Quick Definition
a heavenly body, an element
Strong's Definition
something orderly in arrangement, i.e. (by implication) a serial (basal, fundamental, initial) constituent (literally), proposition (figuratively)
Derivation: neuter of a presumed derivative of the base of G4748 (στοιχέω);
KJV Usage: element, principle, rudiment
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
στοιχεῖον, στοιχειου, τό (from στοῖχος a row, rank, series; hence, properly, that which belongs to any στοῖχος, that of which a στοῖχος is composed; hence), "any first thing, from which the others belonging to some series or composite whole take their rise; an element, first principle". The word denotes specifically:
1. the letters of the alphabet as the elements of speech, not however the written characters (which are called γράμματα), but the spoken sounds: στοιχεῖον φωνῆς φωνή ἀσύνθετος, Plato definition, p. 414 e.; τό ῥω τό στοιχεῖον, id. Crat., p. 426 d.; στοιχεῖον ἐστι φωνή ἀδιαιρετος, οὐ πᾶσα δέ, ἀλλ' ἐξ ἧς πεφυκε συνετή γίγνεσθαι φωνή, Aristotle, poet. 20, p. 1456{b} , 22.
2. the elements from which all things have come, the material causes of the universe (ἐστι δέ στοιχεῖον, ἐξ οὗ πρώτου γίνεται τά γινόμενα καί εἰς ὁ ἔσχατον ἀναλύεται ... τό πῦρ, τό ὕδωρ, ὁ ἀήρ, ἡ γῆ, (Diogenes Laërtius Zeno 137); so very often from Plato down, as in Tim., p. 48 b.; in the Scriptures: Wis_7:17 Wis_19:17; 2Pe_3:10; 2Pe_3:12.
3. the heavenly bodies, either as parts of the heavens, or (as others think) because in them the elements of man's life and destiny were supposed to reside; so in the earlier ecclesiastical writings: Ep. ad Diogn. 7, 2 [ET]; Justin Martyr, dialog contra Trypho, 23; τά Οὐρανία στοιχεῖα, id. Apology 2, 5; στοιχεῖα Θεοῦ, created by God, Theophilus Ant. ad Autol. 1, 4; cf. Hilgenfeld, Galaterbrief, pp. 66-77. Hence, some interpreters infelicitously understand Paul's phrase τά στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου, Gal_4:3; Gal_4:9; Col_2:8; Col_2:20, of the heavenly bodies, because times and seasons, and so sacred seasons, were regulated by the course of the sun and moon; yet in unfolding the meaning of the passage on the basis of this sense they differ widely.
4. the elements, rudiments, primary and fundamental principles (cf. our 'alphabet' or 'a b c') of any art, science, or discipline; e. g. of mathematics, as in the title of Euclid's well-known work; στοιχεῖα πρῶτα καί μέγιστα χρήστης πολιτείας, Isocrates, p. 18 a.; τῆς ἀρετῆς, Plutarch, de puer. educ. 16, 2; many examples are given in Passow, under the word, 4, ii., p. 1550b; (cf. Liddell and Scott, under the word, II. 3 and 4). In the N. T. we have τά στοιχεῖα τῆς ἀρχῆς τῶν λογίων τοῦ Θεοῦ (see ἀρχή, 1 b., p. 76{b} bottom), Heb_5:12, such as are taught to νήπιοι, Heb_5:13; τά στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου, the rudiments with which mankind like νήπιοι were indoctrinated before the time of Christ, i. e. the elements of religions training, or the ceremonial precepts common alike to the worship of Jews and of Gentiles, Gal_4:3; Gal_4:9, (and since these requirements on account of the difficulty of observing them are to be regarded as a yoke cf. Act_15:10; Gal_5:1 those who rely upon them are said to be δεδουλωμένοι ὑπό τά στοιχεῖα); specifically, the ceremonial requirements especially of Jewish tradition, minutely set forth by theosophists and false teachers, and fortified by specious argument, Col_2:8; Col_2:20. The phrase τά στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου is fully discussed by Schneckenburger in the Theolog. Jahrbücher for 1848, Part iv., p. 445ff; Neander in the Deutsche Zeitschrift f. Christl. Wissensehaft for 1850, p. 205ff; Kienlen in Reuss u. Cunitz's Beiträge zu d. theolog. Wissenschaften, vol. ii., p. 133ff; E. Schaubach, Comment. qua exponitur quid στοιχεῖα τοῦ κόσμου in N. T. sibi velint. (Meining. 1862).
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
στοιχεῖον stoicheion 7 x
an element; an element of the natural universe, 2Pe_3:10 ; 2Pe_3:12 ;
an element or rudiment of any intellectual or religious system, Gal_4:3 ; Gal_4:9 ; Col_2:8 ; Col_2:20 ; Heb_5:12
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
** στοιχεῖον , -ου , τό ,
[in LXX : Wis_7:17 ; Wis_19:18 , 4Ma_12:13 * ;]
prop .,
one of a row (στοῖχος ) or series , hence,
1. the shadow-line of a dial ( Aristoph .).
2. an elementary sound or letter of the alphabet ( Anth ., Plut ., Papyri).
3. the elements or rudiments of knowledge ( Arist ., al. ) Heb_5:12 ; πτωχὰ σ ., Gal_4:9 ; σ . τοῦ κόσμου , Gal_4:3 , Col_2:8 ; Col_2:20 (but v. infr .).
4. The material elements of the universe ( Plat .; LXX , ll . c .): 2Pe_3:10 ; 2Pe_3:12 .
5. The heavenly bodies (Ding. Laert.).
6. The demons or tutelary spirits of nature (Enoch., Test., Sol., al. ; for this sense in Ga, Col, ll . c ., v. ICC on Col_2:8 ; Enc. Bibl., s.v. " Elements ").†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
στοιχεῖον [page 591]
It is not possible to trace here in detail the history of this interesting word. The utmost that can be attempted is to indicate some of its varied meanings, especially those which throw light on its NT occurrences.
The root meaning starts from στοῖχος , a row or rank, and from this the word passes to denote sounds which can be arranged in a series such as the letters of the alphabet : cf. BGU III. 959 .2 (A.D. 148) στοιχ (είου ) ε̄ κολ (λήματος ) ῑζ̄ , and see P Par 63 .116 (B.C. 164) στοιχειωδῶς , letter by letter. Cf. Anth . Pal. ix. 547 (like Nos. 538, 539) to which Mr. H. Lang Jones kindly refers us, nonsense verses containing all the letters of the Greek alphabet
ΑΔΗΛΟΝ
Τὰ εἴκοσι τέσσαρα στοιχεῖα
Τρηχὺν δ᾽ ὑπερβὰς φραγμὸν ἐξήνθιζε κλώψ .
From this it is an easy transition to the thought of elementary principles, the ABC of a science, as in Heb_5:12 , and in this connexion attention has been drawn to Porphyry ad Marcellam c. 24, where the iii/A.D. Neo-platonist writes τέσσαρα στοιχεῖα μάλιστα κεκρατύνθω περὶ θεοῦ· πίστις , ἀλήθεια , ἔρως , ἐλπίς (cf. 1Co_13:13 ).
The meaning of the primary constituent elements of the universe (cf. Suid. : στοιχεῖόν ἐστιν ἐξ οὗ πρώτου γίνεται τὰ γινόμενα καὶ εἰς ὃ ἔσχατον ἀναλύεται ) which occurs in Sap 7:17, 19:18, 4Ma_12:13 , is frequently found in 2Pe_3:10 ; 2Pe_3:12 , where the translation elements gives excellent sense. But M. R. James ( CGT ad l. ) prefers the rendering luminaries, with which we may associate the word as an astrological term in P Lond 130 .60 (i/ii A.D.) (= I. p. 134) στοιχείωι Διός : cf. Diog. Laert. vi. 102 τὰ δώδεκα στοιχεῖα , the signs of the Zodiac. In this connexion, by the courtesy of Dr. Darwell Stone, we have been provided with a long list of passages from Patristic writers where, in addition to other uses, τὰ στοιχεῖα is applied to heavenly bodies, and to the planets in particular. The following exx. must suffice Just. M. Ap. 2. 5. 2 τὰ οὐράνια στοιχεῖα εἰς άὔξησιν καρπῶν καὶ ὡρῶν κτλ ., Ep. ad Diogn. 7. 2 οὗ τὰ μυστήρια πιστῶς πάντα φυλάσσει τὰ στοιχεῖα (mentioned after the heavens and the sea, before sun, moon, stars), Epiph. adv. Haer. 7 ἥλιον καὶ σελήνην καὶ τὰ ἄλλα ἄστρα καὶ τὰ οὐρανὸν στοιχεῖα , and the metaphorical application to distinguished men, great lights, in Polycrates apud Eus. H.E. v. 24. 2 μεγάλα στοιχεῖα κεκοίμηται , implying a literal use for sun or moon or planet.
Reference may also be made to Mr. F. H. Colson s Essay on The Week (Cambridge University Press, 1926), in which he suggests. that the στοιχεῖα of Gal_4:3 and Col_2:8 may refer to the seven planets, from which the days of the week are named (p. 95 ff.), and to A. Dieterich Abraxas (Leipzig, 1891) p. 60 ff., where there is an interesting statement regarding the application of στοιχεῖα to the physical elements in the magical papyri and the Orphic hymns, leading on to its application to the rulers and the gods. In JTS xxviii. (1927), p. 181 f. W. H. P. Hatch refers to four passages in a Syriac work entitled The Book of the Laws of the Countries , commonly ascribed to Bardaišā n, which show that in Mesopotamia in ii/iii A.D. στοιχεῖα were understood as personal cosmic powers.
For an extension to the thought of tutelary spirits, angels, see Deissmann in EB s.v. Elements, who applies it in the difficult NT passages Gal_4:3 ; Gal_4:9 and Col_2:8 ; Col_2:20 , understanding by Gal_4:3 cosmic spiritual beings, the angels by whom according to 3 .19 the law was ordained, and by 4 .9 the heathen deities whom the Galatians had formerly served, while in Col_2:8 ; Col_2:20 it is again personal powers who are thought of, the principalities and the powers of 2 .15 . It may be added that this interpretation can also be illustrated from modern Greek usage, as when in Abbott Songs p. 178 .3 we read of τὸ στοιχεῖο᾽ τοῦ ποταμοῦ , the spirit of the stream. Cf. Thumb Handbook p. 356 : στοιχειό , spirit, ghost, and στοιχειώνω , make a ghost of, become a spirit.
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
στοιχεῖον στοιχεῖον, ου, τό, [Etym: στοῖχος] properly, "one of a row": hence, in the sun-dial, "the shadow of the gnomon", Ar. generally, "one of a series, an elementary sound" of the voice, "a letter", Plat. :— κατὰ στοιχεῖον "in the order of the letters, alphabetically", Anth. in pl. "the elements", Plat. , etc. "the elements of knowledge, rudiments", ἀρξάμενοι ἀπὸ τῶν στ. Xen.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
στοιχεῖον, -ου, τό
[in LXX: Wis.7:17 19:18, 4Ma.12:13 * ;]
prop., one of a row (στοῖχος) or series, hence,
__1. the shadow-line of a dial (Aristoph.).
__2. an elementary sound or letter of the alphabet (Anth., Plut., π.).
__3. the elements or rudiments of knowledge (Arist., al.) Heb.5:12; πτωχὰ σ., Gal.4:9; σ. τοῦ κόσμου, Gal.4:3, Col.2:8, 20 (but see infr.).
__4. The material elements of the universe (Plat.; LXX, ll. with): 2Pe.3:10 3:12.
__5. The heavenly bodies (Ding. Laert.).
__6. The demons or tutelary spirits of nature (Enoch., Test., Sol., al.; for this sense in Ga, Col, ll. with, see ICC on Col.2:8; Enc. Bibl., see word " Elements ").†
(AS)
📖 In-Depth Word Study
Principles (4747) stoicheion
Elements (4747) (stoicheion from stoicheo = march in rank from stoÃchos = row) describes something orderly in arrangement as for example one of a row and hence a component or element. In most of its uses, it denotes an elementary or fundamental principle in a subject or discipline. It refers to the first principles of something.
Stoicheion (“elements”) refers to the basic building blocks of matter, such as atomic and subatomic particles.
A stoicheion was originally a line of things as for example a line of soldiers, but came to refer to the ABC's, and then to any elementary knowledge. Stoicheion also refers to any first thing from which the others belonging to some series or composite whole take their rise.
In other words, stoicheion refers to the basic components of something, the basic unit of which a series is composed. It can refer to the things that constitute the foundation of learning, i.e., the fundamental principles. For example, in grammar, stoicheion would be the ABCs. In speech, stoicheion would be the basic sounds. In geometry stoicheion would be the axioms. In mathematics it would be a basic unit such as a point or a line. In language theory stoicheion would be the individual constituent parts of a syllable or word, its “smallest constituent parts,” while in music it would be the individual tone. In the NT, stoicheion is used as a religious technical term describing the elementary doctrines, the fundamental teachings or the basic principles of the religion, whether it be Judaism, asceticism, paganism, etc (see below).
In some instances stoicheion represents the supernatural powers or forces regarded as having control over the events of this world. Some commentators apply this meaning to the interpretation of the passages in Colossians 2 and Galatians 4 (see below).
Thayer writes that stoicheion is derived...
from stoichos = a row, rank, series; hence, properly, that which belongs to any stoichos, that of which a stoichos is composed; hence "any first thing, from which the others belonging to some series or composite whole take their rise; an element, first principle"... the elements, rudiments, primary and fundamental principles of any art, science, or discipline; e. g. of mathematics"
The kindred verb stoicheo, to walk, carries the idea of keeping in line, to keep in step, to walk orderly and then to conform to virtue and piety. (cf "keep in step [stoicheo] with the Spirit" Gal 5:25-note).
Stoicheion is always plural and means the basic parts, the rudiments, or the components of something.
Among the ancient Greek philosophers, stoicheion designated the basic and essential elements of the universe, including the four elements of the world -- earth, water, air, and fire. In other words, stoicheion refers to basic elements from which everything in the world is made and of which it is composed. Peter's use in 2Pe 3:10, 12 conveys this specific meaning. Later stoicheion was also used to refer to the planets (heavenly bodies) and the signs of the zodiac ("the 12 stoicheia of the heavens ").
Stoicheion - 7 times in 7 verses in the NAS (Gal 4:3, 9; Col 2:8, 20; Heb 5:12; 2 Pet 3:10, 12) and is translated: elemental things, 2; elementary, 1; elementary principles, 2; elements, 2; principles, 1.
Stoicheion is used as a reference to the basic elements or rituals of human religion in Galatians 4:3, 9, Paul writing...
Gal 4:3: So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. (Comment: Here stoicheion refers to the elemental practices of Judaism)
Gal 4:9: But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? (Comment: Among the weak and worthless elemental things to which some of the Galatians were returning was the ritualistic observance of days and months and seasons and years)
In Colossians Paul uses stoicheion in his warning to the saints to
Colossians 2:8 See to it (present imperative) that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles (stoicheion) of the world, rather than according to Christ. (see note Colossians 2:8) (Comment: In this context the "elementary principles" probably refers to various Jewish rituals, ceremonies, and ordinances by which men hoped to obtain God’s favor)
Colossians 2:20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" (see note Colossians 2:20-23) (Comment: Paul is saying that if the Colossian saints adopt the practices of asceticism [practice of strict self-denial as a spiritual discipline] they are practicing a worldly system of religion, based on elementary principles)
The writer of Hebrews chides his readers declaring that...
by this time you ought (a strong word which conveys the sense that this is your duty or obligation) to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles (stoicheion) of the oracles of God (a striking synonym for the Scriptures), and you have come to need milk and not solid food. (see note Hebrews 5:12) (Comment: In this context stoicheion refers to the first or basic principles of Christian doctrine, the "ABC's" so to speak. It denotes what an initiate or observer encounters first.)
Here is Vine's summary of stoicheion...
a, the substance of the material world, 2Peter 3:10, 12
b, the elementary principles of religion, whether Jewish, here, or Gentile, Colossians 2:8, 20, or both, Gal 4:3, 9
c, the elementary principles (the “ABC”) of the Old Testament as a revelation from God, Hebrews 5:12-note (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson )
Will melt (5080) (teko) means literally that the elements are continually (present tense) being (passive voice) liquefied, and in context the present tense is used with a view to future tense fulfillment. The present tense depicts the coming event as a vivid reality (cf Isa 34:4 where the Greek Septuagint translation of the Hebrew uses teko).
Teko does not imply the annihilation of matter but rather suggests an alteration of its form.
Intense heat (2741) (kausoo) means literally being (passive voice) continually (present tense) set on fire with fervent heat. It was a medical term describing a patient burning with fever.
2 Peter 3:13 But according to His promise we are looking for (1PPAI) new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells (3SFPI) (NASB: Lockman)
Greek: kainous de ouranous kai gen kainen kata to epaggelma autou prosdokomen, (1PPAI) en ois dikaiosune katoikei. (3SFPI)
Amplified: But we look for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise, in which righteousness (uprightness, freedom from sin, and right standing with God) is to abide. (Amplified Bible - Lockman)
NET: But, according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness truly resides. (NET Bible)
NLT: But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world where everyone is right with God. (NLT - Tyndale House)
Phillips: but our hopes are set not on these but on the new Heaven and the new earth which he has promised us, and in which nothing but good shall live. (Phillips: Touchstone)
Wuest: But heavens new in quality and an earth new in quality according to His promise we are looking for, in which righteousness is permanently at home. (Eerdmans)
Young's Literal: and for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise we do wait, in which righteousness doth dwell;
BUT ACCORDING TO HIS PROMISE WE ARE LOOKING FOR: kata to epaggelma autou prosdokomen (1PPAI): (Isa 65:17; 66:22; Ro 8:20, 21, Rev 21:1, 27)
Note the literal rendering emphasizes the New Heavens and New Earth...
and for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise we do wait, in which righteousness doth dwell
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