Opportunity
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13, where the local argument determines whether the emphasis is doctrinal, ethical, pastoral, or ministry-related. The companion therefore treats Opportunity as a passage-governed word study rather than a detached lexical slogan.
Reader summary
Full entry for ἀφορμή (G874) · Open the biblical lexicon
13, where the local argument determines whether the emphasis is doctrinal, ethical, pastoral, or ministry-related. The companion therefore treats Opportunity as a passage-governed word study rather than a detached lexical slogan.
The BSB source-word alignment has 7 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include [its] opportunity (2), an opportunity (2), - (1), an occasion (1), occasion (1).
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Romans 7:8. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Corinthians (3), Romans (2), 1 Timothy (1), Galatians (1).
G874 is represented in this Pauline-focused companion by the reviewed display gloss "opportunity." In Paul's letters, the term appears in passages such as 2Cor. 11. 12, 1Tim. 5. 14, Gal. 5. 13, where the local argument determines whether the emphasis is doctrinal, ethical, pastoral, or ministry-related. The companion therefore treats Opportunity as a passage-governed word study rather than a detached lexical slogan.
It gives teachers a compact way to notice the term, compare several Pauline settings, and move toward application only after the immediate context has set the boundary. The aim is disciplined clarity: the Greek term can sharpen reading, but it does not replace the grammar, flow, and theological burden of the passage itself.
G874 appears in Pauline contexts that require close attention to the passage. This companion uses three local anchors to keep the word opportunity tied to Paul's argument and pastoral aim.
But I will keep on doing what I am doing, in order to undercut those who want an opportunity to be regarded as our equals in the things of which they boast.
2Cor.11.12 anchors G874 in a local Pauline context where opportunity must be read from the argument of the passage rather than from a bare word list.
So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.
1Tim.5.14 shows another Pauline setting for the same term, helping teachers compare usage without forcing every occurrence to carry the same emphasis.
For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.
Gal.5.13 gives a further control text so doctrine and application remain passage-governed and not driven by the gloss alone.
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItA compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
Greek word. Opportunity seized as a base for action, often exploited for wrong motives or sin
Opportunity seized as a base for action, often exploited for wrong motives or sin
prop., a starting point; in war, a base of operations; metaphorically, an occasion, incentive, opportunity (MM, see word): 2Co.11:12, Gal.5:13; ἀφ. λαμβάνειν, Luk.11:24, WH, mg., Rom.7:8, 11; ἀφ. διδόναι, 2Co.5:12, 1Ti.5:14.*
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
7 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
an occasion, opportunity
Read versean occasion, opportunity
Read versean occasion, opportunity
Read versean occasion, opportunity
Read versean occasion, opportunity
Read versean occasion, opportunity
Read versean occasion, opportunity
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.
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 1 case and number pattern. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
ἀφορμή is built from these roots:
G874 helps teachers slow down where English readers may move too quickly. The word can illuminate Paul's reasoning, but only when it is held inside the sentence, paragraph, and letter. Across 2Cor.11.12, 1Tim.5.14, Gal.5.13, the pastoral value is not novelty. It is the steady discipline of asking how the word serves Paul's gospel logic, church instruction, moral warning, or ministry encouragement in context.
2Cor.11.12
Opportunity is the reviewed display gloss for G874. In this Pauline-focused companion, local STEP TAGNT evidence shows about 7 Pauline use(s), with common forms including N-ASF 7. Treat these form signals as support for reading the passage, not as a replacement for context.
The Pauline use of G874 should be joined to larger biblical theology only through the cited passages and their own contexts. This keeps opportunity from becoming a free-floating doctrinal shortcut.
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