Original Word: παρεισέρχομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: pareiserchomai
Pronunciation: pä-rā-e-sér-kho-mī
Phonetic Spelling: (par-ice-er'-khom-ahee)
KJV: come in privily, enter
NASB: came
Word Origin: [from G3844 (παρά - than) and G1525 (εἰσέρχομαι - enter)]

1. to come in alongside, i.e. supervene additionally or steathily

come in privily, enter.

From para and eiserchomai; to come in alongside, i.e. Supervene additionally or steathily -- come in privily, enter.

see GREEK para

see GREEK eiserchomai

3922 pareisérxomai (from 3844 /pará, "from close-beside" and 1525/eiserxomai, "enter into") – properly, come close beside in a way that is "organic" (naturally fits).

3922/pareiserxomai ("come in closely beside") is used of the Law (Ro 5:20) which came in alongside of the (original) sin. "It was taken up into the divine plan or arrangement, and made an occasion for the abounding of grace in the opening of the new way to justification and life" (Dwight).

[ M. Vincent, "Literally, 'came in beside,' giving the force of 3844 /pará ('beside'), which is very significant."]

Word Origin
from para and eiserchomai
Definition
to come in beside
NASB Translation
came (1).

STRONGS NT 3922: παρεισέρχομαι

παρεισέρχομαι: 2 aorist παρεισῆλθον;

1. to come in secretly or by stealth (cf. παρά, IV. 1), to creep or steal in (Vulg.subintroeo): Galatians 2:4 (Polybius 1, 7, 3; 1, 8, 4; (especially) 2, 55, 3; Philo de opif. mund. § 52; de Abrah. § 19, etc.; Plutarch, Poplic. 17; Clement, homil. 2, 23).

2. to enter in addition, come in besides (Vulg.subintro): Romans 5:20, cf. 12.

Concept and Nuance

Strong’s Greek 3922 depicts an entrance that is not a main, open door but a side-door arrival—an element that comes in alongside something already present. In Scripture this nuance is used metaphorically of two very different arrivals: the Mosaic Law in Romans and counterfeit believers in Galatians. In both cases the newcomer is not neutral; it affects what was already there, either intensifying or corrupting it.

Occurrences in the New Testament

1. Romans 5:20 – The Law “came in” beside humanity’s sin, exposing and multiplying transgression so that the superabundance of grace might be magnified.
2. Galatians 2:4 – “False brothers” were “brought in secretly” to spy on gospel freedom and attempt to re-enslave believers under the Law.

Historical Setting

Romans was written from Corinth in the mid-50s A.D. as Paul prepared to visit Jerusalem; Galatians was penned early (likely A.D. 48–49) after Judaizers began unsettling Gentile converts. Both letters respond to debates about the Law’s role after Christ’s advent. The same rare verb links the discussions, showing Paul’s consistent assessment: the Law and legalists, though very different in origin, can both act as side-door intruders when used to replace or diminish Christ.

Theological Significance

• Law and Grace: Romans 5:20 reveals God’s sovereign purpose—He allowed the Law to “slip in” so that sin would be unmistakable and grace would overflow. The entrance is deliberate in God’s plan yet temporary (Romans 6:14, Galatians 3:19).
• Freedom and Bondage: Galatians 2:4 exposes a counterfeit entrance orchestrated by people, not God. Legalistic emissaries sought to reverse the exodus from bondage achieved in Christ (Galatians 5:1).
• Continuity of Scripture: Both uses affirm covenant progression. The Law’s side-door role prepares for the gospel; false teachers’ side-door role opposes it. Scripture maintains internal coherence: everything finally serves or resists the revelation of Christ.

Old Testament Echoes

The verb’s idea parallels subtle intrusions in the Tanakh: the serpent “slithered in” to Eden (Genesis 3), foreign gods crept into Israel’s high places (2 Kings 17:9), and unfaithful priests allowed pollution in the temple (Ezekiel 8). Paul’s choice of wording resonates with these patterns, casting the Law as a controlled, divinely permitted intrusion and the Judaizers as a rebellious one.

Pastoral Implications

• Discernment: Churches must recognize stealthy influences—whether legalism, relativism, or any ideology—entering “alongside” the gospel.
• Grace Orientation: Just as grace out-abounded sin, it out-abounds any hidden legalism that resurfaces.
• Shepherding Freedom: Leaders are to guard liberty without lapsing into lawlessness, mirroring Paul’s vigilance in Galatians 2:5, “We did not yield for a moment.”

Use in Early Church History

Early apologists (e.g., Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3.12.14) cited Romans 5:20 to defend the Law’s good yet subordinate purpose, while warning against Galatian-style infiltrations. Councils later appealed to these passages when rejecting Judaizing sects and later Pelagian intrusions, viewing them as recurring instances of “side-door” threats to grace.

Devotional Reflection

Believers are called to thank God that the Law’s intrusive spotlight drove them to Christ, and to stay alert against any teaching that quietly diminishes His finished work. Where sin or legalism “comes in,” grace stands ready to overflow—“for if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

παρεισηλθεν παρεισήλθεν παρεισῆλθεν παρεισηλθον παρεισήλθον παρεισῆλθον pareiselthen pareisêlthen pareisēlthen pareisē̂lthen pareiselthon pareisêlthon pareisēlthon pareisē̂lthonInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts