### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek noun ἀπόκρισις (apókrisis, `{{G612}}`) is derived from the verb ἀποκρίνομαι (apokrinomai, `{{G611}}`), meaning "to answer," "to reply," or "to decide." As a noun, ἀπόκρισις therefore signifies "a response," "an answer," or "a reply." It denotes the specific content or substance of what is spoken back in response to a question, inquiry, or challenge. Unlike a general statement, ἀπόκρισις implies a direct address to a preceding utterance or situation, representing a conclusion or a piece of information intended to resolve an ambiguity or satisfy a query. Its semantic range is tightly focused on the act of providing a direct and often definitive reply.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term ἀπόκρισις appears three times in the New Testament, each instance illuminating a distinct facet of its meaning:
1. **[[Luke 2:47]]**: In the account of the boy Jesus in the Temple, it is recorded that "all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers (ἀποκρίσεις)." Here, the plural form highlights the multiple wise and discerning replies Jesus gave to the teachers of the Law. The context emphasizes the extraordinary wisdom and insight of the young Jesus, whose responses transcended mere knowledge and demonstrated profound understanding. His ἀποκρίσεις were not simply correct facts but revealed a depth of spiritual and intellectual discernment that astonished his learned interlocutors.
2. **[[John 1:22]]**: When John the Baptist is interrogated by the Jewish leaders, they press him, saying, "Who are you? We need an answer (ἀπόκρισιν) to take back to those who sent us." In this context, ἀπόκρισις carries the weight of an authoritative and necessary declaration. It is not merely a casual reply but a formal response demanded by those in authority, crucial for reporting back to the Sanhedrin. John's answer (or lack thereof, as he points away from himself to Christ) is critical for understanding his identity and mission. The term underscores the expectation of a definitive statement that will clarify a significant matter.
3. **[[John 19:9]]**: During Jesus' trial before Pilate, after Jesus declares His kingdom is not of this world, Pilate asks, "Where are you from?" The text then states, "But Jesus gave him no answer (ἀπόκρισιν)." This is a profound instance of deliberate silence, where the *absence* of an answer is itself a powerful response. Jesus' refusal to give an ἀπόκρισις to Pilate's question regarding His origin signifies a divine reticence, a refusal to engage on earthly terms or to provide information that would be misunderstood or misused by His accuser. It highlights the sovereign authority of Christ, who chooses when and to whom He will speak, even in the face of interrogation.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most immediate and significant related word is the verb ἀποκρίνομαι (apokrinomai, `{{G611}}`), from which ἀπόκρισις is derived. This verb is far more frequent in the New Testament, appearing over 250 times, and consistently refers to the act of answering or replying. The noun captures the *result* or *content* of that verbal action.
Other related concepts include:
* **λόγος (logos, `{{G3056}}`)**: While λόγος can refer to a word or discourse, ἀπόκρισις is a specific type of λόγος—one given in reply.
* **ῥῆμα (rhema, `{{G4487}}`)**: A spoken word or utterance. Again, ἀπόκρισις is a particular kind of ῥῆμα, specifically a response.
* **φωνή (phonē, `{{G5456}}`)**: Voice or sound. An ἀπόκρισις is conveyed through φωνή, but the latter is broader, encompassing any sound.
The concept of "answering" is intrinsically linked to dialogue, testimony, interrogation, and the revelation of truth. In a theological sense, it often pertains to the divine-human encounter, where humans seek answers from God, or God provides answers through His word and Spirit, or even through His silence.
### Theological Significance
The occurrences of ἀπόκρισις, though few, carry significant theological weight.
1. **Divine Wisdom and Authority**: In [[Luke 2:47]], Jesus' ἀποκρίσεις underscore His pre-existent wisdom and divine authority, even as a child. His answers were not merely clever but revealed a profound understanding of God's truth, setting Him apart as the Son of God. This foreshadows His later teachings and debates, where His answers consistently confounded His adversaries and revealed ultimate truth.
2. **The Nature of Testimony**: In [[John 1:22]], the demand for an ἀπόκρισις from John the Baptist highlights the critical nature of testimony concerning identity and mission, especially when it pertains to God's plan. John's response, redirecting attention from himself to the coming Messiah, exemplifies the proper role of a witness: to provide an answer that points to Christ.
3. **The Power of Divine Silence**: The absence of an ἀπόκρισις from Jesus in [[John 19:9]] is perhaps the most potent theological statement. Jesus' silence before Pilate is not born of weakness or inability but of sovereign choice. It speaks to the futility of human questioning when the questioner is unwilling or unable to grasp divine truth. This silence is an answer in itself, signifying Jesus' transcendence over earthly courts and His refusal to validate a trial that had no legitimate authority over Him. It parallels the Old Testament concept of God's silence as a form of judgment or a call to deeper faith.
4. **Revelation and Concealment**: The term illustrates how answers can reveal truth, clarify identity, and establish authority. Conversely, the withholding of an answer can signify a deeper truth, a refusal to cast pearls before swine, or an assertion of divine prerogative.
### Summary
The Greek noun ἀπόκρισις (apókrisis, `{{G612}}`) precisely denotes "a response" or "an answer," derived from the verb "to answer." Though it appears sparingly in the New Testament, each instance is highly significant. In [[Luke 2:47]], it highlights the astonishing wisdom of the young Jesus through His insightful replies. In [[John 1:22]], it signifies the formal, authoritative answer demanded of John the Baptist concerning his identity. Most profoundly, in [[John 19:9]], Jesus' deliberate lack of an ἀπόκρισις to Pilate's question demonstrates His divine sovereignty and refusal to engage on human terms, revealing the powerful theological implications of divine silence. Across its uses, ἀπόκρισις consistently points to the crucial nature of specific, often definitive, replies in revealing identity, truth, and authority, or in asserting divine prerogative.
TRV