ἐμβατεύω

ἐμβατεύω (ἐν + βαίνω; Aeschyl. et al.; ins; pap; LXX; TestSol 1, 1 D ἐμβαπτεύσας) is found in our lit. only Col 2:18 ἃ ἑόρακεν ἐμβατεύων, a passage whose interpr. is much disputed. The word ranges in mng. as follows:

① set foot upon, enter, visit (since Aeschyl, Pers. 449; Jos., Ant. 2, 265; 1 Macc 12:25; 13:20 al.) e.g., an oracular chamber, s. FFrancis, The Background of EMBATEUEIN (Col 2:18) in Legal Papyri and Oracle Inscriptions: Conflict at Colossae, ed., FFrancis and WMeeks ’73, 197–207, esp. 201. S. 4 below. The phrase ἁ ἑόρακεν ἐμβατεύων could then = entering an oracle for interpretation of what he has seen.

② come into possession of, acquire (Eur., Demosth., pap), even by force (Jos 19:49, 51).

③ investigate closely, enter into a subj., to investigate it closely, go into detail (2 Macc 2:30; Philo, Plant. 80 Wendl. v.l.), hence in Col 2:18 prob. entering at length upon the tale of what one has seen in a vision (ANock, JBL 52, ’33, 132) and thus justifying the approach taken to heavenly messengers.

④ Three ins of Asia Minor [II A.D.], which refer to the Apollo of Klaros (the wording in question is found in MDibelius, D. Isisweihe bei Apuleius=SAHeidelberg 1917, 4 p. 33f; one of these ins also in OGI 530; cp. ln. 15), show that ἐ. was applied to aspects of the mystery religions. Various views have been presented: one who enters (the sanctuary) which he saw (in ecstasy) (s. also Clemen 340f) or taking his stand on what he has seen in the mysteries (M-M). AFridrichsen, ZNW 21, 1922, 135–37 connects the words w. what follows: puffed up without reason by what he saw when he was initiated (but s. VLeinieks, The City of Dionysos, ’96, 145: ἐνεβάτευσεν in the Klaros ins does not mean ‘entered the mysteries’ but rather ‘entered the oracular chamber for consultation’ [citing Francis, s. 1 above]; s. also Nock, cited in 3). Cp. RYates, ET 97, ’85, 12–15 (participation in angelic liturgy).—Field, Notes 197f; SEitrem, Studia Theologica 2, ’48, 90–94; SLyonnet, Col 2:18 et les mystères de Apollon Clarien, Biblica 43, ’62, 417–35: ‘investigate, examine thoroughly’. For a summary of views s. Hermeneia comm., Col. and Phlm, ’71, 118–21.—The conviction that the text must be corrupt led to var. conjectures (their history in RHarris, Sidelights on NT Research 1909, 198f).—DELG s.v. βαίνω p. 157. M-M. TW.