Lexicon hairesis: choice, opinion Original Word: αἵρεσις, εως, ἡPart of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: hairesis Phonetic Spelling: (hah'-ee-res-is) Short Definition: a self-chosen opinion, a sect Definition: a self-chosen opinion, a religious or philosophical sect, discord or contention. HELPS word-Studies 139 haíresis (a feminine noun derived from 138 /hairéomai, "personally select, choose") – properly, a personal (decisive) choice. 139 /haíresis ("a strong, distinctive opinion") is used in the NT of individual "parties (sects)" that operated within Judaism. The term stresses the personal aspect of choice – and hence how being a Sadducee (Ac 5:17) was sharply distinguished from being a Pharisee (Ac 15:5; 26:5). [As a feminine noun, 139 (haíresis) highlights the subjective (individual) nature of a specific (divisive) opinion.] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom haireóDefinitionchoice, opinion NASB Translationfactions (2), heresies (1), sect (6).
Thayer's STRONGS NT 139: αἵρεσιςαἵρεσις, (εως, ἡ; 1. (from αἱρέω), act of taking, capture: τῆς πόλεως, the storming of a city; in secular authors. 2. (from ἁιρέομαι), choosing, choice, very often in secular writings: the Sept. Leviticus 22:18; 1 Macc. 8:30. 3. that which is chosen, a chosen course of thought and action; hence one's chosen opinion, tenet; according to the context, an opinion varying from the true exposition of the Christian faith (heresy): 2 Peter 2:1 (cf. DeWette at the passage), and in ecclesiastical writings (cf. Sophocles' Lexicon, under the word). 4. a body of men separating themselves from others and following their own tenets (a sect or party): as the Sadducees, Acts 5:17; the Pharisees, Acts 15:5; Acts 26:5; the Christians, Acts 24:5, 14 (in both instances with a suggestion of reproach); (in Diogenes Laërtius 1 (13) 18f, others, used of the schools of philosophy). 5. dissensions arising from diversity of opinions and aims: Galatians 5:20; 1 Corinthians 11:19. (Cf. Meyer, at the passages cited; B. D. American edition under the word ; Burton, Bampt. Lect. for 1829; Campbell, Diss. on the Gospels, diss. iv., part iv.)
Strong's heresy, sect. From haireomai; properly, a choice, i.e. (specially) a party or (abstractly) disunion -- heresy (which is the Greek word itself), sect. see GREEK haireomai |
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