from νεκρόω; decease; figuratively, impotency:--deadness, dying.
Transliteration:nékrōsis
Pronunciation:nek'-ro-sis
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek noun νέκρωσις (nékrōsis, `{{G3500}}`) is derived from the verb νεκρόω (nekróō, `{{G3499}}`), meaning "to make dead," "to kill," or "to mortify." Consequently, νέκρωσις primarily denotes "a putting to death," "killing," or "mortification." Its semantic range extends to the state of "deadness" or "decease." Figuratively, it conveys the idea of "impotency" or "inactivation," referring to a state where something is rendered powerless or ineffective, akin to being dead. This dual application—both literal and figurative—is crucial for understanding its biblical usage.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term νέκρωσις appears twice in the New Testament, each instance offering a distinct yet related nuance:
1. **[[Romans 4:19]]**: "And not being weak in faith, he considered his own body, already as good as dead (**νέκρωσιν**), being about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb."
In this passage, νέκρωσις is used figuratively to describe the physical inability of Abraham and Sarah to procreate due to their advanced age. It refers to the "deadness" or "impotency" of their reproductive faculties. The context highlights Abraham's unwavering faith, which believed God's promise despite the "deadness" of his own body and Sarah's womb. Here, νέκρωσις underscores the human impossibility that God's power transcends, demonstrating His ability to bring life out of what is naturally barren.
2. **[[2 Corinthians 4:10]]**: "always carrying about in the body the dying (**νέκρωσιν**) of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body."
This is a profound theological statement. Paul uses νέκρωσις to describe the apostles' constant experience of suffering, persecution, and self-denial, which mirrors Christ's own path to death. It is not necessarily a literal physical death in every instance for Paul, but rather a continuous participation in the "death" (crucifixion, suffering, mortification) of Jesus. This "dying" is presented as a prerequisite for the manifestation of Christ's resurrection life in and through the believer. It signifies a profound identification with Christ's suffering and death, allowing His power and life to be revealed.
### Related Words & Concepts
νέκρωσις is intrinsically linked to other terms from the same root:
* νεκρόω (nekróō, `{{G3499}}`): The verb from which νέκρωσις is derived, meaning "to put to death," "to kill," or "to mortify." This verb is used, for example, in [[Colossians 3:5]] ("mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth").
* νεκρός (nekrós, `{{G3498}}`): The adjective meaning "dead" or the noun meaning "a dead person." This is the most common related term, referring to the state of death itself.
The concepts associated with νέκρωσις include:
* **Death and Resurrection:** νέκρωσις often serves as the antithesis to life and resurrection, highlighting God's power to bring life out of death.
* **Mortification of the Flesh:** In the spiritual sense, it relates to the ongoing process of "dying to self" or "putting to death" sinful desires and the old nature.
* **Suffering and Persecution:** As seen in 2 Corinthians, it encompasses the experiences of hardship and trials that align a believer with Christ's suffering.
* **Divine Power and Human Impotence:** The use in Romans emphasizes the contrast between human limitations and God's boundless ability to fulfill His promises.
* **Identification with Christ:** A key theological theme where the believer's life is intertwined with Christ's death and resurrection.
### Theological Significance
The theological import of νέκρωσις is significant, particularly in Pauline theology:
In [[Romans 4:19]], νέκρωσις highlights the *sovereignty and power of God* to work beyond natural human limitations. Abraham's faith was not based on his physical capacity but on God's ability to give life to the "deadness" of his body and Sarah's womb. This instance underscores that divine promise-keeping often necessitates God's intervention in situations of human impossibility, thereby magnifying His glory and faithfulness. It provides a foundational understanding of faith as trust in God's power over all natural constraints.
In [[2 Corinthians 4:10]], νέκρωσις introduces a profound paradox central to the Christian life: *life through death*. Paul's "carrying about the dying of Jesus" signifies a continuous participation in Christ's suffering and self-sacrifice. This is not merely an imitation of Christ's death, but an active, daily identification with it—a "crucifixion" of the old self and its desires. The purpose of this νέκρωσις is teleological: "that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body." This means that through embracing suffering and dying to self, the resurrection life, power, and character of Christ become evident in the believer's life and ministry. It speaks to the transformative power of the Cross, not just as a past event, but as an ongoing reality shaping the Christian's existence and witness.
### Summary
νέκρωσις (nékrōsis, `{{G3500}}`) signifies "deadness," "dying," or "impotency." Its two New Testament occurrences reveal distinct yet interconnected theological truths. In [[Romans 4:19]], it denotes the natural "deadness" or "impotency" of Abraham and Sarah's bodies, serving as a backdrop against which God's life-giving power and Abraham's unwavering faith are magnified. In [[2 Corinthians 4:10]], it refers to the ongoing "dying" or "mortification" that believers experience in identification with Christ's sufferings, a necessary process through which the resurrection life of Jesus is manifested in their mortal bodies. Both uses underscore the profound truth that God brings life out of death, whether it be physical impossibility or the daily cruciform experience of the Christian walk, thereby highlighting His power, faithfulness, and the transformative nature of union with Christ.
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