### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb `{{G1795}}` ἐντυπόω (entypóō) is a compound word derived from the preposition ἐν (en), meaning "in" or "into," and a derivative of the noun `{{G5179}}` τύπος (typos), which signifies a "mark," "impression," "form," or "pattern." The base definition, "to enstamp" or "to engrave," accurately captures the essence of the word. It denotes the act of making a deep, lasting impression *into* a material, rather than merely writing on its surface. This implies permanence, authority, and often, the use of a hard instrument on a resistant medium. The semantic range is quite narrow, focusing specifically on the physical act of engraving or carving, thereby creating an indelible mark. It suggests an action that fixes a form or message deeply within the substance, making it integral to the material itself.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb `{{G1795}}` ἐντυπόω appears only once in the New Testament, found in [[2 Corinthians 3:7]]. This singular occurrence, however, is profoundly significant within the theological discourse of the passage. Paul writes: "Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end..." The phrase "carved in letters on stone" (ἐντυπωθεῖσα ἐν γράμμασιν ἐν λίθοις) directly refers to the Law given on Mount Sinai.
The context here is a stark contrast between the old covenant (the Law) and the new covenant (the Spirit). Paul emphasizes that the Law was "engraved" on stone tablets, a physical, external, and permanent inscription. This act of engraving highlights several aspects:
1. **Divine Origin and Authority:** The Law was not merely written but divinely `{{G1795}}` ἐντυπόω'd by God Himself, signifying its sacred and unalterable nature ([[Exodus 31:18]], [[Exodus 32:16]]).
2. **Permanence and Fixity:** Engraving on stone implies an enduring, unchangeable command, distinct from more perishable forms of writing.
3. **External Application:** As something engraved on stone, the Law remained external to the human heart, capable of revealing sin and condemning, but not of transforming from within.
4. **"Ministry of Death":** Paul links the "engraved" Law with the "ministry of death" because, while glorious in its revelation of God's holiness, it exposed humanity's inability to perfectly obey, thus leading to condemnation rather than life. This sets the stage for the superior "ministry of the Spirit," which is internal and life-giving.
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of `{{G1795}}` ἐντυπόω is enriched by examining its etymological root and related theological concepts:
* **`{{G5179}}` τύπος (typos):** This is the noun from which `{{G1795}}` ἐντυπόω is derived, meaning "mark," "impression," "pattern," or "type." The verb is the action of creating such a τύπος *within* something.
* **`{{G1125}}` γράφω (graphō):** The general verb "to write." While `{{G1795}}` ἐντυπόω is a form of writing, it specifically denotes the act of engraving, implying a deeper, more permanent impression on a harder medium, as opposed to mere inscription.
* **`{{G1449}}` ἐγγράφω (engraphō):** Another compound verb meaning "to engrave" or "to write in/on." While very similar in meaning and often used interchangeably in some contexts, `{{G1795}}` ἐντυπόω perhaps emphasizes the *impression* or *form* aspect more directly due to its root τύπος.
* **Old Covenant vs. New Covenant:** The concept of the Law being "engraved on stone" stands in direct contrast to the promise of the new covenant, where God's law would be "written on their hearts" ([[Jeremiah 31:33]], [[Hebrews 8:10]]). This shift from external inscription to internal transformation is central to Paul's theology in 2 Corinthians 3.
* **Tablets of Stone vs. Tablets of Human Hearts:** This parallelism is explicit in [[2 Corinthians 3:3]], where Paul states that believers are "a letter of Christ, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." This rhetorical contrast underscores the superiority and transformative power of the new covenant.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{G1795}}` ἐντυπόω in [[2 Corinthians 3:7]] is profound, serving as a pivotal term in Paul's exposition of the covenants. The fact that the Law was "engraved" on stone tablets highlights its divine origin, its unyielding demands, and its external nature.
1. **The Unchanging Nature of God's Law:** The act of engraving signifies that the Law was a fixed and permanent revelation of God's righteous character and demands. It was not subject to human alteration or interpretation.
2. **The Law as a Revealer of Sin:** Because it was `{{G1795}}` ἐντυπόω'd, the Law stood as an immutable standard. Humanity's inability to perfectly fulfill this standard revealed their sin and brought condemnation, hence its designation as a "ministry of death." The glory of this ministry was the glory of God's holiness and justice, which, though awe-inspiring, was ultimately insufficient to give life.
3. **The Superiority of the New Covenant:** The "engraved" Law serves as a foil to the new covenant, which is characterized by the Spirit's internal work. The new covenant is not `{{G1795}}` ἐντυπόω'd on external stone but "written" by the Spirit on the "tablets of human hearts." This internal inscription signifies a transformative power that enables obedience, grants life, and brings about true righteousness, surpassing the fading glory of the old covenant. The shift from external, condemning inscription to internal, life-giving transformation is a core theological distinction in Pauline thought.
### Summary
`{{G1795}}` ἐντυπόω (entypóō) literally means "to engrave" or "to enstamp," signifying the act of making a deep, permanent impression into a material. Its sole New Testament occurrence in [[2 Corinthians 3:7]] is highly significant, where it describes the Law as "carved in letters on stone." This imagery underscores the divine origin, unalterable nature, and external application of the old covenant. The Law, being `{{G1795}}` ἐντυπόω'd on stone, served as a "ministry of death" because it revealed sin and brought condemnation, lacking the power to impart life. Paul contrasts this with the new covenant, where the Spirit "writes" God's law on the "tablets of human hearts," signifying an internal, transformative, and life-giving relationship with God. Thus, `{{G1795}}` ἐντυπόω functions as a key term in highlighting the profound theological distinction between the external, condemning nature of the Old Covenant and the internal, life-giving power of the New Covenant.
TRV