Lexical Summary eulogia: Blessing, praise, benefit Original Word: εὐλογία Strong's Exhaustive Concordance blessing, bounty, fair speech. From the same as eulogeo; fine speaking, i.e. Elegance of language; commendation ("eulogy"), i.e. (reverentially) adoration; religiously, benediction; by implication, consecration; by extension, benefit or largess -- blessing (a matter of) bounty (X -tifully), fair speech. see GREEK eulogeo HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 2129 eulogía – blessing. See 2127 (eulogeō). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as eulogeó Definition praise, blessing NASB Translation blessing (11), bountiful gift (2), bountifully (2), flattering speech (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2129: εὐλογίαεὐλογία, εὐλογίας, ἡ (εὔλογος); the Sept. for בְּרָכָה; Vulg.benedictio; as in classical Greek: 1. praise, laudation, panegyric: of God or Christ, Revelation 5:12, 13; Revelation 7:12. 2. fine discourse, polished language: Plato, rep. 3, p. 400 d.; Luc. Lexiph. 1; in a bad sense, language artfully adapted to captivate the hearer, fair speaking, fine speeches: Romans 16:18 (joined with χρηστολογία, the latter relating to the substance, εὐλογία to the expression); plural in Aesop, fab. 229, p. 150 edition Cor. ἐάν σύ εὐλογίας ἐυπορης, ἐγώ῟γε σου οὐ κήδομαι (but why not genitive singular?). By a usage unknown to native Greeks. 3. an invocation of blessings, benediction: Hebrews 12:17; James 3:10, (Genesis 27:35f, 38, others; Sir. 3:8 Sir. 37:24; Josephus, Antiquities 4, 8, 44); see εὐλογέω, 2. 4. consecration: τό ποτήριον τῆς εὐλογίας, the consecrated cup (for that this is the meaning is evident from the explanatory adjunct ὁ εὐλογοῦμεν, see εὐλογέω 3 (others besides; cf. Meyer edition Heinrici at the passage; Winer's Grammar, 189 (178))), 1 Corinthians 10:16. 5. a (concrete) blessing, benefit (Deuteronomy 11:26, etc.; Sir. 7:32 Sir. 39:22, etc.); universally, 1 Peter 3:9; of the blessings of Christianity, Romans 15:29; Ephesians 1:3; ἡ εὐλογία τοῦ Ἀβραάμ the salvation (by the Messiah) promised to Abraham, Galatians 3:14; of the continual fertility of the soil granted by God, Hebrews 6:7 (Leviticus 25:21; ὑετός εὐλογίας, Ezekiel 34:26; cf. εὐλογεῖν ἀγρόν, Genesis 27:27); of the blessing of a collection sent from Christians to their brethren, 2 Corinthians 9:5 (of the gifts of men, Genesis 33:11; Judges 1:15; 1 Samuel 25:27); ἐπ' εὐλογίαις, that blessings may accrue, bountifully (opposed to φειδομένως), 2 Corinthians 9:6 (see ἐπί, B. 2 e., p. 234a top). Topical Lexicon Scope of the Term in Scripture Strong’s Greek 2129, eulogia, gathers into one word the full biblical idea of a verbal or enacted bestowal of good that comes ultimately from God. Sixteen New Testament occurrences show three broad spheres: (1) redemptive-historical blessing secured in Christ; (2) worshipful ascription of blessing to God and the Lamb; (3) ethical and practical expressions of blessing within the covenant community and toward the world. The unifying thread is that God’s favor, once pledged in promise to Abraham, now overflows through Jesus Christ and returns to God in praise. Blessing and Covenant Inheritance Galatians 3:14 places eulogia at the heart of the gospel: “He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” The word gathers up Genesis 12:3; 22:18 and shows that Christ’s cross releases the covenant good promised to the nations. Hebrews 6:7 pictures cultivated land that “receives the blessing of God,” echoing Deuteronomy’s agricultural imagery and reminding believers that fruitful perseverance is the expected outcome of grace. Hebrews 12:17 warns that Esau forfeited the “blessing” through godless choices. Behind both passages stands the unbreakable principle that divine blessing is granted, pursued, or lost in relation to God’s covenant. Christ the Mediator and Fulfillment of Blessing Romans 15:29 anticipates Paul’s visit to Rome “in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.” All missionary advance is conceived as the overflow of Christ’s own plenitude. Ephesians 1:3 anchors the believer’s entire salvation in the heavenly sphere: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms.” Here eulogia summarizes election, adoption, redemption, sealing, and the inheritance yet to come (Ephesians 1:4-14). The Old Testament economy pointed forward; in the exalted Christ the divine bounty reaches its consummation and is poured out by the Spirit. Blessing in Worship and Doxology Revelation repeatedly places eulogia on the lips of heaven. The angelic and creaturely chorus exclaims, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing” (Revelation 5:12); moments later “every creature” adds, “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and power forever and ever” (Revelation 5:13). In Revelation 7:12 the vast multitude concludes its doxology with “Blessing … be to our God forever and ever.” These scenes complete the account begun in Genesis: the God who grants blessing is eternally blessed by His redeemed creation. Blessing and the Eucharistic Cup “Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16). Here eulogia names the Passover-derived cup over which Jesus pronounced blessing (Matthew 26:26-29). For Paul, participation (koinōnia) in Christ’s atoning blood comes through a cup marked by blessing, underscoring that the Lord’s Table conveys covenant grace to believers while demanding separation from idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14-22). Blessing Expressed in Generosity Twice in 2 Corinthians 9:5-6 Paul uses eulogia to describe the character of gospel-motivated giving: the Macedonian and Achaian gift for the Jerusalem saints should be presented “as a blessing, not as an extortion,” for “whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” Material generosity is therefore viewed as a concrete form of blessing whose harvest God himself multiplies (2 Corinthians 9:8-11). The term links benevolence toward others with divine favor toward the giver, echoing Proverbs 11:24-25. Blessing and Ethical Speech James laments, “Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!” (James 3:10). The tongue is designed to convey eulogia to God and humanity; to use it for harm contradicts redeemed identity. Peter broadens the exhortation: “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9). Christian speech must mirror the gracious speech of God who “calls things into being” for our good. Romans 16:18 offers a sobering counterexample: false teachers manipulate naive hearts “by smooth talk and flattery” (literally “blessing”). The misuse of persuasive words cloaked as blessing perverts a good gift and endangers the church. Blessing in Eschatological Vision The consummation of blessing appears in Revelation’s throne room, yet the New Testament looks for its tangible display in the new creation as well (cf. Revelation 22:3, “No longer will there be any curse”). Every use of eulogia anticipates that day when the Abrahamic promise is fully realized, the nations rejoice, and the curse is forever reversed. Pastoral and Ministry Implications • Proclamation: The gospel is the announcement that Christ has secured and distributes the promised blessing; preaching must highlight the move from curse to blessing. Summary Strong’s 2129 gathers up the Bible’s account of blessing: promised to Abraham, realized in Christ, experienced by believers, expressed toward others, and returned in endless doxology to God. Forms and Transliterations ευλογια ευλογιά ευλογία εὐλογία εὐλογίᾳ ευλογίαι ευλογιαις ευλογίαις εὐλογίαις ευλογιαν ευλογίαν εὐλογίαν ευλογιας ευλογίας εὐλογίας ευμεγέθης ευμετάβολος eulogia eulogía eulogíāi eulogiais eulogíais eulogian eulogían eulogias eulogíasLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Romans 15:29 N-GFSGRK: ἐν πληρώματι εὐλογίας Χριστοῦ ἐλεύσομαι NAS: in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. KJV: the fulness of the blessing of the gospel INT: in fullness of the blessing of Christ I will come Romans 16:18 N-GFS 1 Corinthians 10:16 N-GFS 2 Corinthians 9:5 N-AFS 2 Corinthians 9:5 N-AFS 2 Corinthians 9:6 N-DFP 2 Corinthians 9:6 N-DFP Galatians 3:14 N-NFS Ephesians 1:3 N-DFS Hebrews 6:7 N-GFS Hebrews 12:17 N-AFS James 3:10 N-NFS 1 Peter 3:9 N-AFS Revelation 5:12 N-AFS Revelation 5:13 N-NFS Revelation 7:12 N-NFS Strong's Greek 2129 |