χρῆσις (chrēsis)
chrēsis
use
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun chrēsis simply means "use" or "the manner in which something is employed." Derived from the verb chraomai, it appears only twice in the New Testament, both times within Paul’s letter to the Romans. In these instances, the word carries a specific physical weight, referring to the practical act of using one’s body.
Paul employs this term to describe sexual relations, specifically noting the "use" of women in Romans 1:26 and men with men in verse 27. Here, the language is stark and functional, highlighting how natural relationships were distorted into objects of passion. The word strips away romantic euphemism, focusing instead on the act itself as a misuse of created order.
This rare occurrence underscores the gravity of Paul’s argument about idolatry. By using a common word for utility to describe intimacy, he emphasizes that these acts are not merely personal choices but fundamental distortions of how human bodies were intended to function. The term serves as a blunt reminder of the consequences when divine design is ignored.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chrēsis appears only twice in the New Testament, both within Paul’s letter to the Romans. In these verses, it translates simply as 'use' or 'function.' Paul applies this term to human sexuality, describing how people turned away from God's design. He speaks of women exchanging the natural use for what is contrary to nature, and men similarly abandoning their natural function.
This language is stark and functional. It does not rely on emotional rhetoric but points to a practical reality: our bodies are designed with a specific purpose. When we ignore that design, we experience a distortion of our created order. This view challenges us to consider how we honor God with our physical lives, recognizing that our bodies belong to Him.
Understanding this term helps clarify Paul’s argument about idolatry and human dignity. It reminds us that sexual intimacy is not merely a personal preference but a profound part of God's creation. We are invited to reflect on how we can live in a way that respects the body as a gift from God, aligned with His original intent for humanity.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- use2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- χρῆσιν2×
Key Verses
-
Romans 1:26
For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For their women changed the natural function into that which is against nature.
This verse uses chrēsis to describe women exchanging the natural function for what is contrary to nature, highlighting a departure from created design.
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Romans 1:27
Likewise also the men, leaving the natural function of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men doing what is inappropriate with men, and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error.
Here, the word describes men abandoning their natural function, illustrating how idolatry leads to a distortion of physical relationships.