The Greek word adelphe

Used only in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, First Corinthians, First Timothy, Philemon, James and Second John, the Greek noun “adelphe” means “sister” or “Christian sister.”

For a list of each passage where adelphe is used, see Mt. 12:50; 13:56; 19:29; Mk. 3:32, 35; 6:3; 10:29-30; Lk. 10:39-40; 14:26; Jn. 11:1, 3, 5, 28, 39; 19:25; Acts 23:16; Rom. 16:1, 15; 1 Cor. 7:15; 9:5; 1 Tim. 5:2; Phile. 2; Jas. 2:15; 2 Jn. 13.

The use of this word in 2 Jn. 13 is understood by commentators to be figurative (i.e. it describes a sister congregation, perhaps in the area of Ephesus).

 

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