Promise (Noun and Verb)
primarily a law term, denoting “a summons” (epi, “upon,” angello, “to proclaim, announce”), also meant “an undertaking to do or give something, a promise.” Except in Act 23:21 it is used only of the “promises” of God. It frequently stands for the thing “promised,” and so signifies a gift graciously bestowed, not a pledge secured by negotiation; thus, in Gal 3:14, “the promise of the Spirit” denotes “the promised Spirit:” cp. Luk 24:49; Act 2:33; Eph 1:13; so in Heb 9:15, “the promise of the eternal inheritance” is “the promised eternal inheritance.” On the other hand, in Act 1:4, “the promise of the Father,” is the “promise” made by the Father.
In Gal 3:16, the plural “promises” is used because the one “promise” to Abraham was variously repeated (Gen 12:1-3; Gen 13:14-17; Gen 15:18; Gen 17:1-14; Gen 22:15-18), and because it contained the germ of all subsequent “promises;” cp. Rom 9:4; Heb 6:12; Heb 7:6; Heb 8:6; Heb 11:17. Gal. 3 is occupied with showing that the “promise” was conditional upon faith and not upon the fulfillment of the Law. The Law was later than, and inferior to, the “promise,” and did not annul it, Gal 3:21; cp. Gal 4:23, Gal 4:28. Again, in Eph 2:12, “the covenants of the promise” does not indicate different covenants, but a covenant often renewed, all centering in Christ as the “promised” Messiah-Redeemer, and comprising the blessings to be bestowed through Him.
In 2Co 1:20 the plural is used of every “promise” made by God: cp. Heb 11:33; in Heb 7:6, of special “promises” mentioned. For other applications of the word, see e.g., Eph 6:2; 1Ti 4:8; 2Ti 1:1; Heb 4:1; 2Pe 3:4, 2Pe 3:9; in 1Jo 1:5 some mss. have this word, instead of angelia, “message.”
The occurrences of the word in relation to Christ and what centers in Him, may be arranged under the headings (1) the contents of the “promise,” e.g., Act 26:6; Rom 4:20; 1Jo 2:25; (2) the heirs, e.g., Rom 9:8; Rom 15:8; Gal 3:29; Heb 11:9; (3) the conditions, e.g., Rom 4:13-14; Gal 3:14-22; Heb 10:36.
denotes “a promise made,” 2Pe 1:4; 2Pe 3:13.
“to announce, proclaim,” has in the NT the two meanings “to profess” and “to promise,” each used in the Middle Voice; “to promise” (a) of “promises” of God, Act 7:5; Rom 4:21; in Gal 3:19, Passive Voice; Tit 1:2; Heb 6:13; Heb 10:23; Heb 11:11; Heb 12:26; Jam 1:12; Jam 2:5; 1Jo 2:25; (b) made by men, Mar 14:11; 2Pe 2:19. See PROFESS.
in the Middle Voice, “to promise before” pro, and No. 1), occurs in Rom 1:2; 2Co 9:5. See AFOREPROMISED.
“to agree, confess,” signifies “to promise” in Mat 14:7. See CONFESS.
Note: For exomologeo in Luk 22:6, see CONSENT, No. 1.