### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word stémma (`{{G4725}}`) denotes a "garland" or "wreath for show." It derives from the base of stéphanos (`{{G4735}}`), which broadly refers to a crown or wreath. However, stémma carries a more specific nuance, typically referring to a decorative wreath used for ceremonial purposes, often in religious rituals, particularly those involving sacrifice. While stéphanos can signify victory, honor, or royalty, stémma is primarily associated with adornment for sacred objects, altars, or sacrificial victims in a cultic context. Its usage in classical Greek literature confirms its association with pagan rites, where garlands were used to beautify sacrificial animals, cultic statues, or altars before an offering.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term stémma (`{{G4725}}`) appears only once in the New Testament, in [[Acts 14:13]]. This singular occurrence provides a vivid and crucial insight into early Christian missionary encounters with paganism.
The context in [[Acts 14:13]] is highly significant: Paul and Barnabas are in Lystra, where Paul miraculously heals a man lame from birth. Witnessing this profound act, the crowds, deeply steeped in polytheistic beliefs, concluded that Paul and Barnabas were gods in human form (Zeus and Hermes, respectively). The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, responded by bringing oxen and "garlands" (stémma) to the city gates, intending to offer sacrifices to the apostles.
Here, stémma refers to the wreaths used in pagan sacrificial rituals. These garlands would have been placed around the necks or horns of the sacrificial oxen, or perhaps worn by the priests and worshippers, or even used to adorn the altars or the supposed deities themselves. The presence of these garlands immediately signals a pagan sacrificial rite, highlighting the profound cultural and religious chasm between the polytheistic practices of Lystra and the monotheistic message of the apostles. The apostles' immediate and vehement reaction—tearing their clothes and rushing into the crowd to prevent the sacrifice—underscores their absolute rejection of idolatry and their commitment to proclaiming the one true God.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is stéphanos (`{{G4735}}`), from which stémma is derived. While stéphanos can refer to a victor's crown (e.g., in athletic contests, [[1 Corinthians 9:25]]), a symbol of honor (e.g., "crown of righteousness," [[2 Timothy 4:8]]), or even a royal diadem (though diadēma `{{G1238}}` is more common for royalty), stémma is more specifically tied to ceremonial and sacrificial adornment. This distinction is crucial for understanding its unique role in [[Acts 14:13]].
Other related concepts include:
* **thusia (`{{G2378}}`):** "Sacrifice" or "offering." Stémma is intrinsically linked to the act of thusia, as it was an accoutrement of the sacrificial ritual.
* **bomos (`{{G951}}`):** "Altar." Garlands were commonly used to adorn altars where sacrifices were made.
* **Idolatry and Pagan Worship:** The word stémma directly points to the practices of idolatry prevalent in the Greco-Roman world, where physical representations and rituals were central to the worship of false gods.
### Theological Significance
Despite its singular occurrence, the word stémma (`{{G4725}}`) carries profound theological significance. It serves as a potent symbol of the pagan religious landscape that the early church confronted.
1. **Contrast with True Worship:** The garlands represent the superficiality and error of worshipping created beings or false deities. The incident in Lystra, marked by the presence of stémma, starkly contrasts the reverence due to the one true God with the misguided worship of human beings or idols. The apostles' forceful rejection of the garlands and the intended sacrifice emphasizes the exclusivity of God's worship and the absolute abhorrence of idolatry within the Christian faith.
2. **Missionary Challenge:** The scene highlights the immense challenge faced by early Christian missionaries. They were not merely presenting a new philosophy but confronting deeply ingrained, culturally pervasive religious practices. The stémma symbolizes the very heart of the pagan system that needed to be dismantled and replaced with the gospel of Christ.
3. **Apostolic Integrity:** The apostles' immediate and unequivocal refusal to accept divine honors, even when offered with such elaborate ritual (including stémma), demonstrates their unwavering commitment to monotheism and their refusal to compromise with syncretism. Their actions serve as a model for all who proclaim the gospel: redirecting all glory to God alone.
### Summary
Stémma (`{{G4725}}`) is a Greek term meaning "garland" or "wreath for show," specifically used for ceremonial adornment in religious, particularly sacrificial, contexts. Its sole appearance in the New Testament, in [[Acts 14:13]], is highly illustrative. Here, it refers to the garlands brought by the priest of Zeus for a pagan sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas, whom the Lystrans mistakenly believed to be gods. This single usage powerfully encapsulates the theological tension between the exclusive worship of the one true God and the pervasive idolatry of the Greco-Roman world. The presence of the stémma underscores the pagan nature of the intended worship, while the apostles' vehement rejection of it highlights their unyielding commitment to monotheism and their mission to turn people from vain things to the living God. Thus, stémma, though rare, serves as a poignant symbol of the spiritual battle fought by the early church against the forces of idolatry.
TRV