αὔξησις (auxēsis)
auxēsis
growth
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun auxēsis denotes a process of increasing or growing. It appears only twice in the New Testament, both times within Paul’s letters to the Ephesians and Colossians. The word describes the natural expansion that occurs when parts are properly connected.
In these passages, Paul uses it to describe how the body of Christ grows as each part does its work. This is not a static state but an active development. The sources indicate that this growth happens through the proper functioning of every member, rather than from external pressure alone.
Its root verb means to make larger or more abundant. By focusing on this term, Paul emphasizes that spiritual maturity comes from internal unity and mutual support. This perspective shifts attention from individual effort to collective health within the community.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word auxēsis describes a natural, organic process of growth that happens when parts are properly connected. It appears in Paul’s letters to describe how the body of Christ expands as each member does its work. This is not a static state but an active development driven by internal unity and mutual support.
When we focus on this term, we see that spiritual maturity comes from collective health within the community rather than individual effort alone. The sources indicate that this growth occurs through the proper functioning of every member, shifting our attention from personal striving to shared life in love.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- increase2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- αὔξησιν2×
Key Verses
-
Ephesians 4:16
from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.
This verse shows how the body increases through the working of each individual part, highlighting that growth is a result of every member contributing according to their measure.
-
Colossians 2:19
and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God’s growth.
Here the text specifies that growth comes from holding firmly to the Head, indicating that divine connection is the source of this God-given expansion.