σχολή (scholē)
scholē
lecture hall
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun scholē originally meant leisure or freedom from labor, but in the New Testament it takes on a specific physical sense. It refers to a lecture hall or school, a place where people gather for instruction and disputation. This shift reflects how the concept of "free time" evolved into the dedicated space used for that purpose.
Its single biblical appearance is in Acts 19:9, where Paul withdraws to hold discussions daily at the school of Tyrannus. The text implies a formal setting for teaching, distinct from casual conversation. This usage highlights how early Christian leaders utilized established educational centers to spread their message systematically.
The word’s root connects to the idea of emptying oneself of other duties to focus on learning or teaching. By moving from the abstract notion of leisure to a concrete building, scholē underscores the value placed on structured instruction in the ancient world. It marks a space dedicated to intellectual engagement and spiritual dialogue.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word scholē shifts from meaning free time to describing a physical lecture hall. In Acts 19:9, Paul uses the school of Tyrannus as a base for daily teaching. This shows that early Christians valued structured learning and dedicated spaces for discussion.
For your faith, this suggests that spiritual growth often happens in consistent, intentional settings. It invites you to seek out communities where deep questions are welcomed and truth is pursued together. Just as Paul engaged with the minds of his listeners, we too can find strength in focused study and shared dialogue.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- lecture hall1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- σχολῇ1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 19:9
But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.
This verse uniquely identifies the school of Tyrannus as Paul's daily base for reasoning with believers after he left the synagogue.