ANTILEGOMENA Meaning and
Definition
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Antilegomena is a term with both historical and theological significance. Derived from the Greek words "anti" meaning against or contrary to, and "legomena" meaning spoken or said, it refers to a group of writings or books that were debated or disputed in terms of their canonicity and authority within early Christian communities.
In particular, the term "Antilegomena" is used to describe those books of the New Testament that were initially questioned or contested by some early Christian communities regarding their authenticity and inclusion in the official canon. These disputed books include James, Hebrews, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, Jude, and Revelation.
Centuries of deliberation and discussion by scholars and church leaders eventually led to the acceptance of these books as legitimate and authoritative scriptures. They were eventually included in the canon of the New Testament, alongside the books that were more widely accepted and considered undisputed, referred to as the "Homologoumena."
The designation of Antilegomena is significant in understanding the historical development of the New Testament as it illustrates the complexities and debates surrounding the formation of the canon. It sheds light on the diverse perspectives and theological viewpoints that existed within the early Christian communities, as well as the rigorous process undertaken to establish the authoritative texts that form the basis of Christian beliefs today.
Common Misspellings for ANTILEGOMENA
- zntilegomena
- sntilegomena
- wntilegomena
- qntilegomena
- abtilegomena
- amtilegomena
- ajtilegomena
- ahtilegomena
- anrilegomena
- anfilegomena
- angilegomena
- anyilegomena
- an6ilegomena
- an5ilegomena
- antulegomena
- antjlegomena
- antklegomena
- antolegomena
- ant9legomena
Etymology of ANTILEGOMENA
The word "Antilegomena" derives from Greek. "Anti" (αντί) means "against" or "opposite", and "legomena" (λεγόμενα) is the plural of "legomenon", which translates to "things said" or "things that are spoken". In the context of hermeneutics and biblical studies, "Antilegomena" refers to those books or writings with disputed authorship or canonicity, essentially "spoken against" or "controversially spoken".
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