Meaning
denotes (I) "work, employment, task," e.g., Mar 13:34, Joh 4:34, Joh 17:4, Act 13:2, Phi 2:30, 1Th 5:13; in Act 5:38 with the idea of enterprise; (II) "a deed, act," (a) of God, e.g., Joh 1:6-29, Joh 9:3, Joh 10:37, Joh 14:10, Act 13:41, Rom 14:20, Heb 1:10, Heb 2:7, Heb 3:9, Heb 1:4-4,Heb 4:10, Rev 15:3; (b) of Christ, e.g., Mat 11:2; especially in John, Joh 5:36, Joh 7:3,Joh 7:21, Joh 10:25,Joh 1:10-33,Joh 10:38, Joh 1:14-12, Joh 15:24, Rev 2:26; (c) of believers, e.g., Mat 5:16, Mar 14:6, Act 9:36, Rom 13:3, Col 1:10, 1Th 1:3, "work of faith," here the initial act of faith at conversion (turning to God, 1Th 1:9); in 2Th 1:11, "every work of faith," RV, denotes every activity undertaken for Christ's sake; 2Th 2:17, 1Ti 2:10, 1Ti 5:18, 2Ti 2:21, 2Ti 3:17, Tit 2:7,Tit 2:14, Tit 3:1,Tit 3:8,Tit 3:14, Heb 10:24, Heb 13:21; frequent in James, as the effect of faith [in Jam 1:25, AV, "(a doer) of the work," RV, "(a doer) that worketh"]; 1Pe 2:12, Rev 2:2 and in several other places in chs. 2 and 3; Rev 14:13; (d) of unbelievers, e.g., Mat 23:3,Mat 23:5, Joh 7:7, Act 7:41 (for idols); Rom 13:12, Eph 5:11, Col 1:21, Tit 1:16 (1st part); 1Jo 3:12, Jud 1:15, RV; Rev 2:6, RV; of those who seek justification by works, e.g., Rom 9:32, Gal 3:10, Eph 2:9; described as the works of the law, e.g., Gal 2:16, Gal 3:2,Gal 3:5; dead works, Heb 6:1, Heb 9:14; (e) of Babylon, Rev 18:6; (f) of the Devil, Joh 8:41, 1Jo 3:8. See DEED.
denotes "a work" or "business," also "a working, performance," Eph 4:19, where preceded by eis, "to," it is rendered "to work" (marg., "to make a trade of"). See DILIGENCE, GAIN.
Notes: (1) In Rom 9:28, AV, logos, "a word" (RV), is rendered "work." (2) For progma, Jam 3:16, rendered "work" in AV, the RV has "deed." (3) For praxis, "a doing," Mat 16:27, RV marg., AV, "works," see DEED. (4) For the AV, "much work," Act 27:16, see DIFFICULTY. (5) For "workfellow," Rom 16:21, AV, see WORKER, No. 2. (6) In Mat 14:2, Mar 6:14, AV, dunameis, "powers," RV, is translated "mighty works;" in Act 2:22, RV, "mighty works," AV, "miracles." (7) For "wonderful works" see WONDERFUL, Note (2).
is used (I) intransitively, e.g., Mat 21:28, Joh 5:17, Joh 9:4 (2nd part); Rom 1:4-5, 1Co 4:12, 1Co 9:6, 1Th 2:9, 1Th 4:11, 2Th 3:8,2Th 1:3-12 (for the play upon words in 2Th 3:11 see BUSYBODY, A); (II) transitively, (a) "to work something, produce, perform," e.g., Mat 26:10, "she hath wrought;" Joh 6:28,Joh 6:30, Joh 9:4 (1st part); Act 10:35, Act 13:41, Rom 2:10, Rom 13:10, 1Co 16:10, 2Co 7:10, in the best texts, some have No. 2; Gal 6:10, RV, "let us work;" Eph 4:28, Heb 11:33, 2Jo 1:8; (b) "to earn by working, work for," Joh 6:27, RV, "work" (AV, "labor"). See COMMIT, DO, LABOR, MINISTER, TRADE.
an emphatic form of No. 1, signifies "to work out, achieve, effect by toil," rendered "to work" (past tense, "wrought") in Rom 1:27, Rom 2:9, RV; Rom 4:15 (the Law brings men under condemnation and so renders them subject to Divine wrath); Rom 5:3, Rom 7:8,Rom 7:13, Rom 15:18, 2Co 4:17, 2Co 5:5, 2Co 7:10 (see No. 1), 2Co 7:11, 2Co 12:12, Phi 2:12, where "your own salvation" refers especially to freedom from strife and vainglory; Jam 1:3,Jam 1:20, 1Pe 4:3. See DO, No. 5.
lit., "to work in" (en, and A, No. 1), "to be active, operative," is used of "(a) God, 1Co 12:6, Gal 2:8, Gal 3:5, Eph 1:11,Eph 1:20, Eph 3:20, Phi 2:13, Col 1:29; (b) the Holy Spirit, 1Co 12:11; (c) the Word of God. 1Th 2:13 (Middle Voice; AV, 'effectually worketh'); (d) supernatural power, undefined, Mat 14:2, Mar 6:14; (e) faith, as the energizer of love, Gal 5:6; (f) the example of patience in suffering, 2Co 1:6; (g) death (physical) and life (spiritual), 2Co 4:12; (h) sinful passions, Rom 7:5; (i) the spirit of the Evil One, Eph 2:2; (j) the mystery of iniquity, 2Th 2:7." * [* From Notes on Galatians, by Hogg and Vine, pp. 114,115.]
To these may be added (k) the active response of believers to the inworking of God, Phi 2:13 (2nd part), RV, "to work (for)," AV, "to do (of);" (l) the supplication of the righteous, Jam 5:16, RV, "in its working" (AV, "effectual fervent").
"to do," is rendered "to work" in Mat 20:12, AV (RV, "spent"); Act 15:12, "had wrought;" Act 19:11, Act 21:19, Heb 13:21, Rev 16:14, Rev 19:20, Rev 21:27, AV (RV, "maketh;" marg., "doeth"). See DO.
"to work with or together" (sun), occurs in Mar 16:20, Rom 8:28, "work together;" 1Co 16:16, "helpeth with;" 2Co 6:1, "workers together," present participle, "working together;" the "with Him" represents nothing in the Greek; Jam 2:22, "wrought with." See HELP.
"to become, take place," is rendered "wrought" in Mar 6:2, Act 5:12, "were ... wrought."
