Greek Word of the Day - ἔργον
Bill Mounce
0.38
11 September 2024
17 December 2025
ἔργον, -ου, τό (ergon), GK 2240 (S 2041), 169x.
ἔργον, -ου, τό means “work; deed, action”
“Fire will test what sort of ἔργον each has done.” (1 Cor 3:13)
MOUNCE’S EXPOSITORY DICTIONARY
ἔργον means “a work,” “a deed,” “achievement,” “action,” “thing,” or “matter.” In the gospels, ἔργον mostly carries an ethical meaning. The gospel writers speak of good works (Mt. 5:16; also Acts 9:36) and evil works (Lk. 11:48; Jn. 3:19–20). While the gospel writers used ἔργον to describe Jesus’ miraculous works (Mt. 11:2; Lk. 24:19), John accords them theological significance (Jn. 5:36; 7:3, 21; 15:24). In the Pauline letters, works take on a wholly negative meaning when used in conjunction with the law, since those works will not lead to justification, and will not produce a righteousness that saves (Rom. 3:20, 27; Gal. 2:16). Although James’ writings are sometimes seen as contradictory to Paul’s (e.g., 2:24), he is referring to empty religion, which was devoid of fruit, that is, “Faith without works is dead” (2:26). Finally, the NT teaches that there will be a final judgment for all people based upon their works (1 Cor. 3:13–15; 2 Cor. 11:15; 1 Pet. 1:17; Rev. 18:6; 20:12–13; 22:12).
(The dictionary entry is abridged from Mounce‘s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, https://billmounce.com/dictionary).