Pronunciation Guide: pah-rah-bo-LOO-oh-my
Strong’s G3851: παραβολεύομαι describes the extraordinary act of deliberately risking one’s life for a higher purpose—the kind of fearless devotion that places service to the Messiah and others above personal safety. It captures the heart of sacrificial love that willingly exposes oneself to mortal danger.
What Does παραβολεύομαι Mean?
Strong’s G3851: παραβολεύομαι represents one of the most powerful expressions of sacrificial love found in the Greek New Testament. This remarkable word describes the deliberate act of exposing oneself to life-threatening danger for the sake of others or for a higher cause. Unlike mere recklessness, παραβολεύομαι implies a calculated decision to place service above safety, ministry above security, and love above life itself. When used in Philippians 2:30, it describes Epaphroditus who “hazarded his life” in service to Paul and the gospel. This word reveals the heart of true discipleship—the willingness to become vulnerable for the sake of the Messiah’s mission and the welfare of fellow believers.
Key Insight: True spiritual maturity is often measured not by what we protect, but by what we’re willing to risk for Yahweh’s Kingdom.
Where Does παραβολεύομαι Come From?
- Part of Speech: Verb (Middle Voice)
- Root Words: παρά (para, “beside/beyond”) + βάλλω (ballo, “to throw”)
- Language Origin: Koine Greek (New Testament period)
- Primary Usage: To risk one’s life, expose to danger, hazard oneself
- Hebrew Equivalents: מסר נפש (masar nefesh, “to deliver one’s soul/life”)
What Is the Historical and Cultural Context of παραβολεύομαι?
Etymology and Classical Development
παραβολεύομαι emerges from the classical Greek concept of παραβάλλω, which originally meant “to throw alongside” or “to place beside for comparison.” Over time, this evolved to describe the act of “throwing oneself alongside danger”—essentially exposing oneself to peril. The prefix παρά carries the sense of “beyond normal limits” while βάλλω suggests the deliberate action of casting or throwing.
Cultural Significance in the Hellenistic World
In the Mediterranean world of Paul’s time, παραβολεύομαι carried profound cultural weight. Adolf Deissmann’s pioneering research into papyri revealed that this word was used to describe “adventurers” or those who deliberately exposed themselves to danger, often for monetary gain or honor. However, the New Testament transforms this secular concept into something far more noble—risking one’s life not for personal gain, but for divine service.
Connection to Hebrew Sacrificial Concepts
The Hebrew equivalent מסר נפש (masar nefesh) appears throughout Jewish literature to describe the ultimate act of devotion. In Jewish tradition, such self-sacrifice (mesirat nefesh) represents “figurative self-sacrifice and acceptance of the possible consequence” for righteous purposes. This concept bridges the gap between Greek philosophical courage and Hebrew covenantal love.
Textual Variants and Scholarly Discussion
Interestingly, manuscript traditions show variation between παραβολεύομαι and παραβουλεύομαι, with the latter meaning “to misconsult” or “disregard”. However, the stronger manuscript evidence supports παραβολεύομαι, emphasizing the positive act of deliberate risk-taking rather than mere neglect of counsel.
Historical Summary: From classical “throwing alongside” to Christian self-sacrifice, παραβολεύομαι evolved into the ultimate expression of fearless love in service.
How Is παραβολεύομαι Used in the Bible?
παραβολεύομαι appears only once in the New Testament, making it a hapax legomenon (unique occurrence). This rarity makes its usage in Philippians 2:30 all the more significant. Paul employs this powerful word to describe Epaphroditus’s extraordinary dedication—a man who literally “risked his life” to serve both Paul and the Philippian church.
The context reveals that Epaphroditus became seriously ill, nearly dying, while serving as the Philippians’ representative to Paul. His willingness to expose himself to such danger exemplifies the kind of sacrificial love that should characterize followers of the Messiah. Paul uses this example to encourage similar devotion among all believers.
Usage Summary: Though appearing only once, παραβολεύομαι powerfully captures the essence of Christian discipleship—willingly risking everything for the sake of ministry and love.
- Philippians 2:30 – “Because he came close to death for the work of the Messiah, risking his life [παραβολευσάμενος] to complete what was lacking in your service to me.”
How Should παραβολεύομαι Be Translated?
Primary Meanings:
- To risk one’s life deliberately
- To expose oneself to mortal danger
- To hazard one’s safety for others
- To venture into life-threatening situations
- To stake one’s existence on a cause
Translation Tip: Context determines whether the emphasis falls on the deliberate nature of the risk or the life-threatening degree of danger involved.
παραβολεύομαι Translation Options:
| Translation | Context | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| “risking his life” | Sacrificial service | Emphasizes the deliberate nature and ultimate stake |
| “hazarding himself” | Dangerous mission | Highlights the calculated risk and personal exposure |
| “endangering his life” | Near-death experience | Focuses on the severity of consequences faced |
What Does παραβολεύομαι Teach Us About God?
παραβολεύομαι reveals profound truths about יהוה’s character and His expectations for His people. The God of Israel values sacrificial love above personal safety, demonstrating that true righteousness often requires placing others’ welfare above our own comfort. This word teaches us that Yahweh Himself is the ultimate model of παραβολεύομαι—He “risked everything” by sending His only Son into a hostile world.
The Father’s justice demands that sin be addressed, yet His love compels Him to provide the solution at enormous personal cost. When we see Epaphroditus nearly dying in service, we catch a glimpse of the Father’s heart—willing to sacrifice the most precious for the sake of redemption. This divine characteristic calls His people to similar devotion, where love for God and neighbor supersedes self-preservation.
Theological Core: יהוה’s love is not passive but actively risks everything for the redemption and welfare of His covenant people.
How Can I Apply παραβολεύομαι to My Life?
Living out παραβολεύομαι means embracing a life of calculated spiritual risk-taking for the sake of the Messiah’s Kingdom. This doesn’t mean being foolhardy or seeking danger for its own sake, but rather being willing to step into uncomfortable, potentially costly situations when love and faithfulness demand it. Consider the missionary who enters hostile territory, the believer who stands for truth despite social consequences, or the parent who sacrifices personal dreams for their children’s spiritual welfare.
The Holy Spirit empowers us to live with this kind of fearless devotion, transforming our natural self-preservation instincts into supernatural love. When we truly understand that our lives belong to Yahweh, we become free to “risk” them in service to His purposes, knowing that even apparent loss becomes eternal gain in His economy.
Self-Examination Questions: When was the last time I risked something significant for someone else’s spiritual good? What is the Spirit calling me to “hazard” for the Kingdom’s sake? How does fear of loss prevent me from serving with Epaphroditus-like devotion?
What Words Are Similar to παραβολεύομαι?
- παραβάλλω (paraballo) – “to throw alongside, compare” – The root verb that emphasizes proximity to danger – See G3846
- παράβολος (parabelos) – “reckless, venturesome” – The adjective describing one who habitually takes risks – See G3851
- κινδυνεύω (kinduneuo) – “to be in danger” – Focuses on the state of peril rather than deliberate choice – See G2793
- τίθημι ψυχήν (tithemi psychen) – “to lay down one’s life” – The more common New Testament expression for ultimate sacrifice – See G5087
Did You Know?
- What does παραβολεύομαι mean in modern Greek? Modern Greek no longer uses this specific form, but related words still convey the concept of taking calculated risks.
- How did classical authors use παραβολεύομαι? Plutarch and other writers described military heroes and adventurers who deliberately exposed themselves to mortal danger for honor or gain.
- What’s the difference between παραβολεύομαι and κινδυνεύω? παραβολεύομαι emphasizes the deliberate choice to risk, while κινδυνεύω simply describes being in danger.
- Why does the Bible use παραβολεύομαι in Philippians 2:30? Paul chose this rare, powerful word to emphasize the extraordinary nature of Epaphroditus’s sacrificial service—going far beyond normal duty.
- How does παραβολεύομαι relate to sacrificial love? It represents the practical outworking of אהבה (ahavah)—love that acts regardless of personal cost.
- What causes believers to παραβολεύομαι today? The same Spirit-empowered love that motivated Epaphroditus enables modern disciples to risk everything for the Kingdom’s sake.
- The papyri evidence reveals fascinating usage – Deissmann discovered this word used to describe Egyptian “adventurers” who risked their lives crossing dangerous desert routes for profit, showing how Paul elevated a secular concept into sacred service.
Remember This
παραβολεύομαι represents the ultimate expression of fearless devotion—where love for the Messiah and His people overcomes every instinct for self-preservation.
