Word Study: ἀρχή (archē)

Research

The Greek word, ἀρχή (archē) is used in Colossians 2:10 as well as 2:15. It also occurs in 55 verses in the New Testament. Below is a table, exported from Logos, showing every verse in an “aligned” format with the English rendering of the word shown in blue. The meaning for that particular usage is shown below the verse.

Bible Search for lemma.g:ἀρχή (archē)

Word Study

            As stated earlier, the Greek word ἀρχή (archē) is used in Colossians 2:10 as well as 2:15. It also occurs in 55 verses in the New Testament. The semantic range of the word is broad but finds a great deal of consistency among the usage. The meanings and occurrences are as follows:

1. The point of  a new beginning in a temporal sequence. The first thing than precedes a sequential order. This can also be used in relation to creation or even time itself, indicating more of an ancient meaning— existence that goes back into ancient history—the earliest days.  See John 1:1, 1:2, 6:64, 8:25, 8:44, 15:27, 16:4; Acts 11:15, 26:4; Phil. 4:15; Heb. 1:10; 2 Peter 3:4; 1 John 1:1, 2:7, 2:13, 2:14, 2:24(a), 2:24(b), 3:8, 3:11; 2 John 5, 6; Rev. 21:6, 2:13.
2. Origin, foundation, or a cause.. This is either the first thing that has caused something else, or the point of origin for all things. In this way, this most often relates to creation in a divine sense but could also mean the origin of something secular. See Colossians. 1:18; Hebrews 2:3, 3:14, 7:3; Revelation 3:14.
3. Basic or simple, foundational in its complexity.  This is used to indicate something that is basic, foundational, or simple. Can relate to an idea, or a teaching for example. See Hebrews 5:12, 6:1.
4. Signifies “power,” “authority” or “influence” usually in an earthly sense. This is a multifaceted use that depends on the context a great deal. In some cases, this is also used to mean supernatural forces/powers/spirits that seem to be hostile/opposed to God (see Romans 8:38; Colossians 1:16). This is most often translated as “ruler”. Could be secular/natural or supernatural. See Mark 1:1; Luke 12:11, 20:20; 1 Cor. 15:21; Eph. 1:21, 3:10, 6:12; Col. 2:15; Titus 3:1; Jude 6.
5. A corner of a cloth. This simply is used to identify the corner of a piece of fabric. See Acts 10:11, 11:15.

Summary of ἀρχή (archē) in Lexicons and Word Study Books

For this section I consulted two resources: LSJ[1] and TDNTA[2]. The word appears in both resources, and I was able to confirm the wide semantic range that this word has.

Beginning with LSJ, the word is explained in the following five ways: (1) the beginning, or origin. An example is given such as the beginning of the month. This usage is often accompanied by modifying propositions used adverbially. An example is “the original argument.” (2) A first principle, or element. A practical principal of conduct or being. (3) An end, or extremity. Such as the end of a rope or sheet. (4) The single point of origin. In a mathematical sense such the origin of a curve. (5) First place or power, sovereignty. This is further divided into (i) empire or realms (ii) magistrate or offices (iii) companies or bands and (iv) heavenly powers.

TDNTA has eight uses of the word, as follows: (1) to indicate the initiation of an action, process, or state of being. (2) Beginning. A point at the beginning of a duration. (3) First cause. The origin of something. (4) Ruler. Usually in the normal human sphere but there is room for supernatural application. (5) Supernatural power. This could be humans merely influenced by supernatural powers. (6) Sphere of authority. In this case, it explains the limit or domain of one’s authority. (7) elementary aspect. A simple truth. (8) Corner. Of a sheet or cloth.

Critique of the Greek Lexicon and Word Study Book

            The LSJ and TDNTA both are useful resources for exploring the semantic range and meaning of the words found in the Greek New Testament. In this case, they proved valuable in understanding the use of ἀρχή (archē). I agree with many of the conclusions found in the Lexicon and dictionary. I found the LSJ to be helpful in understanding the full range of the meaning of the word, and it expands its references outside of the New Testament into Greek writing. This was admittedly a bit over my own head and made my study feel a bit clumsy. This is not a knock against the resource, however.

            Some conclusions that I agreed with, for example, were the general categories of the word. I only distinguished five ranges of meaning, whereas the LSJ found general consensus with 5 categories broken into additional subcategories. TDNTA found eight. Between the two, the agreement was regarding (1) beginning of a temporal sequence (2) signifying power or authority (3) basic or elementary principles (4) the end or corner of something and (5) the origin of something. 

            Among both resources I felt that the outlier was how the word did or not denote supernatural authorities or power. TDNTA seemed to distinguish between the two types of authority (human and supernatural) while LSJ seemed to make supernatural authority subordinate to authority as a whole. I favor this view, as the context seems to be the key factor in how the word is applied.

            I would keep my categories relatively unchanged, but I would expand the point regarding its use a “corner” in favor of LSJ’s definition that it is better understood as an “end of an extremity”, as it could be the end of a rope—with a sheet that would happen to be the corner.

Insights Gained

            This was a very eye-opening exercise in word study. I had never given this much thought as to how we get the English translations of individual Greek words. Indeed, the act of translating is utterly dependent on understanding not only the possible and valid semantic range of a word, but it also requires a great command of the word’s use in the New Testament time period so as to appropriately identify the contextual usage. To this end, it has made me more curious as to how many times a single word is translated multiple ways in the Bible. In a very practical way, this project helped stretch my ability to critically collect information and data on a single word in the various contexts it appears.             I am beginning to better understand how even an elementary understanding of Greek will help wonders in terms of understanding what the original NT authors may have meant when they picked the words, phrases, and clauses that they did when they wrote the various books of the New Testament. It also has given me a greater appreciation for the vast amount of research and work that goes into compiling these resources for Biblical study.

© Isaiah R. Maynard, 2023

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[1] Liddell, Henry George, Robert Scott, Henry Stuart Jones, and Roderick McKenzie. 1996. In A Greek-English Lexicon. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

[2] Kittel, Gerhard, Gerhard Friedrich, and Geoffrey William Bromiley. 1985. In Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans.