, excessive or slavish fear of deities, dread of demons, or misguided religious practices driven by fear rather than true understanding or faith. The base definition provided, "religion:--superstition," perfectly encapsulates this inherent duality.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term δεισιδαιμονία (deisidaimonía, `{{G1175}}`) appears only once in the New Testament, in [[Acts 25:19]]. This occurrence is found in the account of Paul's trial before Festus and King Agrippa. Festus, explaining the charges against Paul to Agrippa, states: "but had certain questions against him of their own religion, and of one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive." Here, Festus, a Roman governor, uses δεισιδαιμονία to describe the subject of dispute between Paul and the Jewish leaders. Given the Roman perspective, which often viewed foreign religions with a degree of disdain or as peculiar, Festus's use of the term could carry a slightly negative or dismissive nuance, akin to "superstition" in a general sense of strange religious practices. However, it is more likely that Festus employs it as a neutral, descriptive term for "religious matters" or "their form of worship," as he is merely trying to summarize the nature of the Jewish accusations, which were indeed religious in essence. He is not necessarily condemning their beliefs as false, but rather characterizing them as a distinct religious system, which was foreign to Roman law and understanding. This usage contrasts with Paul's own employment of the related adjective δεισιδαιμονεστέρους (deisidaimonesterous, `{{G1174}}`) in [[Acts 17:22]], where he addresses the Athenians as "very religious" or "very reverent," acknowledging their spiritual inclination even while correcting their idolatry. This further supports the idea that the term could be used descriptively without necessarily implying condemnation.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most directly related word is δεισιδαιμονέστερος (deisidaimonesteros, `{{G1174}}`), the comparative adjective from which δεισιδαιμονία (deisidaimonía, `{{G1175}}`) is derived. As noted, Paul uses this term in [[Acts 17:22]] to describe the Athenians' religious fervor. Other related terms include the root verbs and nouns: δειδω (deidō, to fear, `{{G1172}}`) and δαίμων (daimōn, divine power, demon, `{{G1140}}`). Conceptually, δεισιδαιμονία touches upon themes such as piety (εὐσέβεια, eusebeia, `{{G2150}}`), reverence (φόβος, phobos, `{{G5401}}`, especially "fear of the Lord"), idolatry (εἰδωλολατρεία, eidōlolatreia, `{{G1495}}`), and various forms of worship, both true and false. The distinction between a healthy, reverent fear of God and a superstitious, fear-driven adherence to rituals or beliefs is central to understanding its full range.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of δεισιδαιμονία (deisidaimonía, `{{G1175}}`) lies primarily in its nuanced meaning concerning humanity's engagement with the divine. While the term itself only appears once in the New Testament in a descriptive context by a non-Christian official, its underlying components and semantic range highlight a critical theological distinction. True biblical faith promotes a "fear of the Lord" that is characterized by reverential awe, worship, and obedience, leading to wisdom and life (e.g., [[Proverbs 9:10]], [[Psalm 111:10]]). This is distinct from a superstitious fear that is driven by dread, ignorance, or a desire to appease unknown or capricious powers through empty rituals. The New Testament consistently critiques such fear-based or works-based approaches to God, emphasizing grace through faith in Christ. Festus's use of δεισιδαιμονία in [[Acts 25:19]] indirectly underscores the clash between the emerging Christian faith, centered on the resurrected Jesus, and the established religious systems, whether Jewish or pagan, which were often perceived by outsiders as mere "religion" or "superstition." It also subtly highlights the challenge of communicating the unique truth of the Gospel to those who view all spiritual matters through a lens of human-devised religious practices.
### Summary
The Greek word δεισιδαιμονία (deisidaimonía, `{{G1175}}`) literally means "fear of divine beings" and carries a dual semantic range encompassing both positive reverence and negative superstition. Its sole New Testament occurrence is in [[Acts 25:19]], where Festus, a Roman governor, uses it to describe the "religion" or "religious matters" concerning Paul's case, likely in a neutral or merely descriptive sense. This term is closely related to δεισιδαιμονέστερος (deisidaimonesteros, `{{G1174}}`), which Paul himself uses in [[Acts 17:22]] to acknowledge the Athenians' religious inclination. Theologically, δεισιδαιμονία serves as a linguistic marker for the human tendency to engage with the divine, prompting reflection on the distinction between genuine, reverent fear of God and misguided, fear-driven religious practices, a distinction central to biblical teaching.
TRV