### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek adverb μόλις (mólis, `{{G3433}}`) conveys the sense of something achieved "with difficulty," "hardly," or "scarcely." Its core meaning emphasizes a narrow margin, a close call, or an outcome attained only after considerable effort or against significant odds. The Strong's definition notes its probable variation from μόγις (mógis, `{{G3425}}`), a closely related term that similarly denotes arduousness or near impossibility. Thus, μόλις describes the strenuous manner in which an action is accomplished, highlighting the struggle, resistance, or rarity involved. It often implies that the desired result was just barely reached or that the circumstances made success highly improbable.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term μόλις appears a few times in the New Testament, consistently carrying its core meaning of difficulty or scarcity:
* **[[Acts 27:7]]**: "And when we had sailed *slowly* for many days, and had *scarcely* come opposite Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone." Here, μόλις describes the laborious and sluggish progress of the ship. The adverse winds made their journey exceedingly difficult, allowing them to advance only with great effort and at a minimal pace, barely reaching their intended point.
* **[[Acts 27:16]]**: "Running under the shelter of a small island called Clauda, we *hardly* managed to secure the skiff." In this maritime context, μόλις again underscores the extreme difficulty faced by the sailors. The turbulent sea conditions made the task of securing the small boat (skiff) incredibly challenging, requiring immense effort and skill to prevent its loss.
* **[[Romans 5:7]]**: "For *scarcely* for a righteous person will one die, though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die." Paul uses μόλις here to emphasize the extraordinary and rare nature of one person dying for another, even for a righteous individual. The term highlights the unlikelihood of such an act from a human perspective, setting the stage for the even more profound and unparalleled sacrifice of Christ, who died for the ungodly.
* **[[1 Peter 4:18]]**: "And 'If the righteous is *scarcely* saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?'" This verse, quoting Proverbs 11:31 (LXX), employs μόλις to convey the idea that even the salvation of the righteous is not a simple or automatic matter. It implies a narrow way, a path fraught with trials, or a deliverance that occurs only by a divine act of grace amidst challenging circumstances. It serves as a stark warning about the certain doom awaiting those who reject God.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **μόγις (mógis, `{{G3425}}`):** As noted in the lemma's definition, μόγις is a direct synonym, also meaning "with difficulty" or "scarcely." Their semantic ranges are nearly identical, underscoring the concept of arduousness.
* **δυσκόλως (dyskolōs, `{{G1423}}`):** Meaning "with difficulty," this adverb is famously used in the Synoptic Gospels to describe the difficulty a rich person has in entering the kingdom of God ([[Matthew 19:23]], [[Mark 10:23]], [[Luke 18:24]]). It shares the core idea of an action being hard to achieve.
* **σπάνιος (spanios, `{{G4729}}`):** While not a direct synonym, this adjective means "rare" or "seldom." There can be an overlap in meaning, as something achieved "with difficulty" (μόλις) is often also "rare."
* **Concepts:** The use of μόλις often evokes themes of human limitation, the need for perseverance, the extraordinary nature of certain events, and the profound implications of divine grace in overcoming human impossibility or overwhelming odds.
### Theological Significance
The theological implications of μόλις are profound, particularly in its non-literal contexts:
* **Human Limitation and Divine Sovereignty:** In the nautical narratives of Acts, μόλις vividly portrays the limitations of human effort and skill when confronted by overwhelming natural forces. Even with their best endeavors, the sailors could only "hardly" or "scarcely" achieve their goals. This implicitly points to the overarching sovereignty of God, whose power transcends human struggle and provides deliverance where human strength fails.
* **The Uniqueness of Christ's Sacrifice:** In [[Romans 5:7]], the use of μόλις highlights the unparalleled nature of Christ's atoning death. Humanly speaking, it is "scarcely" conceivable that someone would die even for a "righteous" person. Yet, Christ died for the "ungodly" (Romans 5:6), demonstrating a love and sacrifice that transcends all human expectation and possibility. This elevates the magnitude of God's redemptive act.
* **The Seriousness and Cost of Salvation:** The declaration in [[1 Peter 4:18]] that "the righteous is *scarcely* saved" carries significant theological weight. It does not imply that salvation is earned by human effort, but rather that the path of righteousness, though secured by divine grace, is not without its challenges and trials. It underscores the gravity of salvation, the narrowness of the way, and the need for perseverance amidst the struggles of faith. It serves as a stark warning to the ungodly, emphasizing that if even the righteous face such a demanding path to salvation, the fate of those outside of Christ is dire indeed.
### Summary
μόλις (mólis, `{{G3433}}`) is an adverb signifying "with difficulty," "hardly," or "scarcely." Its usage in the New Testament consistently highlights actions or states achieved only through significant effort, against considerable opposition, or with a very narrow margin of success. In the Book of Acts, it describes the arduous physical conditions encountered during sea voyages. More profoundly, in Paul's letter to the Romans, it underscores the extraordinary and unique nature of Christ's self-sacrificial love. In 1 Peter, it serves as a sobering reminder of the serious and often challenging nature of the believer's journey towards salvation, emphasizing that even the righteous are "scarcely" saved, thereby magnifying God's grace and the critical importance of faith and perseverance. Thus, μόλις serves to underscore the profound effort, rarity, or narrowness associated with certain events, both physical and spiritual, in the biblical narrative.
TRV