What does ἀνάστασις (anástasis) mean in the Bible?
ἀνάστασις means resurrection, a rising from the dead. Across the New Testament it names both Christ's resurrection and the future resurrection of the dead.
Greek · G386
ἀνάστασις
Resurrection
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ἀνάστασις G386
Pronunciation anástasis
What does ἀνάστασις (anástasis) mean in the Bible?
ἀνάστασις means resurrection, a rising from the dead. Across the New Testament it names both Christ's resurrection and the future resurrection of the dead.
Reader summary
Full entry for ἀνάστασις (G386) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G386?
The BSB source-word alignment has 42 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include resurrection (26), [the] resurrection (8), a resurrection (2), [His] resurrection (1), [the] rise (1).
Where does ἀνάστασις (anástasis) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 22:23. Its strongest book concentrations include Acts (11), Luke (6), 1 Corinthians (4), John (4).
Are there verse guides for ἀνάστασις (anástasis)?
This entry includes 2 verse guides that explain exact original-language forms in context.
What This Word Actually Means
ἀνάστασις means resurrection, a rising from the dead. Across the New Testament it names both Christ's resurrection and the future resurrection of the dead. In the Pastoral Epistles campaign, the word matters because 2 Timothy names a specific distortion: some say the resurrection has already occurred, and by doing so they undermine the faith of some. That warning keeps resurrection from becoming a flexible metaphor or an over-realized spiritual claim.
Christian resurrection hope is bodily, future, and guaranteed by the risen Christ. It is also present in its ethical power because believers are united to Christ and live now in light of the life to come. The word therefore protects both sides of Christian hope: Christ has truly been raised, and the full resurrection harvest has not yet arrived.
How the Bible Uses It
ἀνάστασις carries the church's bodily resurrection hope, but 2 Timothy 2:18 shows how dangerous it is to move that hope into the wrong time or reduce it to a present spiritualized claim. The canonical witness joins Christ's resurrection, future resurrection, and present faithful endurance without collapsing them.
- 2Tim.2.18
Who have deviated from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already occurred, and they undermine the faith of some.
The Pastoral Epistles anchor is a distortion of resurrection timing. Saying the resurrection has already occurred is not harmless speculation; it deviates from truth and damages faith.
- John.11.25
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.
Jesus grounds resurrection in His own person. The hope is not an abstract schedule, but life secured in Him.
- 1Cor.15.20
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Paul makes Christ's resurrection the firstfruits of the coming harvest. The future resurrection of believers follows from what has already happened to Christ.
- 1Cor.15.21
For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.
The resurrection is not only individual comfort. It belongs to the Adam-Christ contrast and answers the reign of death with God's life-giving act in Christ.
- Acts.17.18
Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was proclaiming the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.
Apostolic proclamation publicly joined Jesus and the resurrection. The word was not a private devotional metaphor but part of the announced gospel.
- Rom.6.5
For if we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection.
Union with Christ gives resurrection both future certainty and present ethical force. The future hope reshapes life now without being reduced to present experience only.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It resurrection 26× Matthew 22:23, Matthew 22:28, Matthew 22:30, Matthew 22:31
[the] resurrection 8× John 5:29, Acts 17:32, Acts 24:21, 1 Corinthians 15:21
a resurrection 2× Acts 23:8, Acts 24:15
[His] resurrection 1× Romans 1:4
[the] rise 1× Luke 2:34
in His resurrection 1× Romans 6:5
in the resurrection 1× Acts 23:6
raised to life again 1× Hebrews 11:35
to rise 1× Acts 26:23
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 22:23 ἀνάστασιν to resurrection Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Matthew 22:28 ἀναστάσει to resurrection Noun - Dative Feminine Singular Matthew 22:30 ἀναστάσει to resurrection Noun - Dative Feminine Singular Matthew 22:31 ἀναστάσεως to resurrection Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular Mark 12:18 ἀνάστασιν to resurrection Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Mark 12:23 ἀναστάσει to resurrection Noun - Dative Feminine Singular Luke 2:34 ἀνάστασιν to [the] rise Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Luke 14:14 ἀναστάσει to resurrection Noun - Dative Feminine Singular Luke 20:27 ἀνάστασιν to resurrection Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Luke 20:33 ἀναστάσει to resurrection Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Matthew 22:23
Aligned rows 42
Books represented 12
Matthew 4 Mark 2 Luke 6 John 4 Acts 11 Romans 2 1 Corinthians 4 Philippians 1 2 Timothy 1 Hebrews 3 1 Peter 2 Revelation 2
Source forms
ἀναστάσεως 15x anastaseōs Matthew 22:31, Luke 20:35, Luke 20:36, Acts 1:22
ἀνάστασιν 12x anastasin Matthew 22:23, Mark 12:18, Luke 2:34, Luke 20:27
ἀναστάσει 7x anastasei Matthew 22:28, Matthew 22:30, Mark 12:23, Luke 14:14
ἀνάστασις 6x anastasis John 11:25, 1 Corinthians 15:12, 1 Corinthians 15:13, 1 Corinthians 15:21
ἀναστάσεώς 1x anastaseōs Hebrews 6:2
ἀναστάσεως» 1x anastaseōs Acts 4:33
Parsing patterns
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular 17x Matthew 22:31, Luke 20:35, Luke 20:36, Acts 1:22
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular 12x Matthew 22:23, Mark 12:18, Luke 2:34, Luke 20:27
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular 7x Matthew 22:28, Matthew 22:30, Mark 12:23, Luke 14:14
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular 6x John 11:25, 1 Corinthians 15:12, 1 Corinthians 15:13, 1 Corinthians 15:21
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Keep resurrection hope bodily and future without losing its present power for faithful endurance and holy living.
- When correcting resurrection distortion, aim to strengthen faith rather than merely win an eschatological argument.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that resurrection has already fully occurred for believers. Paul names that claim as a deviation from truth in 2 Timothy 2:18.
- Do not claim that resurrection is only a symbol of spiritual renewal. The New Testament anchors the word in Christ's bodily resurrection and the future resurrection of the dead.
Key Verse and Form Guides
Verse-level guides showing how this original-language form works in its specific context, including grammar, verse function, and guarded interpretation.
John 11:25 Noun Nominative Singular Feminine
ἀνάστασις anastasis resurrection The predicate form places resurrection in direct relation to Jesus himself, so the verse speaks of more than a future event. Read verse guide Matthew 22:23 Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
ἀνάστασιν, anastasin resurrection The grammar helps the reader see that resurrection is the point being denied in the Sadducees' claim, sharpening the controversy in the verse. Read verse guide Evidence Summary
Messiah
Greek word. Rising from death itself, not merely revival; fundamentally transforms the person raised into new, transformed existence.
Source Gloss
resurrection
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 42 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
anastasin
a rising again, resurrection
Read verse Matthew 22:28 Noun Dative Singular Feminine
ἀναστάσει, anastasei
a rising again, resurrection
Read verse Matthew 22:30 Noun Dative Singular Feminine
ἀναστάσει anastasei
a rising again, resurrection
Read verse Matthew 22:31 Noun Genitive Singular Feminine
ἀναστάσεως anastasewv
a rising again, resurrection
Read verse Mark 12:18 Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
ἀνάστασιν anastasin
a rising again, resurrection
Read verse Mark 12:23 Noun Dative Singular Feminine
ἀναστάσει, anastasei
a rising again, resurrection
Read verse Luke 2:34 Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
ἀνάστασιν anastasin
a rising again, resurrection
Read verse Luke 14:14 Noun Dative Singular Feminine
ἀναστάσει anastasei
a rising again, resurrection
Read verse Luke 20:27 Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
ἀνάστασιν anastasin
a rising again, resurrection
Read verse Luke 20:33 Noun Dative Singular Feminine
ἀναστάσει, anastasei
a rising again, resurrection
Read verse Luke 20:35 Noun Genitive Singular Feminine
ἀναστάσεως anastasewv
a rising again, resurrection
Read verse Luke 20:36 Noun Genitive Singular Feminine
ἀναστάσεως anastasewv
a rising again, resurrection
Read verse John 5:29 Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
ἀνάστασιν anastasin
a rising again, resurrection
Read verse John 5:29 Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
ἀνάστασιν anastasin
a rising again, resurrection
Read verse John 11:24 Noun Dative Singular Feminine
ἀναστάσει anastasei
a rising again, resurrection
Read verse anastasiv
a rising again, resurrection
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 4 case and number patterns. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Form patterns 4 Aligned forms 42 Case pattern Genitive (17) Number pattern Singular (42)
Nominative · Singular · Feminine John 11:25 · 1 Cor 15:12 · 1 Cor 15:13 · 1 Cor 15:21 · 1 Cor 15:42 · Rev 20:5 6×
Genitive · Singular · Feminine Matt 22:31 · Luke 20:35 · Luke 20:36 · Acts 1:22 · Acts 2:31 · Acts 4:33 · Acts 23:6 · Acts 24:21 · Acts 26:23 · Rom 1:4 · Rom 6:5 · Phil 3:10 · Heb 6:2 · Heb 11:35 · 1 Pet 1:3 · 1 Pet 3:21 17×
Dative · Singular · Feminine Matt 22:28 · Matt 22:30 · Mark 12:23 · Luke 14:14 · Luke 20:33 · John 11:24 · Rev 20:6 7×
Accusative · Singular · Feminine Matt 22:23 · Mark 12:18 · Luke 2:34 · Luke 20:27 · John 5:29 · Acts 4:2 · Acts 17:18 · Acts 17:32 · Acts 23:8 · Acts 24:15 · 2 Tim 2:18 12×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
New Testament Witnesses
Rising again from the dead.
Rising again from the dead.
Rising again from the dead.
Rising from the dead, bodily restoration to life.
resurrection
resurrection
Additional Occurrences
John 11:17-27 ἀνάστασις anástasis
resurrection
Luke 14:7–14 ἀνάστασις anástasis
Resurrection
Showing 8 selected witnesses from 42 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
ἀνάστασις is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
Central to Christian hope. Acts 17:16-21
Grounds generosity in eschatological hope rather than earthly repayment. Acts 23:6-10
Central doctrine affirmed by Christ. Acts 24:10-21
Bodily rising; embodied in Christ Himself. Acts 4:1-12
Identifies Christ as the source of victory over death. John 11:17–27
Central claim distinguishing the gospel from philosophical speculation. Luke 14:12–14
Defines the doctrinal core of Paul’s defense.
Defines the theological core of the dispute.
The resurrection is central to apostolic preaching and the cause of official opposition.
Canonical Themes
Messiah
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
ἀνάστασις is essential gospel vocabulary because it names what God has done in Christ and what God will yet do for the dead. The Pastoral Epistles use the word in a warning: Hymenaeus and Philetus say the resurrection has already occurred, and that claim undermines faith. The problem is not that they talked too much about hope. The problem is that they moved the resurrection into the wrong time and thereby emptied the church's future bodily hope.
Sound teaching must hold the full pattern together. Christ has indeed been raised. Believers already live in union with Him. The dead in Christ will be raised. The body matters. Death remains an enemy, and resurrection is God's answer to it.
Anchor passage
2Tim.2.18
Doctrinal connections
- G2098 Euangelion: The gospel Paul preached includes Jesus and the resurrection, not merely moral renewal or religious memory.
- G4102 Pistis: In 2 Timothy 2:18, resurrection distortion undermines faith, showing that eschatology is not a harmless side issue.
- G2222 Zoe: Resurrection is the bodily triumph of life in Christ, not escape from creaturely life.
- G4982 Sozo: Final salvation includes bodily resurrection and deliverance from death's last claim.
- G2085 Heterodidaskaleo: The claim that resurrection has already occurred is a concrete example of teaching that deviates from the truth.
- G952 Bebelos: The resurrection error in 2 Timothy sits near profane chatter, showing how irreverent speech can attach itself to major doctrine.
The noun is related to standing up or rising, but New Testament usage must govern the theology. It is not a general image for improvement; it names bodily resurrection, most centrally Christ's resurrection and the future resurrection of the dead.
From Old to New Testament
The Old Testament hope of God raising the dead appears in passages such as Daniel 12:2 and Isaiah 26:19, while the New Testament announces that the decisive firstfruits have arrived in Christ. The Pastoral warning does not deny present participation in Christ's life, but it keeps future bodily resurrection from being swallowed by a premature claim that the resurrection is already complete.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain