EPICHORUS
ἐπιχορος: ADD; JOIN; MINISTER

Illustrations of English words
derived from the Greek in the New Testament.

By Gaylon West.

For article on "epi-", click on epi For article on "chorus", click on chorus

Important message from "epi- chorus" in 2 Peter 1:5:

To protect yourself from the evil consecenses from carnal temptations God has directed us to provide a “supervised” platform for a chorus of God's nature in our very lives supplied from “the” faith (Jude 3):

2 Peter 1:4b, BBE, "so that by them we might have our part in God's being ('divine nature', KJV), and be made free from the destruction which is in the world through the desires of the flesh. "

2 Peter 1:5, "So, for this very cause, take every care; joining^{EPICHORUS G5525} virtue to [the] faith, and knowledge to virtue, "

2 Peter 1:6, "And self-control to knowledge, and a quiet mind to self-control, and fear of God to a quiet mind, "

2 Peter 1:7, "And love of the brothers to fear of God, and to love of the brothers, love itself" (2 Peter 1:5-7, BBE).

Compare the passage to, "Till we all come to the harmony of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to full growth, to the full measure of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13).

The single word "chorus" (G5525) is only in the NT in Luke 15:25.

However, the epi- χοροςG2023 is used six times. Total KJV Occurrences: 6 times and is translated in the KJV as: ministered, 2 times in (1) Colossians 2:19, (2) 2 Peter 1:11 ministereth, 2 times in (1) 2 Corinthians 9:10; (2) Galatians 3:5 add, 1 time in 2 Peter 1:5 and finally, as nourishment, 1 time in Colossians 2:19 NOTICE THAT THE TERM "CHORUS" HAS A MUSIC CONNOTATION ONLY IN THE FAMILY CELEBRATION AND IS NOT USED IN A WORSHIP SENSE. History of Anglicized word(etymonline.com).

FROM Vincent's Word Studies on epichorus.

Add to your faith, (KJV),

“The verb rendered add (ἐπιχορηγήσατε) is derived from χορός a chorus, such as was employed in the representation of the Greek tragedies. The verb originally means to bear the expense of a chorus, which was done by a person selected by the state, who was obliged to defray all the expenses of training and maintenance. In the New Testament the word has lost this technical sense, and is used in the general sense of supplying or providing. The verb is used by Paul (2Co_9:10; Gal_3:5; Col_2:19), and is rendered minister (A. V.), supply (Rev.); and the simple verb χορηγέω, minister, occurs 1Pe_4:11; 2Co_9:10. Here the Rev., properly, renders supply.

To your faith (ἐν τῇ πίστει)

The A. V. exhorts to add one virtue to another; but the Greek, to develop one virtue in the exercise of another: “an increase by growth, not by external junction; each new grace springing out of, attempting, and perfecting the other.” Render, therefore, as Rev. In your faith supply virtue, and in your virtue knowledge, etc.

2 Peter 1:5 instructs us, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue [. . .]” It then continues on to speak of the other virtues to be added to our spiritual life: knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. We are to give all diligence to add to our faith–which must be the bedrock of the Christian’s life–virtue. Now virtue is a word that has sort of fallen by the wayside and we have a very poor understanding of it. So, I’d like to distinguish between virtue and virtues. Some word-pictures to help illustrate this point:

As Christians, by faith in our Lord Jesus we are given the empowering grace of the indwelling Spirit of Christ, enabling us to perform the task of exhibiting the nature of Christ (which I would define as “the virtues”). 

Here’s where dancing comes in. There is a greek word khoros, and it meant a group of dancers and singers. They were given a piece of music, they were instructed in which steps to make, and they were well-trained to perfectly, flawlessly, effectively and beautifully perform this song and dance. However, there was another word I discovered, which was similar to khoros, and it was “khoregos;” which was a wealthy benefactor who provided both a location and funding for the performance. It doesn’t matter if you have a great troop of singers and dancers with a performance ready to roll, if they have no stage upon which to perform. Thus, the khoregos either prepares or purchases a space for the performance to take place.

 we gladly become the “khoregos (the one providing the place for the performer to perform).” God has a song and dance, it is called the good news; however, where once it was the land of Israel in which He demonstrated His mighty redemptive purposes, and revealed His glory, He now aims to demonstrate it in and through the stage–or we could say–the dance floor of our lives.  we gladly become the “khoregos (the one providing the place for the performer to perform).” God has a song and dance, it is called the good news; however, where once it was the land of Israel in which He demonstrated His mighty redemptive purposes, and revealed His glory, He now aims to demonstrate it in and through the stage–or we could say–the dance floor of our lives.

Rather, recognize that faith has made all of grace available unto you, in the Third Person of the Trinity, to allow Him to show HIS virtues in YOU. The song and dance of salvation is a glorious one, an eternal one

chorus (n.)
1560s, from Latin chorus "a dance in a circle, the persons singing and dancing, the chorus of a tragedy," from Greek khoros "band of dancers or singers, dance, dancing ground," perhaps from PIE *gher- "to grasp, enclose," if the original sense of the Greek word is "enclosed dancing floor." Extension from dance to voice is because Attic drama arose from tales inserted in the intervals of the dance. In Attic tragedy, the khoros (of 12 or 15 (tragic) or 24 (comedic) persons) gave expression, between the acts, to the moral and religious sentiments evoked by the actions of the play. http://www.etymonline.com/

Thayer Definition:

G2023

ἐπιχορηγέω

epichorēgeō

Thayer Definition:

1) to supply, furnish, present

2) to be supplied, ministered to, assisted

Part of Speech: verb

A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G1909 and G5524

Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries

G2023

ἐπιχορηγέω

epichorēgeō

From G1909 and G5524; to furnish besides, that is, fully supply, (figuratively) aid or contribute: - add, minister (nourishment, unto).

G2023

ἐπιχορηγέω

epichorēgeō

Total KJV Occurrences: 6

ministered, 2

Colossians 2:19, 2 Peter 1:11

ministereth, 2

2 Corinthians 9:10, Galatians 3:5

add, 1

2 Peter 1:5

nourishment, 1

Colossians 2:19

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