"will, bent, inclination, 1 Cor. 16:12; Eph. 2:3; 1 Pet. 4:3; resolve, 1 Cor. 7:37; will, purpose, design, 2 Tim. 2:26; 2 Pet. 1:21; will, sovereign pleasure, behest, Mt. 18:14; Lk. 12:47; Acts 13:22, et al. freq.; ἐν τῷ θελήματι θεοῦ, Deo permittente, if God please or permit, Rom..."
Definition and meaning
will, bent, inclination, 1 Cor. 16:12; Eph. 2:3; 1 Pet. 4:3; resolve, 1 Cor. 7:37; will, purpose, design, 2 Tim. 2:26; 2 Pet. 1:21; will, sovereign pleasure, behest, Mt. 18:14; Lk. 12:47; Acts 13:22, et al. freq.; ἐν τῷ θελήματι θεοῦ, Deo permittente, if God please or permit, Rom. 1:10
In the original Greek the word is written: θέλημα
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of thelema (G2307) across the King James Bible.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
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Common questions
Strong's G2307 (thelema) is a Greek word that means: will, bent, inclination, 1 Cor. 16:12; Eph. 2:3; 1 Pet. 4:3; resolve, 1 Cor. 7:37; will, purpose, design, 2 Tim. 2:26; 2 Pet. 1:21; will, sovereign pleasure, behest, Mt. 18:14; Lk. 12:47; Acts 13:22, ... It appears 60 times in the King James Bible.
The word thelema (G2307) appears 60 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2307 is thelema, a Greek word defined as: will, bent, inclination, 1 Cor. 16:12; Eph. 2:3; 1 Pet. 4:3; resolve, 1 Cor. 7:37; will, purpose, design, 2 Tim. 2:26; 2 Pet. 1:21; will, sovereign pl. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
thelema is a Greek word found in the New Testament.