Lexical Summary kleos: Glory, Renown, Fame Original Word: κλέος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance glory. From a shorter form of kaleo; renown (as if being called) -- glory. see GREEK kaleo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kleó (to celebrate) Definition fame NASB Translation credit (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2811: κλέοςκλέος, κλεους, τό (κλέω equivalent to καλέω); 1. rumor, report. 2. glory, praise: 1 Peter 2:20. (In both senses common in Greek writings from Homer down; for שֵׁמַע , Job 28:22.) Topical Lexicon Overview of κλέος (kleos) κλέος speaks of fame, renown, or glory accorded to a person because of commendable action. While the New Testament employs many words for “glory” and “praise,” κλέος appears only once, highlighting a particular shade of meaning: the reputation that attaches to someone in the eyes of others. The term thus invites reflection on the kind of reputation that counts before God as opposed to that which merely circulates among people. Classical and Septuagint Background In classical Greek literature κλέος is the heroic glory sung by poets, a public and enduring remembrance of valor. Homer’s epics revolve around warriors seeking κλέος that would outlive them. When the Septuagint translators reached for a Greek term to render Hebrew words for “praise” or “renown,” they occasionally selected κλέος (for example, Isaiah 43:21; Isaiah 63:14), where the covenant people are called to declare the Lord’s fame among the nations. This background sets up κλέος as a word concerned with the spread of reputation—whether human or divine—through testimony. Unique New Testament Usage (1 Peter 2:20) “For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer for it and patiently endure, this is commendable before God” (1 Peter 2:20). Peter addresses believers facing unjust treatment. He distinguishes two kinds of renown: (1) the empty “credit” that might attach to someone who suffers for wrongdoing, and (2) the true commendation that comes from patiently bearing undeserved suffering. κλέος, therefore, functions as a rhetorical prod—what kind of fame are you really after? The verse implies that the only reputation worth seeking is “before God,” a recognition that bypasses immediate public acclaim in favor of eschatological approval. Theological Themes Renown Located in God’s Verdict Scripture consistently diverts the believer’s quest for reputation away from human applause toward divine approval. Compare John 12:43, where some “loved praise from men more than praise from God.” κλέος in 1 Peter 2:20 underlines that authentic renown is measured by the heavenly audience. Good Deeds in a Hostile World Earlier Peter had written, “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that… they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us” (1 Peter 2:12). κλέος complements this teaching. Suffering for righteousness is not incidental; it is the arena in which God-honoring reputation is forged. Christological Pattern 1 Peter repeatedly anchors ethical exhortation in the example of Christ (1 Peter 2:21-24). The single use of κλέος follows immediately after the call to imitate the Suffering Servant. The Lord’s own fame emerged through self-giving sacrifice (Philippians 2:5-11). Thus the believer’s κλέος must likewise be cruciform. Connections with Honor-Shame Culture Peter’s audience lived in a Mediterranean society where public honor determined social standing. κλέος reframes honor by insisting that unjust suffering handled righteously brings true esteem. This counters the shame that persecuted Christians might feel in the eyes of neighbors. By privileging God’s recognition, the apostle destabilizes prevailing honor codes and invites the church to become a counter-cultural community. Relationship to Other Biblical Terms • δόξα (doxa) – general “glory” emphasizing radiance and intrinsic worth. κλέος overlaps these terms yet stresses notoriety, the ‘talk’ surrounding a person. The single New Testament usage keeps it from becoming a technical theological term, but its nuance enriches the broader vocabulary of glory and honor. Historical Interpretation Patristic writers such as Clement of Alexandria saw in κλέος a deliberate subversion of pagan heroic ideals. Where Greeks sought battlefield fame, Christians pursue the renown of patient endurance. Reformation commentators drew pastoral application: no martyr’s crown, they noted, could be earned by rebellious suffering, only by doing good while enduring evil. Pastoral and Discipleship Implications 1. Motivation Check Believers engaged in ministry must discern whether they labor for immediate accolades or for the commendation that comes from God alone. 2. Suffering Well Congregations facing hostility should be taught that endurance in righteousness contributes to the church’s authentic witness, the only κλέος that matters. 3. Encouraging the Unknown Faithful Many acts of faithfulness go unnoticed by the world, but κλέος reminds us that heaven registers such deeds (Hebrews 6:10). Summary κλέος, though occurring only once in the New Testament, serves as a penetrating lens on the nature of true reputation. Rooted in classical ideas of fame yet redirected by the gospel, it calls Christians to seek the commendation that God accords to righteous endurance. In a culture preoccupied with visibility and applause, 1 Peter 2:20 redefines glory, inviting believers to embrace the quiet fame that will resound in eternity. Forms and Transliterations κλεος κλέος kleos kléosLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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