the Week of Proper 26 / Ordinary 31
Click here to learn more!
Bible Dictionaries
Strong, Stronger
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words
or "powerful, mighty," is translated "strong," in Romans 15:1 , where the "strong" are those referred to in ch. 14, in contrast to "the weak in faith," those who have scruples in regard to eating meat and the observance of days; 2 Corinthians 12:10 , where the strength lies in bearing sufferings in the realization that the endurance is for Christ's sake; 2 Corinthians 13:9 , where "ye are strong" implies the good spiritual condition which the Apostle desires for the church at Corinth in having nothing requiring his exercise of discipline (contrast No. 2 in 1 Corinthians 4:10 ). See ABLE , C, No. 1, MIGHTY, POSSIBLE, POWER.
"strong, mighty," is used of (a) persons: (1) God, Revelation 18:8; (2) angels, Revelation 5:2; 10:1; 18:21; (3) men, Matthew 12:29 (twice) and parallel passages; Hebrews 11:34 , AV, "valiant" (RV, "mighty"); Revelation 6:15 (in the best texts; some have No. 1); 19:18, "mighty;" metaphorically, (4) the church at Corinth, 1 Corinthians 4:10 , where the Apostle reproaches them ironically with their unspiritual and self-complacent condition; (5) of young men in Christ spiritually strong, through the Word of God, to overcome the evil one, 1 John 2:14; of (b) things: (1) wind, Matthew 14:30 (in some mss.), "boisterous;" (2) famine, Luke 15:14; (3) things in the mere human estimate, 1 Corinthians 1:27; (4) Paul's letters, 2 Corinthians 10:10; (5) the Lord's crying and tears, Hebrews 5:7; (6) consolation, Hebrews 6:18; (7) the voice of an angel, Revelation 18:2 (in the best texts; some have megas, "great"); (8) Babylon, Revelation 18:10; (9) thunderings, Revelation 19:6 . See BOISTEROUS , MIGHTY.
the comparative degree of No. 2, is used (a) of Christ, Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:7; Luke 3:16; (b) of "the weakness of God," as men without understanding regard it, 1 Corinthians 1:25; (c) of a man of superior physical strength, Luke 11:22; (d) in 1 Corinthians 10:22 , in a rhetorical question, implying the impossibility of escaping the jealousy of God when it is kindled.
Notes: (1) For "strong delusion," 2 Thessalonians 2:11 , AV, see ERROR , No. 1. (2) For "strong (meat)," Hebrews 5:12,14 , AV, see SOLID."to make strong" (en, "in," dunamis, "power"), "to strengthen," is rendered "waxed strong" in Romans 4:20 , RV (AV, "was strong"); "be strong," Ephesians 6:10; "were made strong," Hebrews 11:34 . See ENABLE , STRENGTH , B, No. 2.
"to strengthen" (akin to kratos, "strength"), is rendered (a) "to wax strong," Luke 1:80; 2:40; "be strong," 1 Corinthians 16:13 , lit., "be strengthened;" "to be strengthened," Ephesians 3:16 (Passive Voice in each place). See STRENGTHEN.
see ESTABLISH , No. 2.
These files are public domain.
Vines, W. E., M. A. Entry for 'Strong, Stronger'. Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ved/s/strong-stronger.html. 1940.
