### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb συναυξάνω (synauxánō, `{{G4885}}`) is a compound word formed from the preposition σύν (syn, `{{G4862}}`), meaning "with" or "together," and the verb αὐξάνω (auxanō, `{{G837}}`), meaning "to grow," "to increase," or "to cause to grow." Therefore, the core meaning of συναυξάνω is "to grow together," "to increase simultaneously," or "to develop in conjunction with one another." It implies a shared process of growth, where multiple entities are undergoing a period of development side-by-side, often in the same environment or context. The emphasis is not merely on individual growth, but on the parallel or intertwined nature of that growth.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term συναυξάνω (synauxánō, `{{G4885}}`) appears only once in the New Testament, found in the Gospel of Matthew:
* **[[Matthew 13:30]]**: "Let both *grow together* until the harvest; and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, 'First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"
This single occurrence is within the Parable of the Weeds (or Tares) among the Wheat. Jesus uses this agricultural imagery to explain the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven in the present age. The "growing together" of the wheat and the weeds signifies the coexistence of the righteous (children of the kingdom) and the unrighteous (children of the evil one) in the world, or perhaps within the visible church, until the end of the age. The verb συναυξάνω highlights the practical difficulty, or even impossibility, of separating the two during their period of growth without damaging the good crop. It underscores the divine patience and the deferment of final judgment until a designated time, the "harvest," when the separation will be carried out by divine agents.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is αὐξάνω (auxanō, `{{G837}}`), the root verb meaning "to grow" or "to increase." While αὐξάνω can describe any form of growth (e.g., spiritual growth in believers, growth of the church, physical growth), the addition of the prefix σύν (syn, `{{G4862}}`) in συναυξάνω specifically modifies this concept to denote *concurrent* or *intertwined* growth.
Concepts related to συναυξάνω include:
* **Coexistence**: The reality of different kinds of people living side-by-side.
* **Patience**: God's forbearance and long-suffering in allowing both good and evil to mature.
* **Divine Sovereignty**: The understanding that God is in control of the timing and execution of judgment.
* **Eschatology**: The doctrine of last things, particularly the final separation and judgment at the end of the age.
* **Discernment**: The challenge of distinguishing true from false within a mixed environment.
### Theological Significance
The singular use of συναυξάνω in [[Matthew 13:30]] carries profound theological weight, primarily shaping our understanding of the Kingdom of Heaven in the inter-advent period. It teaches that:
1. **The Present Age is Mixed**: The Kingdom of Heaven, as it manifests in the world, is not a perfectly pure entity. It contains both genuine believers ("wheat") and those who are not ("weeds"), flourishing side-by-side. This challenges any notion of achieving a perfectly pure church or society in the present age through human effort.
2. **God's Patience and Forebearance**: The command "Let both grow together" reveals God's divine patience. He permits the "weeds" to συναυξάνω alongside the "wheat" until the appointed time of harvest (judgment). This prevents premature and potentially damaging attempts by humans to root out evil, which could inadvertently harm the righteous.
3. **Future Separation is Assured**: While the present is mixed, the future is clear. The "growing together" is temporary. At the "harvest," a definitive and perfect separation will occur, executed by God's angels, not by human beings. This provides comfort and assurance to believers that justice will ultimately prevail and that evil will not indefinitely corrupt the good.
4. **Warning Against Premature Judgment**: The parable implicitly warns against human attempts to perfectly purify the church or society by force or premature judgment. Such actions risk uprooting the "wheat" along with the "weeds."
### Summary
The Greek verb συναυξάνω (synauxánō, `{{G4885}}`) precisely captures the concept of "growing together" or "increasing simultaneously." Its sole biblical appearance in [[Matthew 13:30]] is foundational to understanding the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven in the present age. It depicts a reality where the righteous and the unrighteous coexist and mature side-by-side, permitted by God's sovereign patience, until the designated time of final harvest and separation. This word underscores the temporary, intertwined coexistence of good and evil, assuring believers of God's ultimate justice and the future, divinely orchestrated, perfect distinction between those who belong to Him and those who do not.
TRV