προελπίζω (proelpizō)
proelpizō
to hope beforehand
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb proelpizō means to hope in advance or to anticipate with confidence. It combines a prefix meaning "before" with a root meaning "to hope," creating a sense of looking forward to something with established expectation rather than uncertain wishful thinking.
This word appears only once in the New Testament, in Ephesians 1:12. Paul uses it to describe believers who were already placing their hope in Christ before the current generation came to faith. The term captures a unique historical moment where earlier followers of Jesus are seen as having anticipated the inclusion of Gentiles, setting them apart as those who had trusted in God’s promises ahead of time.
Translators typically render this word as "who were the first to hope in Christ." This phrasing highlights the temporal aspect of the action. It is not merely about believing, but about being the initial group to direct their hopeful expectation toward Jesus. The word underscores the continuity between the earliest Jewish Christians and the later expansion of the faith.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word προελπίζω (proelpizō) carries a beautiful sense of anticipation. It means to hope beforehand, to look forward to something with confidence before it fully unfolds. In Ephesians 1:12, Paul uses this rare term to describe those who placed their trust in Christ before the wider world even knew His name. This is not a vague wish but a steady, established expectation rooted in God’s promises.
For you, this word offers comfort. It reminds us that faith often begins with a quiet hope, a leaning toward God before we fully understand all He has planned. You are part of a long line of believers who have trusted in Christ’s goodness, joining those who hoped in Him from the very start. This continuity connects your personal faith to the broader story of salvation.
When life feels uncertain, remember that hope is not just waiting; it is trusting in what God has already promised. Your faith joins a great chorus of believers across time, all looking forward to the same glorious future. This shared hope anchors your soul, reminding you that you are never alone in your journey.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- having first trusted1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- προηλπικότας1×
Key Verses
-
Ephesians 1:12
to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ.
This verse uniquely identifies the earliest Jewish believers as those who had already placed their confident expectation in Christ before the Gentile mission began.