θέλημα (thelēma)
thelēma
will/desire
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 59 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek noun thelēma refers to what has been decided or chosen, encompassing both a person’s inner inclination and the specific outcome of that choice. In the New Testament, it appears fifty-nine times, frequently describing God’s sovereign plan or human obedience to divine instruction. The word bridges the gap between internal desire and external action, serving as the object of verbs like "to do" or "to fulfill."
Its meaning shifts subtly depending on context. When paired with "of God," it often denotes His eternal purpose or specific commands, as seen in Ephesians 1:9 where Paul speaks of the mystery of His will. In contrast, Jesus uses it to describe personal mission and alignment with the Father, stating in John 6:38 that He came not to do His own will but the will of Him who sent Him. This usage highlights a voluntary submission rather than mere compliance.
The term derives from the verb thelō, meaning "to wish" or "to be willing." While English translations often render it simply as "will," the Greek carries a weight of settled purpose. It appears in familiar prayers like the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:10), where believers ask for God’s decisive plan to be realized on earth. Translators must navigate whether the context points to God’s ultimate decree or His immediate moral expectations, as seen in 1 Thessalonians 4:3.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word thelēma describes a settled purpose or decision, bridging the gap between what we desire in our hearts and what we actually do. In Scripture, it often points to God’s eternal plan, but it also refers to His specific moral instructions for daily life. When Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, He aligned His human desires with the Father’s will, showing that true obedience is a willing submission rather than forced compliance.
For your faith, this means you are invited into a relationship where God’s purposes are not distant commands but shared goals. You do not need to guess what pleases Him; His will is revealed in Scripture and confirmed by the peace of a renewed mind. As you seek to understand His direction, you find that doing His will brings freedom and clarity, transforming your perspective on life's challenges.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 59 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- will46×
- [the] will10×
- will.1×
- will,1×
- to [the] will1×
- things willed1×
- by [the] will1×
- [is the] will1×
- [his] will1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- θέλημα33×
- θελήματος13×
- θέλημά7×
- θελήματι6×
- θέλημα.¶1×
- θελήματά1×
- θελήματος,1×
- θελήματα1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 6:10
Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
This verse frames the Lord's Prayer by asking for God's sovereign plan to be actively realized in human history.
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John 6:38
For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.
Jesus defines His mission as a voluntary alignment with the Father’s purpose rather than independent action.
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Romans 12:2
Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Paul connects spiritual transformation to the ability to discern God's good and perfect will through mental renewal.
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Acts 21:14
When he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The Lord’s will be done.”
The disciples accept Paul’s difficult path by surrendering their personal preferences to divine guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Greek word thelēma mean?
How is the will of God different from His decree?
Where does thelēma appear in the Bible?
Every Occurrence (59 verses across 18 books)
Matthew 6 verses
Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 7:21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my…
Matthew 12:50For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
Matthew 18:14Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Matthew 21:31Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell…
Matthew 26:42Again, a second time he went away and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup can’t pass away from me unless I drink…