- βέβαιος
- βέβαιος, α, ον (s. the next βεβαι-entries; Aeschyl., Hdt. et al.; ins, pap, rare in LXX, freq. in Philo; Jos., Ant. 13, 187; 14, 398; Just.) gener. relating to stability: ‘firm, permanent’.① of something that can be relied on not to cause disappointment, reliable, in metaph. of an anchor (w. ἀσφαλής) unshifting Hb 6:19 of hope (cp. Dionys. Hal. 6, 51; Plut., Ant. 917 [3, 7]; 4 Macc 17:4) whose realization can be counted on because it does not move, being set down in the ‘holy of holies’. Sim. ἡ ἐλπὶς ἡμῶν βεβαία ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν our hope for you is firm 2 Cor 1:7 (=our expectation [of things to be fulfilled] for you is not misplaced). ἔχομεν βεβαιότερον (for superl.; cp. Stob., Flor. IV 625, 2 βεβαιοτέραν ἔχε τ. φιλίαν πρὸς τ. γονεῖς) τὸν προφητικὸν λόγον we possess the prophetic word as something that is (now) all the more reliable 2 Pt 1:19 (on β. ἔχειν cp. Thu. 1, 32; Appian, Bell. Civ. 5, 19 §78 ἔχειν τι βέβαιον=have a firm hold on something; UPZ 162 II, 10 [117 B.C.]; s. also Diod S in 2); for other interpretations see comm. Of things revealed reliable (w. ἰσχυρός, τεθεμελιωμένος) Hv 3, 4, 3.② pert. to having continuity or being unwavering and persistent, abiding (ψυχή Did., Gen. 197, 4; of a just pers. TKellis 22, 103 [w. ἁγνός]): of boldness and hope that remain constant, steadfast Hb 3:6 v.l.; of πίστις unwavering (Appian, Liby. 64 §284 πίστις ἐστὶ βέβαιος; Diod S 2, 29, 4 πιστεύοντες βεβαιότερον=accept all the more confidently; Simplicius in Epict. p. 110, 37 πίστις βεβαία=firm faith in the immortality of the soul on the basis of a declaration by a μάντις; Esth 3:13c; 3 Macc 5:31) 1 Cl 1:2. Of love steadfast MPol 1:2. ἀρχὴν τῆς ὑποστάσεως βεβαίαν κατέχειν hold firm the original commitment Hb 3:14. (W. ἀσφαλής) ISm 8:2. ἐπὶ τὸν τῆς πίστεως βέβαιον δρόμον καταντῆσαι steadfastly finish the course of faith 1 Cl 6:2. Of the Corinthian congregation well-established, dependable (Appian, Iber. 37 §150 ἀνὴρ β., Bell. Civ. 2, 13 §47 a servant) 47:6.—ἡ βεβαία τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν ῥίζα dependable root of your faith Pol 1:2 in ref. to constancy in a productive Christian life.③ pert. to having validity over a period of time, in force, valid of a promise that applies to all pers. Ro 4:16; of the eucharist ISm 8:1. ὁ λόγος ἐγένετο βέβαιος (on λόγος β. cp. Pla., Phd. 90c λόγος β. καὶ ἀληθής) the word was in force Hb 2:2 (β. of the Mosaic law as Philo, Mos. 2, 14); a last will and testament valid (opp. οὐκ ἰσχύει ‘lack force’; legal t.t., s. JBehm, Διαθήκη 1912, 87, 4) Hb 9:17. βεβαίαν τὴν κλῆσιν ποιεῖσθαι keep the call in force i.e. confirm it so that it does not lapse (cp. Ael. Aristid. 13 p. 250 D.: βεβ. ἐλευθερία) 2 Pt 1:10; β. εἶναι be in force IRo 3:1 (Ignatius fears that the instructions given by the Romans to others about dying for the faith will not apply to him; he wants them to be consistent).—B. 1237. DELG. M-M. TW. Spicq.
Ελληνικά-Αγγλικά παλαιοχριστιανική Λογοτεχνία. 2015.