Original Word: μείζοτερος
Part of Speech: Adverb, Superlative
Transliteration: meizoteros
Pronunciation: may-ZOT-er-os
Phonetic Spelling: (mide-zot'-er-os)
KJV: greater
Word Origin: [continued comparative of G3187 (μείζων - Greater)]

1. still larger (figuratively)

greater.

Continued comparative of meizon; still larger (figuratively) -- greater.

see GREEK meizon

Word Origin
cptv. of megas, q.v.

STRONGS NT 3186: μειζότερος

μειζότερος, μειζοτερα, μειζοτερον, see μέγας, at the beginning

Overview

Although the form μείζοτερος (meizoteros, “greater, comparatively larger”) does not appear in the extant New Testament text, the comparative idea it conveys is woven throughout Scripture. From the Old Testament declaration “great is the LORD and greatly to be praised” (Psalm 145:3) to the New Testament affirmation “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4), the Spirit-inspired writers consistently distinguish between what is great and what is lesser, thereby directing faith, worship, and obedience toward the greatest—God Himself.

Comparative Language and Related Forms

1. μείζων (meizōn, Strong’s 3187). The standard comparative of μέγας (megas, “great”), used some forty-eight times in the New Testament, e.g., John 14:28; Hebrews 3:3.
2. πλείων (pleiōn, “more, greater in quantity”), emphasizing magnitude rather than rank (Luke 12:23).
3. κρείττων (kreittōn, “better, nobler, stronger”), often used to express qualitative superiority (Hebrews 7:19).

The emergence of μείζοτερος in extra-biblical Koine suggests an intensified or emphasized comparative—“considerably greater.” Its absence from the canonical Greek manuscripts does not lessen its conceptual importance, which is preserved through these cognate terms.

Old Testament Foundations

The Septuagint frequently uses comparative constructions to exalt the LORD above all rivals. Examples include:
• Exodus 18:11 – “Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods.”
• 2 Chronicles 2:5 – “The house I am building will be great, for our God is greater than all gods.”

These texts establish a theological pattern: the incomparable greatness of God becomes the measure against which all else is assessed.

New Testament Parallels

1. Divine Greatness
• John 14:28 – “The Father is greater than I,” highlighting both the Son’s voluntary submission in the Incarnation and the Father’s supreme position within the Godhead’s economic order.
• Hebrews 3:3 – “For Jesus has been counted worthy of greater glory than Moses,” grounding Christ’s superiority in His divine nature and redemptive work.

2. Christ’s Greater Priesthood
• Hebrews 7:7 – “And indisputably the lesser is blessed by the greater,” a principle used to demonstrate the superiority of Melchizedek’s—and therefore Christ’s—priesthood.

3. The Greater Indwelling Presence
• 1 John 4:4 – “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world,” assuring believers of victory over demonic opposition through the Spirit’s residency.

4. Kingdom Priorities
• Matthew 11:11 – “Yet even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he,” showing how new-covenant realities surpass old-covenant privileges.

Christological Significance

Meizoteros, as an intensified comparative, points to the radiant supremacy of Jesus Christ. The Gospels present Him as “something greater than the temple” (Matthew 12:6), “something greater than Jonah” (Matthew 12:41), and “something greater than Solomon” (Matthew 12:42). These layered “greater-than” statements culminate in Hebrews’ portrait of the exalted Son, who is “as much superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs” (Hebrews 1:4).

Soteriological and Ecclesiological Implications

1. Assurance of Salvation

The believer’s standing rests on the work of the “greater” High Priest, whose once-for-all sacrifice secures eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12).

2. Order in Worship and Ministry

The blessing principle of Hebrews 7:7 legitimizes ordained leadership and sacramental ministry: spiritual authority flows from the greater to the lesser, yet always under Christ’s headship (Ephesians 4:11-13).

3. Spiritual Warfare

Confidence in victory grows from the conviction that the Spirit within is greater than external adversaries (1 John 4:4).

Pastoral and Discipleship Applications

• Cultivate Humility: Awareness of God’s incomparable greatness fosters the servant mindset commended in Mark 9:35.
• Encourage Faith: Reminding believers that their Savior is “far above all rule and authority” (Ephesians 1:21) strengthens perseverance.
• Clarify Priorities: “Greater” kingdom realities redirect affections from temporal achievements to eternal rewards (Colossians 3:1-4).

Historical Theology

Early church fathers (e.g., Athanasius, Chrysostom) leveraged the “greater-than” motif to defend orthodox Christology against Arian and other subordinationist errors, demonstrating that any seeming gradation within the Trinity concerns role, not essence. The Reformers later employed similar reasoning to uphold the sufficiency of Christ’s priesthood over ecclesiastical mediations.

Doctrinal Safeguards

• Maintain Trinitarian Balance: “Greater” language must be interpreted within the one divine essence shared by Father, Son, and Spirit.
• Guard Against Relativism: Scriptural comparisons establish fixed truths, not shifting cultural opinions.
• Avoid Triumphalist Excess: The believer’s share in Christ’s greatness is derivative and must display Christlike meekness (Philippians 2:5-11).

Questions for Further Study

1. How does the principle “the lesser is blessed by the greater” inform contemporary worship liturgies?
2. In what ways does Christ’s greater priesthood shape pastoral care and the practice of confession?
3. How can the church embody the paradox of being “least yet greater” in a culture that prizes status?

Summary

Meizoteros encapsulates Scripture’s unbroken testimony that God—revealed supremely in Jesus Christ—stands above every measure of greatness. Though the term itself does not grace the New Testament pages, its sense reverberates in every comparison that magnifies the Son, humbles the sinner, and glorifies the Father by the power of the Holy Spirit.

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