from the same as ζῶον and ποιέω; to (re-)vitalize (literally or figuratively):--make alive, give life, quicken.
Transliteration:zōopoiéō
Pronunciation:dzo-op-oy-eh'-o
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb ζωοποιέω (zōopoiéō, `{{G2227}}`) is a compound word derived from ζῶον (zōon, `{{G2226}}`, "living creature" or "life") and ποιέω (poieō, `{{G4160}}`, "to make" or "to do"). Its core meaning is "to make alive," "to cause to live," or "to give life." This encompasses a broad semantic range, extending from literal physical resuscitation and revitalization to profound spiritual quickening and regeneration. It describes the act of imparting life where none existed, or restoring life where it had ceased, always implying a divine agent as the source of this life. The term inherently carries the nuance of bringing something from a state of death or non-existence into vibrant being.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term ζωοποιέω appears several times in the New Testament, predominantly in Pauline epistles and the Gospel of John, consistently referring to a divine act.
In John's Gospel, Jesus asserts His divine authority to impart life, mirroring the Father's power: "For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He wishes" [[John 5:21]]. Here, the giving of life is presented as a sovereign act of the Godhead, encompassing both physical resurrection and spiritual quickening.
Paul frequently employs ζωοποιέω to describe God's power. In Romans, he speaks of God "who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist" [[Romans 4:17]], referring to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promise to Abraham, even in the face of human impossibility. This highlights God's creative power over life and death. Furthermore, in [[Romans 8:11]], Paul assures believers that if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in them, "He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you." This verse points to the Spirit's role in both present spiritual vitality and future bodily resurrection.
In 1 Corinthians 15, the concept of ζωοποιέω is central to Paul's argument for the resurrection. He states, "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive" [[1 Corinthians 15:22]]. Christ is presented as the ultimate source of life, contrasting with Adam, who brought death. Paul further elaborates, "So also it is written, 'The first man, Adam, became a living soul.' The last Adam became a life-giving spirit" [[1 Corinthians 15:45]]. Here, Christ's resurrected state is depicted as one that actively imparts life. The natural body must die before it can be "made alive" as a spiritual body [[1 Corinthians 15:36]].
The contrast between the Law and the Spirit is drawn in 2 Corinthians 3:6, where Paul declares, "for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." The Law, though holy, reveals sin and brings condemnation, leading to spiritual death, whereas the Holy Spirit regenerates and imparts true spiritual life. Similarly, in [[Galatians 3:21]], Paul clarifies that the Law "was not able to impart life," underscoring that justification and life come through faith in Christ, not adherence to the Law.
Finally, in [[1 Timothy 6:13]], God is identified as "He who gives life to all things," affirming His universal sovereignty as the Creator and Sustainer of all existence. And in [[1 Peter 3:18]], Christ is described as having been "put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit," referring to His resurrection and the triumph of His spiritual nature.
Across these contexts, ζωοποιέω consistently denotes an action exclusively performed by God—Father, Son, or Holy Spirit—to impart life, whether in the context of creation, spiritual regeneration, or bodily resurrection.
### Related Words & Concepts
The word ζωοποιέω is deeply intertwined with several key biblical terms and theological concepts. Its root components are ζωή (zōē, `{{G2222}}`, "life"), referring to both physical and spiritual existence, and ζάω (zaō, `{{G2198}}`, "to live"). The concept of "life" (ζωή) is foundational, and ζωοποιέω describes the active impartation of this life.
It stands in stark contrast to words signifying death, such as θάνατος (thanatos, `{{G2288}}`, "death") and ἀποθνήσκω (apothnēskō, `{{G599}}`, "to die"). The very act of ζωοποιέω is a reversal of death and decay.
Theologically, ζωοποιέω is closely linked to:
* **Regeneration:** The spiritual rebirth or quickening of a person who was spiritually dead in sin. This is a foundational aspect of salvation.
* **Resurrection:** Both the physical resurrection of Christ and the future resurrection of believers, demonstrating God's power over death.
* **Creation:** God's initial act of bringing life into existence and His ongoing sustenance of all living things.
* **The Holy Spirit's Work:** The Spirit is consistently portrayed as the agent of life, whether in regeneration or in empowering believers for spiritual living.
* **Christ's Lordship:** As the "life-giving Spirit," Christ is the source of eternal life for all who believe.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of ζωοποιέω is profound, illuminating several core doctrines:
1. **God's Absolute Sovereignty over Life:** The consistent use of ζωοποιέω to describe divine action underscores that life, in all its forms, originates solely from God. He is not merely a giver of life but the very source and sustainer of it. This emphasizes His omnipotence and uniqueness as the Creator.
2. **The Unified Work of the Trinity:** The Scriptures attribute the act of "giving life" to all three persons of the Godhead: the Father (as the ultimate source, [[John 5:21]], [[Romans 4:17]], [[1 Timothy 6:13]]), the Son (as the one through whom life is mediated, [[John 5:21]], [[1 Corinthians 15:22]], [[1 Corinthians 15:45]]), and the Holy Spirit (as the agent who applies this life, [[Romans 8:11]], [[2 Corinthians 3:6]], [[1 Peter 3:18]]). This highlights the cohesive and unified nature of the Triune God in the work of creation, redemption, and sanctification.
3. **The Necessity of Spiritual Regeneration:** The New Testament teaches that humanity is spiritually "dead in trespasses and sins" (cf. [[Ephesians 2:1]]). ζωοποιέω reveals that this spiritual death can only be overcome by a divine act of quickening. It is not a human effort or self-improvement, but a radical impartation of new, spiritual life by God. This underscores the total inability of humanity to save itself and the absolute necessity of divine grace.
4. **The Certainty of Resurrection:** The application of ζωοποιέω to the resurrection of the dead provides a cornerstone for Christian hope. Just as God gave life to Christ after His death, so too will He give life to the mortal bodies of believers through the indwelling Spirit. This doctrine assures believers of a future physical resurrection and eternal life with God.
5. **The Superiority of Grace over Law:** The contrast between the "letter that kills" and the "Spirit who gives life" (2 Cor 3:6) emphasizes that the Mosaic Law, while revealing God's righteousness, could not impart life or justify. True life, both spiritual and eternal, comes only through the life-giving work of Christ and the Spirit, received by faith.
### Summary
ζωοποιέω (zōopoiéō, `{{G2227}}`) is a powerful Greek verb meaning "to make alive" or "to give life," encompassing both physical revitalization and spiritual regeneration. It consistently describes an exclusive divine prerogative, exercised by the Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This word underscores God's absolute sovereignty over life and death, His unique power to bring existence from non-existence, and His transformative work in quickening spiritually dead humanity. It is central to understanding the New Testament's teaching on spiritual rebirth, the certainty of bodily resurrection, and the vital distinction between the life-giving power of the Spirit and the inability of the Law to confer true life.
TRV