πέρυσι (perusi)
perusi
last year
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adverb perusi simply means "last year" or "a year ago." It is a straightforward temporal marker that points to the immediate past, specifically the twelve months preceding the current moment. In the New Testament, it appears only twice, both within Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians.
Paul uses this precise term when discussing financial contributions for the collection of saints. He notes in 2 Corinthians 8:10 that the Corinthians had already begun this work "a year ago," and reiterates in 9:2 that their readiness was established then. The word anchors these instructions in a recent, concrete timeline, reminding readers of a commitment made not in distant memory but in the previous calendar cycle.
Its rarity in Scripture highlights its utility for specific historical reference rather than theological abstraction. Translators consistently render it as "last year," preserving the exact chronological distance Paul intended. This precision helps modern readers understand that the appeal was based on a recent, active decision by the community, not an abstract ideal.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word perusi simply marks a specific point in time: last year. In the New Testament, it appears only twice, both in Paul’s letters to the Corinthian church. He uses it when discussing their plan to give financially to other believers who were in need. This is not a vague memory but a concrete reminder of a decision made twelve months earlier.
Paul points back to that time to encourage the Corinthians to finish what they started. It shows that Christian commitment is not just about sudden feelings but about following through on promises made over time. When we look back at our own past decisions, we can see how God’s grace has sustained us since then.
This word invites us to reflect on our own recent commitments. Whether it is a promise to serve, a habit of prayer, or a plan to help others, perusi reminds us that faithfulness grows in the space between intention and action. It is a gentle nudge to complete what we began, trusting that God honors our steady steps.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a year ago.1×
- a year ago,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- πέρυσι.1×
- πέρυσι,1×
Key Verses
-
II Corinthians 8:10
I give advice in this: it is expedient for you who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing.
Paul uses this term to anchor the Corinthians' financial commitment in a specific past decision, urging them to complete what they started twelve months prior.
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II Corinthians 9:2
for I know your readiness, of which I boast on your behalf to those of Macedonia, that Achaia has been prepared for the past year. Your zeal has stirred up very many of them.
Here the word highlights the duration of their readiness, serving as evidence to other churches that their zeal has been consistent over the entire year.