4136. plérophoria
Lexical Summary
plérophoria: Full assurance, complete certainty, full conviction

Original Word: πληροφορία
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: plérophoria
Pronunciation: play-rof-or-ee'-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (play-rof-or-ee'-ah)
KJV: (full) assurance
NASB: full assurance, conviction
Word Origin: [from G4135 (πληροφορέω - fully assured)]

1. entire confidence

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
full assurance.

From plerophoreo; entire confidence -- (full) assurance.

see GREEK plerophoreo

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 4136 plērophoría – properly, full carry-through ("fully come to bear"). See 4135 (plērophoreō).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from plérophoreó
Definition
full assurance
NASB Translation
conviction (1), full assurance (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 4136: πληροθορια

πληροθορια, πληροθοριας, (πληροθορέω, which see), fullness, abundance; πίστεως, Hebrews 10:22; τῆς ἐλπίδος, Hebrews 6:11; τῆς συνέσεως, Colossians 2:2; full assurance, most certain confidence (see πληροθορέω, c. (others give it the same meaning in one or other of the preceding passages also; cf. Lightfoot on Colossians, the passage cited)), 1 Thessalonians 1:5. (Not found elsewhere except in ecclesiastical writings (cf. Winer's Grammar, 25).)

Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Theological Essence

Strong’s Greek 4136 points to a state of “full assurance” or settled conviction born of God’s work rather than human optimism. Scripture portrays it as the Spirit-wrought certainty that unites mind, heart, and will in confident rest upon divine truth. Such assurance is never detached from Christ, never autonomous, and never presumes upon grace; it is the mature fruit of believing, obeying, and persevering in the gospel.

Occurrences and Contextual Nuances

1 Thessalonians 1:5—assurance that the gospel’s proclamation is authentic.
Hebrews 10:22—assurance that enables unhindered approach to God.
Hebrews 6:11—assurance that endures to the end, safeguarding hope.
Colossians 2:2—assurance that deepens comprehension of the mystery of Christ.

Together these passages show a comprehensive pattern: proclamation, worship, perseverance, and understanding are all strengthened by Spirit-given certainty.

Full Assurance and the Gospel (1 Thessalonians 1:5)

“...our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full conviction.” Evangelistic ministry is authenticated when both message and messenger are attended by divine power. The Thessalonian believers could see that Paul’s team spoke, lived, and suffered with unwavering confidence. Modern missions still draw on this dynamic: when the Word is preached in dependence on the Spirit, hearers discern a credibility beyond persuasion techniques.

Full Assurance and Faith (Hebrews 10:22)

“Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” Here assurance is anchored in Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10). Cleansed worshipers approach God without lingering guilt. Pastoral application includes encouraging believers to replace self-doubt with Christ-centered confidence, fostering vibrant prayer and corporate worship.

Full Assurance and Hope (Hebrews 6:11)

“We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that the full assurance of your hope may come to pass.” Perseverance is the context; diligent service guards against sluggishness (Hebrews 6:12). Assurance of hope develops through laboring in love, not through passive introspection. Churches cultivate it by calling saints to active ministry, reminding them that steadfast service evidences genuine faith.

Full Assurance and Understanding (Colossians 2:2)

“That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so they may have the full knowledge of the mystery of God, namely Christ.” Paul opposes speculative philosophies by pointing believers to the sufficiency of Christ. Intellectual certainty is linked to communal love; isolation breeds doubt, whereas shared life in the body nourishes confidence. Seminary classrooms, small groups, and Christian households alike foster assurance when love and truth converge.

Interrelation with Covenant Certainty

Old-testament saints expressed confidence in God’s steadfast love (for example, Psalm 23:6). The New Covenant elevates this confidence: sins are decisively forgiven, the conscience is cleansed, and the Spirit indwells. Hence the New-Testament term carries covenantal weight—believers possess a legal standing and an experiential reality that confirms the promises.

Historical Reception

Early church writings (e.g., Ignatius, Polycarp) echo the need for unwavering conviction amidst persecution. During the Reformation, assurance became a hallmark of evangelical faith, countering the late-medieval anxiety over salvation. The Puritans stressed that genuine assurance issues in holiness, not laxity. Throughout revivals—Wesleyan, Great Awakenings, modern evangelicalism—preachers have urged hearers to seek Spirit-borne certainty rather than emotional excitement alone.

Practical Ministry Implications

1. Preaching: Proclaim Christ with clarity and dependence on the Spirit, trusting God to impart conviction.
2. Counseling: Lead doubting believers to focus on Christ’s finished work, not subjective feelings.
3. Discipleship: Show that obedience, love, and perseverance are ordinary means by which assurance grows.
4. Corporate Worship: Sustain liturgies that rehearse the gospel, allowing hearts to be sprinkled clean week by week.
5. Apologetics: Engage the mind, but aim for the fuller goal—Spirit-illuminated certainty that Jesus is Lord.

Pastoral Counseling

When believers confess anxiety over their standing, guide them through Hebrews 10:19-23. Encourage regular remembrance of baptismal cleansing and participation in the Lord’s Supper, tangible signs that reinforce assurance. Challenge sin lovingly, for unrepentant patterns erode confidence (1 John 3:19-22), while confessed sin restores it (1 John 1:9).

Corporate Discipleship and Mission

Congregations that embody “full assurance” become bold witnesses. Confidence in the gospel liberates resources, fuels sacrificial giving, and emboldens cross-cultural missions. Conversely, institutions that drift into doctrinal skepticism or moral compromise lose their prophetic edge.

Conclusion

Strong’s 4136 depicts a Spirit-engendered certainty that permeates proclamation, worship, perseverance, and understanding. Rooted in Christ’s completed work, it matures through obedient love and communal life, empowering believers to live and minister with unshakable confidence until faith becomes sight.

Forms and Transliterations
πληροφορια πληροφορία πληροφορίᾳ πληροφοριαν πληροφορίαν πληροφοριας πληροφορίας plerophoria plērophoria plerophoríāi plērophoríāi plerophorian plerophorían plērophorian plērophorían plerophorias plerophorías plērophorias plērophorías
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Colossians 2:2 N-GFS
GRK: πλοῦτος τῆς πληροφορίας τῆς συνέσεως
NAS: the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding,
KJV: riches of the full assurance of understanding,
INT: riches of the full assurance of understanding

1 Thessalonians 1:5 N-DFS
GRK: καὶ ἐν πληροφορίᾳ πολλῇ καθὼς
NAS: and with full conviction; just
KJV: in much assurance; as ye know
INT: and with full assurance much even as

Hebrews 6:11 N-AFS
GRK: πρὸς τὴν πληροφορίαν τῆς ἐλπίδος
NAS: so as to realize the full assurance of hope
KJV: to the full assurance of hope
INT: to the full assurance of the hope

Hebrews 10:22 N-DFS
GRK: καρδίας ἐν πληροφορίᾳ πίστεως ῥεραντισμένοι
NAS: heart in full assurance of faith,
KJV: in full assurance of faith,
INT: heart in full assurance of faith having been sprinkled

Strong's Greek 4136
4 Occurrences


πληροφορίᾳ — 2 Occ.
πληροφορίαν — 1 Occ.
πληροφορίας — 1 Occ.

4135
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