Bible Dictionaries
Admonition, Admonish

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

lit., "a putting in mind" (nous, "mind," tithemi, "to put"), is used in 1 Corinthians 10:11 , of the purpose of the Scriptures; in Ephesians 6:4 , of that which is ministered by the Lord; and in Titus 3:10 , of that which is to be administered for the correction of one who creates trouble in the church. Nouthesia is "the training by word," whether of encouragement, or, if necessary, by reproof or remonstrance. In contrast to this, the synonymous word paideia stresses training by act, though both words are used in each respect.

cp. the noun above, means "to put in mind, admonish," Acts 20:31 (AV, "warn"); Romans 15:14; 1 Corinthians 4:14 (AV, "warn"); Colossians 1:28 (AV, "warning"); Colossians 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:12,14 (AV, "warn"); 2 Thessalonians 3:15 .

It is used, (a) of instruction, (b) of warning. It is thus distinguished from paideuo, "to correct by discipline, to train by act," Hebrews 12:6; cp. Ephesians 6:4 .

"The difference between 'admonish' and 'teach' seems to be that, whereas the former has mainly in view the things that are wrong and call for warning, the latter has to do chiefly with the impartation of positive truth, cp. Colossians 3:16; they were to let the Word of Christ dwell richly in them, so that they might be able (1) to teach and 'admonish' one another, and (2) to abound in the praises of God.

"Admonition differs from remonstrance, in that the former is warning based on instruction; the latter may be little more than expostulation. For example, though Eli remonstrated with his sons, 1 Samuel 2:24 , he failed to admonish them, 1 Samuel 3:13 , LXX. Pastors and teachers in the churches are thus themselves admonished, i.e., instructed and warned, by the Scriptures, 1 Corinthians 10:11 , so to minister the Word of God to the saints, that, naming the Name of the Lord, they shall depart from unrighteousness, 2 Timothy 2:19 ."* [*From Notes on Thessalonians, by Hogg and Vine, pp. 179-180.] See WARN.

"to admonish by way of exhorting or advising," is found in Acts 27:9 ("Paul admonished them"); Acts 27:22 ("and now I exhort you") See EXHORT.

primarily, "to transact business," then, "to give advice to enquirers" (especially of official pronouncements of magistrates), or "a response to those consulting an oracle," came to signify the giving of a Divine "admonition" or instruction or warning, in a general way; "admonished" in Hebrews 8:5 , AV (RV, "warned"). Elsewhere it is translated by the verb "to warn."

The word is derived from chrema, "an affair, business." Names were given to men from the nature of their business (see the same word in Acts 11:26; Romans 7:3 ); hence, the idea of dealing with a person and receiving instruction. In the case of oracular responses, the word is derived from chresmos, "an oracle." See CALL , REVEAL , SPEAK , WARN.