καταγγελεύς (katangeleus)
katangeleus
proclaimer
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun katangeleus refers to a professional proclaimer or herald who announces news with authority. In the ancient world, such figures were often employed to declare official decrees or results in public settings, carrying the weight of their sender’s message rather than offering personal opinion.
Scripture uses this term sparingly, appearing only once in Acts 17:18. There, Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encounter Paul in Athens and describe him as a katangeleus of "foreign demons." They use the word to characterize his preaching as an unfamiliar proclamation of new spiritual realities, highlighting how his message stood apart from their own philosophical traditions.
The word derives from the verb katangellō, which implies declaring something thoroughly or publicly. By choosing this specific term for Paul’s role, the text emphasizes the public and official nature of his witness, marking him as a messenger who brings news that demands attention from those who hear it.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word katangeleus describes a professional herald who carried official news with authority. In ancient Athens, this term highlighted how Paul’s message stood apart from local philosophy. It was not merely personal opinion but a public declaration that demanded attention.
For your faith, this reminds us that sharing the Gospel is about bringing a trusted message from God. You do not need to invent new ideas or rely on clever arguments. The power lies in the truth of what has been sent. When you speak of Jesus and His resurrection, you carry weight because He sent you.
This role invites you to be a faithful messenger. Your task is to proclaim clearly, leaving the results to God. This brings peace, knowing your part is simply to share the good news with honesty and courage.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a proclaimer1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- καταγγελεὺς1×
Key Verses
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Acts 17:18
Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also were conversing with him. Some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign deities,” because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.
This verse uniquely applies the term katangeleus to Paul, showing how his public proclamation of Jesus was viewed as a foreign authority by Athenian philosophers.