Meaning
"to make firm, establish, make secure" (the connected adjective bebaios signifies "stable, fast, firm"), is used of "confirming" a word, Mar 16:20; promises, Rom 15:8; the testimony of Christ, 1Co 1:6; the saints by the Lord Jesus Christ, 1Co 1:8; the saints by God, 2Co 1:21 ("stablisheth"); in faith, Col 2:7; the salvation spoken through the Lord and "confirmed" by the Apostles, Heb 2:3; the heart by grace, Heb 13:9 ("stablished").
"to make to lean upon, strengthen" (epi, "upon," sterix, "a prop, support"), is used of "confirming" souls, Act 14:22; brethren, Act 15:32; churches, Act 15:41; disciples, Act 18:23, in some mss. ("stablishing," RV, "strengthening," AV); the most authentic mss. have sterizo in Act 18:23. See STRENGTHEN.
"to make valid, ratify, impart authority or influence" (from kuros, "might," kurios, "mighty, a head, as supreme in authority"), is used of spiritual love, 2Co 2:8; a human covenant, Gal 3:15. In the Sept., see Gen 23:20, e.g.
pro, "before," and No. 3, "to confirm or ratify before," is said of the Divine confirmation of a promise given originally to Abraham, Gen. 12, and "confirmed" by the vision of the furnace and torch, Gen. 15, by the birth of Isaac, Gen. 21, and by the oath of God, Gen. 22, all before the giving of the Law, Gal 3:17.
"to act as a mediator, to interpose," is rendered "confirmed," in the AV of Heb 6:17 (marg., and RV, "interposed"). See INTERPOSED.
akin to A, No. 1, is used in two senses (a) "of firmness, establishment," said of the "confirmation" of the Gospel, Phi 1:7; (b) "of authoritative validity imparted," said of the settlement of a dispute by an oath to produce confidence, Heb 6:16. The word is found frequently in the papyri of the settlement of a business transaction.
