### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb παράγω (parágō, `{{G3855}}`) is a compound word formed from the preposition παρά (para), meaning "alongside," "near," or "by," and the verb ἄγω (agō, `{{G71}}`), meaning "to lead" or "to bring." Etymologically, it suggests "to lead alongside" or "to bring near." However, in its common New Testament usage, it primarily functions intransitively or reflexively, conveying the sense of "to go alongside," "to pass by," or "to depart."
Its semantic range encompasses:
1. **Physical movement:** To move past a person, place, or object. This implies a journey or progression, often with a specific destination or purpose in mind, even if the immediate action is simply "passing."
2. **Temporal progression:** To pass away, to vanish, to cease to exist. This usage highlights the transient nature of something, indicating its impermanence or ultimate dissolution. This is a significant metaphorical extension of the physical sense.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb παράγω appears in the New Testament primarily in the Synoptic Gospels and the First Epistle of John, demonstrating both its literal and metaphorical senses:
* **Physical Movement (Synoptic Gospels and John):** In the Gospels, παράγω often describes Jesus "passing by" a location or individuals. This is not a casual, unobserved movement but frequently serves as a prelude to a significant encounter or divine initiative.
* In [[Matthew 4:18]] and [[Mark 1:16]], Jesus is described as "passing alongside the Sea of Galilee" when He calls Simon and Andrew. Similarly, in [[Matthew 9:9]] and [[Mark 2:14]], He "passes by" the tax collector Levi (Matthew) and calls him to discipleship. These instances highlight divine initiative in summoning individuals to follow Him.
* [[Matthew 20:30]] and [[Mark 10:46]] use παράγω to describe Jesus "passing by" Jericho, leading to the healing of blind Bartimaeus (and another blind man in Matthew). Here, His passage is the occasion for a miraculous intervention.
* In [[John 9:1]], Jesus "passed by" and saw a man blind from birth, which immediately led to the profound discourse and miracle of healing. The act of "passing by" is pivotal, initiating the revelation of God's works.
* [[Mark 15:21]] uses παράγω to describe Simon of Cyrene "passing by" as he was compelled to carry Jesus' cross. This is an instance of someone else being in the act of passing by, intersecting with the divine drama.
* **Temporal Progression / Transience (1 John):** In 1 John, παράγω takes on a profound theological meaning, denoting the passing away or cessation of something.
* [[1 John 2:8]] states, "the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining." Here, παράγω signifies the gradual but certain recession of spiritual darkness in the presence of Christ, the true light.
* Most significantly, [[1 John 2:17]] declares, "And the world is passing away, and also its lust; but the one who does the will of God lives forever." This verse employs παράγω to underscore the ephemeral nature of the present age and its allurements, contrasting it sharply with the eternal permanence of those who align themselves with God's will. This is an eschatological statement about the ultimate fate of the fallen world system.
### Related Words & Concepts
παράγω is part of a family of verbs related to movement, particularly those compounded with prepositions.
* **Root Verb:** ἄγω (agō, `{{G71}}`): To lead, bring. This highlights the inherent sense of movement and direction.
* **Other Movement Verbs:**
* ἔρχομαι (erchomai, `{{G2064}}`): To come, to go. A general verb for movement.
* διέρχομαι (dierchomai, `{{G1330}}`): To go through, to pass through. Implies penetration or traversal.
* ἀπέρχομαι (aperchomai, `{{G565}}`): To go away, to depart. Focuses on moving away from a point.
* προάγω (proagō, `{{G4254}}`): To go before, to lead forward.
* **Conceptual Links:**
* **Divine Initiative:** In the Gospels, Jesus' "passing by" is often a moment of divine encounter, a sovereign act of God intersecting with human lives.
* **Call to Discipleship:** The instances of Jesus calling disciples while "passing by" underscore the sudden and decisive nature of the divine summons.
* **Transience and Eternity:** In 1 John, παράγω relates to the theological concepts of temporality, the fleeting nature of the present evil age, and the enduring reality of God's kingdom and those who obey Him. It touches upon eschatological themes of the old passing away and the new enduring.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of παράγω is twofold, reflecting its dual usage:
1. **The Sovereignty of Divine Encounter:** In the Gospels, Jesus' act of "passing by" is rarely incidental. It often signals a moment of divine initiative and purposeful engagement. Whether calling disciples, healing the sick, or revealing truth, His movement is not random but a sovereign act that intersects with human lives, bringing about transformation. It emphasizes that God often draws near to humanity in unexpected ways, and His "passing by" can be a moment of profound revelation or salvation. It underscores the active, pursuing nature of God in the person of Jesus Christ.
2. **The Impermanence of the World and the Permanence of God's Will:** In 1 John, παράγω carries immense eschatological and ethical weight. The declaration that "the darkness is passing away" and "the world is passing away, and also its lust" highlights the transient and ultimately doomed nature of all that opposes God. This serves as a stark contrast to "the one who does the will of God [who] lives forever." This usage of παράγω calls believers to a radical reorientation of values, recognizing the fleeting nature of worldly pursuits and investing in eternal realities. It provides a theological foundation for detachment from worldly desires and an unwavering commitment to God's enduring will, offering comfort and assurance in the face of a decaying world.
### Summary
The Greek verb παράγω (parágō, `{{G3855}}`) fundamentally means "to pass by" or "to go along." Its usage in the New Testament reveals two significant dimensions:
1. **Physical Movement and Divine Encounter:** In the Gospels, παράγω frequently describes Jesus "passing by" a place or person, an act that consistently serves as a catalyst for divine intervention, miraculous healing, or a call to discipleship. These instances underscore God's sovereign initiative in drawing near to humanity.
2. **Temporal Transience and Eternal Truth:** In 1 John, παράγω takes on a profound theological sense, signifying the passing away of spiritual darkness and, more critically, the impermanence of "the world and its lusts." This usage emphasizes the fleeting nature of the present age in contrast to the enduring reality of God's will and the eternal life of those who abide in it. Thus, παράγω encapsulates both the dynamic, purposeful movement of God into human experience and the crucial theological truth of the world's impermanence set against the backdrop of God's eternal kingdom.
TRV