STRONGS G139:
αἵρεσις,
-εως,
ἡ;
1. (from
αἱρέω),
act of taking, capture:
τῆς πόλεως, the storming of a city; in secular authors.
2. (from
αἱρέομαι),
choosing, choice, very often in secular writings:
Sept. Leviticus 22:18; 1 Macc. 8:30.
3. that which is chosen, a chosen course of thought and action; hence one's
chosen opinion, tenet; according to the context, an opinion varying from the true exposition of the Christian faith (
heresy):
2 Peter 2:1 (cf. DeWette at the passage), and in ecclesiastical writings [cf.
Sophocles' Lexicon, under the word].
4. a body of men separating themselves from others and following their own tenets (
a sect or
party): as the Sadducees,
Acts 5:17; the Pharisees,
Acts 15:5;
Acts 26:5; the Christians,
Acts 24:5,
14 (in both instances with a suggestion of reproach);
Acts 28:22 (in Diogenes Laërtius 1 (13) 18f, others, used of the schools of philosophy).
5. dissensions arising from diversity of opinions and aims:
Galatians 5:20;
1 Corinthians 11:19. [Cf. Meyer, at the passages cited;
B. D. American edition under the word Sects;
Burton, Bampt. Lect. for 1829;
Campbell, Diss. on the Gospels, diss. ix., part iv.]
THAYER’S GREEK LEXICON, Electronic Database.
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BLB Scripture Index of Thayer's