### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb προγίνομαι (progínomai, `{{G4266}}`) is a compound word formed from the preposition πρό (pro, `{{G4253}}`), meaning "before" or "in front of," and the verb γίνομαι (ginomai, `{{G1096}}`), meaning "to come into being," "to happen," or "to become." Etymologically, therefore, προγίνομαι signifies "to have come into being before" or "to have happened previously." Its core semantic range is strictly temporal, denoting an event or state that has already transpired or occurred prior to a given point of reference. It emphasizes the "past" nature of an event, specifically that it has "already been" or "previously transpired." It is not merely that something happened, but that it happened *earlier* than a specified time.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term προγίνομαι (progínomai, `{{G4266}}`) appears only once in the New Testament, in the perfect active participle form, προγεγονότα (progegonota), in the Epistle to the Romans:
* **[[Romans 3:25]]**: "whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over (παρεῖδεν) former sins (τὰ προγεγονότα ἁμαρτήματα)."
In this crucial theological passage, Paul explains the means by which God demonstrates His righteousness. The phrase "τὰ προγεγονότα ἁμαρτήματα" refers to "the sins that had previously occurred" or "the sins that were past." This specifically points to the sins committed by humanity *before* the decisive atoning work of Christ on the cross. The context reveals God's divine forbearance (ἀνοχῇ, `{{G472}}`), by which He "passed over" (πάρεσις, `{{G3929}}`, often translated as "forbearance" or "remission") these previous sins, not immediately punishing them. The atoning death of Christ then serves as the ultimate demonstration of God's justice, showing that His forbearance was not a condoning of sin, but a temporary suspension of full judgment, which was then fully satisfied by Christ's sacrifice. The use of προγεγονότα highlights the retrospective efficacy of the cross, validating God's righteous character in dealing with sin throughout all of history, not just from the time of Christ forward.
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning of προγίνομαι is illuminated by its relationship to several other key terms and theological concepts:
* **γίνομαι (ginomai, `{{G1096}}`):** The root verb, meaning "to become," "to happen," or "to come into being." προγίνομαι adds the crucial temporal dimension of "before" or "previously."
* **πρό (pro, `{{G4253}}`):** The prefix, which consistently denotes priority in time or place, reinforcing the "past" aspect of προγίνομαι.
* **ἀνοχή (anoche, `{{G472}}`):** "Forbearance" or "patience." This is the attribute of God explicitly mentioned in [[Romans 3:25]] as the means by which He dealt with the προγεγονότα ἁμαρτήματα. God's forbearance allowed Him to "pass over" these sins without immediate retribution.
* **πάρεσις (paresis, `{{G3929}}`):** "Passing over" or "remission." This noun, also found in [[Romans 3:25]], describes God's action concerning the "past sins." It implies a temporary suspension of punishment, not a complete forgiveness or cancellation, which is achieved through Christ's propitiation.
* **δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosyne, `{{G1343}}`):** "Righteousness" or "justice." The ultimate purpose of God's action concerning the προγεγονότα ἁμαρτήματα through Christ's sacrifice is to demonstrate His own δικαιοσύνη, proving that He is both just and the justifier of those who have faith in Jesus.
* **ἱλαστήριον (hilasterion, `{{G2435}}`):** "Propitiation" or "atoning sacrifice." This is what Christ became, satisfying God's righteous demands for προγεγονότα ἁμαρτήματα and all sin.
The concept of "past sins" also implicitly relates to the Old Covenant period, the time before the full revelation of God's saving righteousness in Christ, and God's consistent dealing with sin throughout redemptive history.
### Theological Significance
The singular occurrence of προγίνομαι in [[Romans 3:25]] carries profound theological weight, primarily in its illumination of God's character and the universal scope of Christ's atonement.
1. **God's Righteousness and Forbearance:** The term highlights that God, in His perfect righteousness, could not simply ignore sins committed throughout human history. His "passing over" (πάρεσις) of προγεγονότα ἁμαρτήματα was not an act of condoning sin, but an act of divine forbearance (ἀνοχῇ), a temporary suspension of full judgment. This forbearance was always pointing forward to the ultimate demonstration of His righteousness in Christ's atoning sacrifice. It underscores that God's justice is never compromised, even when sin is not immediately punished.
2. **The Retrospective Efficacy of the Cross:** The προγεγονότα ἁμαρτήματα demonstrate that Christ's propitiation is not limited to sins committed after His death. The cross retrospectively validates God's just character in dealing with all sin, from Adam onward. It reveals that the ground for forgiveness and righteousness has always been God's perfect plan, fully revealed and enacted in Christ. This emphasizes the continuity of God's redemptive purpose across all dispensations.
3. **The Universality of Sin and Salvation:** By referring to "past sins," Paul underscores the pervasive nature of sin throughout human history, necessitating a divine intervention that transcends specific eras. Simultaneously, it affirms the comprehensive and all-sufficient nature of Christ's atonement, which addresses the totality of human sin, whether προγίνομαι (past) or present.
### Summary
The Greek word προγίνομαι (progínomai, `{{G4266}}`) signifies "to have previously transpired" or "to be past." Its sole New Testament occurrence in [[Romans 3:25]] is pivotal for understanding the depth of God's righteousness and the comprehensive scope of Christ's atonement. Referring to "the sins that had previously occurred" (τὰ προγεγονότα ἁμαρτήματα), it clarifies that God's forbearance towards sins committed before Christ's death was not an overlooking of sin, but a temporary deferral of judgment, always anticipating the full satisfaction achieved through Christ's propitiatory sacrifice. Thus, προγίνομαι underscores the retrospective efficacy of the cross, demonstrating that God's justice has always been perfectly maintained, and that Christ's work definitively addresses all sin, past, present, and future.
TRV