from ζητέω; a search (properly concretely), i.e. (in words) a debate:--question.
Transliteration:zḗtēma
Pronunciation:dzay'-tay-mah
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek noun ζήτημα (zḗtēma, `{{G2213}}`) is derived from the verb ζητέω (zēteō, `{{G2212}}`), meaning "to seek, search, inquire, or demand." As such, ζήτημα inherently carries the sense of "that which is sought" or "a matter of inquiry." However, its semantic range in the New Testament specifically narrows to denote a "question" or "issue" that is under discussion, debate, or dispute. It moves beyond a simple query to imply a point of contention, a contested matter, or a legal/theological controversy. The word signifies a subject that requires investigation, judgment, or resolution due to differing opinions or interpretations. It is not merely a topic, but a topic that has become a point of disagreement, often leading to contention.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term ζήτημα appears four times in the New Testament, exclusively within the book of Acts, consistently referring to matters of dispute or legal inquiry, particularly concerning Jewish law or Christian doctrine.
1. **[[Acts 15:2]]**: "And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them concerning this matter, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this **question**." Here, ζήτημα refers to the critical theological dispute regarding the necessity of circumcision for Gentile converts. This was a fundamental point of contention that threatened the unity and mission of the early church, requiring the authoritative resolution of the Jerusalem Council. The word highlights the gravity and divisive nature of the issue.
2. **[[Acts 18:15]]**: "If it is a **question** of words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves; I am not willing to be a judge of these matters." In this passage, the Roman proconsul Gallio dismisses the charges brought against Paul by the Jews. He perceives their accusations as a ζήτημα—a mere internal Jewish dispute concerning their religious law, rather than a matter of Roman criminal law. Gallio's use of the term underscores his detachment and disinterest in what he considers trivial religious squabbles.
3. **[[Acts 23:29]]**: "I found him to be accused concerning **questions** of their law, but to have nothing charged against him worthy of death or imprisonment." Lysias, the Roman commander, reports to Governor Felix about Paul's arrest. Similar to Gallio, Lysias identifies the accusations against Paul as ζητήματα (plural) related to Jewish law, not a capital offense under Roman jurisdiction. This again highlights the Roman perspective that the core issues were religious and internal to the Jewish community.
4. **[[Acts 25:19]]**: "but had certain **questions** against him of their own religion, and of one Jesus who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive." Governor Festus, explaining Paul's case to King Agrippa, also describes the accusations as ζητήματα concerning Jewish religion. Significantly, he specifies the central point of contention: the resurrection of Jesus. From the Roman viewpoint, this was a bizarre religious ζήτημα, yet for Paul, it was the foundational truth of his message.
Across these occurrences, ζήτημα consistently denotes a contentious issue or point of dispute, often with legal or theological implications, requiring resolution or judgment. It is never a neutral inquiry but a matter of significant disagreement.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is the verb from which ζήτημα is derived: ζητέω (zēteō, `{{G2212}}`), "to seek, inquire." This root emphasizes that a ζήτημα is a matter that is "sought after" in terms of resolution or understanding.
Other related concepts and words that often accompany or arise from a ζήτημα include:
* ἔρις (eris, `{{G2054}}`): "strife, contention." A ζήτημα can easily escalate into ἔρις.
* μάχη (machē, `{{G3163}}`): "fight, quarrel." Similar to ἔρις, indicating the conflict that a ζήτημα can engender.
* διαλογισμός (dialogismos, `{{G1261}}`): "reasoning, disputation, doubt." While broader, διαλογισμός can describe the internal or external processes of thought that lead to or revolve around a ζήτημα.
* συζήτησις (syzētēsis, `{{G4803}}`): "disputation, debate." This noun specifically refers to the act of debating a ζήτημα.
* λόγος (logos, `{{G3056}}`): "word, matter, account." In [[Acts 18:15]], Gallio pairs ζήτημα with "words and names" (λόγοι καὶ ὀνόματα), indicating that the dispute is over specific verbal or conceptual matters.
Conversely, concepts like unity (ἑνότης, henotēs, `{{G1773}}`), peace (εἰρήνη, eirēnē, `{{G1515}}`), and established doctrine stand in contrast to the unresolved or contentious nature of a ζήτημα.
### Theological Significance
The consistent use of ζήτημα in Acts highlights several important theological realities concerning the early church and its interaction with the world:
1. **Challenges to Doctrinal Unity**: The most significant theological ζήτημα encountered by the early church was the question of Gentile inclusion and the role of the Mosaic Law ([[Acts 15:2]]). This demonstrates that even foundational truths required careful discernment and authoritative resolution to maintain the unity and integrity of the nascent Christian movement. It underscores the importance of communal deliberation and divine guidance in settling matters of faith and practice.
2. **Misunderstanding by External Authorities**: The Roman officials (Gallio, Lysias, Festus) consistently categorized the accusations against Paul as mere ζητήματα of Jewish law or religion. This reveals their inability or unwillingness to grasp the profound theological claims of Christianity, especially the resurrection of Jesus. From their perspective, the life, death, and resurrection of Christ were just another peculiar religious dispute, rather than a universal truth with eternal implications. This highlights the inherent tension between the spiritual realities of the Gospel and the secular, pragmatic mindset of the world.
3. **The Centrality of Christ's Resurrection**: Festus's specific mention of "one Jesus who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive" ([[Acts 25:19]]) as the core ζήτημα from the Roman perspective is profoundly significant. It implicitly confirms that the resurrection was the central, most contentious, and ultimately most transformative claim of the early Christian message. This ζήτημα, though dismissed by the Romans, was the very heart of the Gospel.
4. **Need for Discernment and Resolution**: The presence of ζητήματα necessitated wisdom, prayer, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to navigate potential divisions and establish sound doctrine. The Jerusalem Council's resolution of the circumcision ζήτημα served as a crucial precedent for dealing with future theological challenges.
### Summary
ζήτημα (zḗtēma, `{{G2213}}`) denotes a "question" or "issue" that is a point of contention, debate, or dispute, rather than a simple inquiry. Derived from ζητέω (zēteō, `{{G2212}}`) "to seek," it represents a matter that requires investigation and resolution due to differing opinions. In its four New Testament occurrences, exclusively in Acts, ζήτημα consistently refers to significant religious or legal disputes, particularly those concerning Jewish law or Christian doctrine. These include the critical debate over Gentile circumcision ([[Acts 15:2]]) and the various charges brought against Paul by Jewish leaders, which Roman officials dismissed as internal Jewish ζητήματα ([[Acts 18:15]], [[Acts 23:29]], [[Acts 25:19]]). The word underscores the challenges of doctrinal clarity and unity in the early church, the world's misunderstanding of Christian truth claims (especially the resurrection), and the ongoing need for wise discernment in resolving contentious issues within the community of faith.
TRV