Bible Dictionary: Passions

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

PASSION, PASSIONS

pash'-un, pash'-unz: "Passion" is derived from Latin passio, which in turn is derived from the verb patior, with the root, pat-. The Latin words are connected with the Greek root, path-, which appears in a large number of derivatives. And in Greek, Latin, and English (with other languages in addition) words connected with this root, pat-, path-, are often susceptible of a great variety of meanings, for which the dictionaries must be consulted. For "passion," however, as it appears in English Versions of the Bible, only three of these meanings need be considered.

(1) Close to what seems to be the primary force of the root is the meaning "suffer," and in this sense "passion" is used in Acts 1:3, "to whom he also showed himself alive after his passion." This translation is a paraphrase (Greek: "after he had suffered"), due to the Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) (post passionem suam), and in English is as old as Wycliff, whom the subsequent English Versions of the Bible has followed. This is the only case in the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) where "passion" has this meaning, and it can be so used in modern English only when referring (as here) to the sufferings of Christ (compare "Passion play").

(2) "Suffering," when applied to the mind, came to denote the state that is controlled by some emotion, and so "passion" was applied to the emotion itself. This is the meaning of the word in Acts 14:15, "men of like passions," and James 5:17, "a man of like passions," Greek homoiopathes; the Revised Version margin "of like nature" gives the meaning exactly: "men with the same emotions as we."

(3) From "emotion" a transition took place to "strong emotion," and this is the normal force of "passion" in modern English the King James Version does not use this meaning, but in the Revised Version (British and American) "passion" in this sense is the translation of pathos, in its three occurrences: Romans 1:26 (the King James Version "affection"); Colossians 3:5 (the King James Version "inordinate affection"); 1 Thessalonians 4:5 (the King James Version "lust").

It is used also for two occurrences of pathema (closely allied to pathos) in Romans 7:5 (the King James Version "motions," the King James Version margin "passions") and in Galatians 5:24 (the King James Version "affection"). The fixing of the exact force in any of these cases is a delicate problem fully discussed in the commentaries. In Colossians 3:5 only does "passion" stand as an isolated term. The context here perhaps gives the word a slight sexual reference, but this must not be overstressed; the warning probably includes any violent over-emotion that robs a man of his self-control.

See AFFECTION; MOTION.

Burton Scott Easton

Greek

3663. homoiopathes -- of like feelings or affections
... homoiopathes Phonetic Spelling: (hom-oy-op-ath-ace') Short Definition: of like feelings
Definition: of like feelings, having similar passions and feelings, of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3663.htm - 6k

4561. sarx -- flesh
... of what is external, or as the means of kindred), or (by implication) human nature
(with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions), or (specially), a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4561.htm - 8k

3804. pathema -- that which befalls one, ie a suffering, a passion
... Word Origin from pascho Definition that which befalls one, ie a suffering, a passion
NASB Word Usage passions (2), suffering (2), sufferings (12). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3804.htm - 8k

3806. pathos -- that which befalls one, a passion, a suffering
... Word Origin from pascho Definition that which befalls one, a passion, a suffering
NASB Word Usage passion (2), passions (1). inordinate affection, lust. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3806.htm - 7k

5299. hupopiazo -- to strike under the eye
... hit under the eye (buffet or disable an antagonist as a pugilist), ie (figuratively)
to tease or annoy (into compliance), subdue (one's passions) -- keep under ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5299.htm - 7k

3958. pascho -- to suffer, to be acted on
... [3958 ("experiencing strong feeling") is the root of: 3804 ("passions, sufferings"),
3805 ("suffering") and 3806 ("strong feeling, passion").]. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3958.htm - 9k

Strong's Hebrew

7918. shakak -- to decrease, abate
... A primitive root; to weave (ie Lay) a trap; figuratively, (through the idea of
secreting) to allay (passions; physically, abate a flood) -- appease, assuage ...
/hebrew/7918.htm - 6k

Library

Whether Justice is About the Passions?
... OF JUSTICE (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether justice is about the passions? Objection
1: It would seem that justice is about the passions. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether justice is about the.htm

Whether Passions Existed in the Soul of the First Man?
... OF THINGS PERTAINING TO THE FIRST MAN'S WILL"-NAMELY, GRACE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS (FOUR
ARTICLES) Whether passions existed in the soul of the first man? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether passions existed in the.htm

Whether the Passions of the Concupiscible Part are Different from ...
... HOW THE PASSIONS DIFFER FROM ONE ANOTHER (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether the passions of
the concupiscible part are different from those of the irascible part? ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the passions of the.htm

Of the Passions.
... Chap. LXI."Of the Passions. ... The Stoics are of opinion that these passions must
be cut off; the Peripatetics think that they must be restrained. ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap lxi of the passions.htm

Whether the Contrariety of the Irascible Passions is Based on the ...
... HOW THE PASSIONS DIFFER FROM ONE ANOTHER (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether the contrariety
of the irascible passions is based on the contrariety of good and evil? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the contrariety of the.htm

Of the Order of the Passions to one Another (Four Articles)
... OF THE ORDER OF THE PASSIONS TO ONE ANOTHER (FOUR ARTICLES). ... (1) The relation
of the irascible passions to the concupiscible passions; ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/of the order of the.htm

Of the Passions of the Soul in Particular: and First, of Love ...
... OF THE PASSIONS OF THE SOUL IN PARTICULAR: AND FIRST, OF LOVE (FOUR ARTICLES).
We have now to consider the soul's passions in particular ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/of the passions of the.htm

Of the Passions Which, According to Apuleius, Agitate the Demons ...
... Book IX. Chapter 6."Of the Passions Which, According to Apuleius, Agitate the
Demons Who Are Supposed by Him to Mediate Between Gods and Men. ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 6 of the passions which.htm

That the Passions which Assail the Souls of Christians do not ...
... Book IX. Chapter 5."That the Passions Which Assail the Souls of Christians
Do Not Seduce Them to Vice, But Exercise Their Virtue. ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 5 that the passions which.htm

Of Good and Evil in the Passions of the Soul (Four Articles)
... OF GOOD AND EVIL IN THE PASSIONS OF THE SOUL (FOUR ARTICLES). ... (1) Whether moral
good and evil can be found in the passions of the soul? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/of good and evil in.htm

Thesaurus

Passions (26 Occurrences)
... PASSION, PASSIONS. pash'-un, pash'-unz: "Passion" is derived from Latin passio,
which in turn is derived from the verb patior, with the root, pat-. ...
/p/passions.htm - 17k

Passion (82 Occurrences)
... controlling activity; an extreme or inordinate desire; also, the capacity or
susceptibility of being so affected; as, to be in a passion; the passions of love ...
/p/passion.htm - 37k

Affect (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To influence or move, as the feelings or passions; to touch. 3. (vt) To
love; to regard with affection. ... (3) In an evil sense in the plural = passions. ...
/a/affect.htm - 11k

Affection (30 Occurrences)
... "bowels," regarded as the seat of kindly feelings, compare Eng "heart") So 2
Corinthians 7:15. (3) In an evil sense in the plural = passions. ...
/a/affection.htm - 20k

Vile (59 Occurrences)
... William Evans. Multi-Version Concordance Vile (59 Occurrences). Romans
1:26 For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For ...
/v/vile.htm - 26k

Unbridled (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Unrestrained; licentious; violent; as, unbridled
passions. Multi-Version Concordance Unbridled (4 Occurrences). ...
/u/unbridled.htm - 7k

Governed (8 Occurrences)
... (WEY). 1 Peter 4:2 that in future you may spend the rest of your earthly lives,
governed not by human passions, but by the will of God. (WEY). ...
/g/governed.htm - 8k

Temperate (6 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) Moderate in the indulgence of the natural appetites or passions; as, temperate
in eating and drinking. 4. (vt) Proceeding from temperance. ...
/t/temperate.htm - 12k

Temperance (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) Habitual moderation in regard to the indulgence of the natural appetites
and passions; restrained or moderate indulgence; moderation; as, temperance in ...
/t/temperance.htm - 12k

Tender (66 Occurrences)
... 11. (superl.) Physically weak; not hardly or able to endure hardship; immature;
effeminate. 12. (superl.) Susceptible of the softer passions, as love ...
/t/tender.htm - 33k

Bible Concordance

Passions (26 Occurrences)

Acts 14:15 "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the sky and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them;
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS)

Romans 1:26 For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For their women changed the natural function into that which is against nature.
(WEB WEY ASV BBE NAS RSV)

Romans 6:12 Therefore don't let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
(See RSV)

Romans 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were through the law, worked in our members to bring forth fruit to death.
(WEB WEY ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Corinthians 7:36 But if, in any man's opinion, he is not doing what is right for his virgin, if she is past her best years, and there is need for it, let him do what seems right to him; it is no sin; let them be married.
(See RSV)

Galatians 5:24 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.
(WEB WEY ASV BBE DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Ephesians 2:3 Among them all of us also formerly passed our lives, governed by the inclinations of our lower natures, indulging the cravings of those natures and of our own thoughts, and were in our original state deserving of anger like all others.
(See RSV)

Ephesians 4:19 Who having no more power of feeling, have given themselves up to evil passions, to do all unclean things with overmuch desire.
(BBE)

Ephesians 5:5 Being certain of this, that no man who gives way to the passions of the flesh, no unclean person, or one who has desire for the property of others, or who gives worship to images, has any heritage in the kingdom of Christ and God.
(BBE)

Colossians 3:5 Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth, fornication, uncleanness, vile passions, evil lust, and unbridled desire, which is idolatry.
(DBY)

2 Timothy 2:22 Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
(See RSV)

2 Timothy 3:3 without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, of unsubdued passions, savage, having no love for what is good,
(DBY)

Titus 2:12 instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world;
(See RSV NIV)

Titus 3:3 For in the past we were foolish, hard in heart, turned from the true way, servants of evil desires and pleasures, living in bad feeling and envy, hated and hating one another.
(See RSV NIV)

James 1:14 But when a man is tempted, it is his own passions that carry him away and serve as a bait.
(WEY)

James 4:1 Whence 'are' wars and fightings among you? not thence -- out of your passions, that are as soldiers in your members?
(YLT RSV)

James 4:3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures.
(See RSV)

James 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS)

1 Peter 1:14 as children of obedience, not conforming yourselves according to your former lusts as in your ignorance,
(See RSV)

1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
(See RSV)

1 Peter 4:2 that in future you may spend the rest of your earthly lives, governed not by human passions, but by the will of God.
(WEY RSV)

2 Peter 2:18 For, uttering great swelling words of emptiness, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by licentiousness, those who are indeed escaping from those who live in error;
(See RSV)

2 Peter 3:3 But, above all, remember that, in the last days, men will come who make a mock at everything--men governed only by their own passions,
(WEY RSV)

Jude 1:16 These men are murmurers, ever bemoaning their lot. Their lives are guided by their evil passions, and their mouths are full of big, boastful words, while they treat individual men with admiring reverence for the sake of the advantage they can gain.
(WEY RSV)

Jude 1:18 how they declared to you, "In the last times there shall be scoffers, obeying only their own ungodly passions."
(WEY RSV)

Job 3:17 There the passions of the evil are over, and those whose strength has come to an end have rest.
(BBE)

Subtopics

Passions

Related Terms

Passion (82 Occurrences)

Affect (3 Occurrences)

Affection (30 Occurrences)

Vile (59 Occurrences)

Unbridled (4 Occurrences)

Governed (8 Occurrences)

Temperate (6 Occurrences)