ἀληθινός

ἀληθινός — alēthinós

ἀληθινός, (ή, (frequent in secular writings from Plato down; (twenty-three times in John's writings; only five (according to Lachmann six) times in the rest of the N. T.));

1. that which has not only the name and semblance, but the real nature corresponding to the name (Tittmann, p. 155; ("particularly applied to express that which is all that it pretends to be, for instance, pure gold as opposed to adulterated metal" Donaldson, New Crat. § 258; see, at length, Trench, § viii.)), in every respect corresponding to the idea signified by the name, real and true, genuine;

a. opposed to what is fictitious, counterfeit, imaginary, simulated, pretended: Θεός (אֱמֶת אֱלֹהַי, 2Ch 15:3), 1Th 1:9; Heb 9:14 Lachmann; Joh 17:3; 1Jn 5:20. (ἀληθινοί φίλοι, Demosthenes, Php 3:1-21, p. 113, 27.)

b. it contrasts realities with their semblances: σκηνή, Heb 8:2; the sanctuary, Heb 9:24. (ὁ ἵππος contrasted with ὁ ἐν τῇ εἰκόνι, Aelian v. h. 2, 3.)

c. opposed to what is imperfect, defective, frail, uncertain: Joh 4:23; Joh 4:37; Joh 7:28; used without adjunct of Jesus as the true Messiah, Rev 3:7; φῶς, Joh 1:9; 1Jn 2:8; κρίσις, Joh 8:16 (L T Tr WH; Isa 59:4); κρίσεις, Rev 16:7; Rev 19:2; ἄρτος, as nourishing the soul unto life everlasting, Joh 6:32; ἄμπελος, Joh 15:1; μαρτυρία Joh 19:35; μάρτυς, Rev 3:14; δεσπότης, Rev 6:10; ὁδοί, Rev 15:3; coupled with πιστός, Rev 3:14; Rev 19:11; substantively, τό ἀληθινόν the genuine, real good, opposed to external riches, Luk 16:11 ((οἷς μέν γάρ ἀληθινός πλοῦτος οὐρανῷ, Philo de praem, et poen. § 17, p. 425, Mang. edition; cf. Wetstein (1752) on Luke, the passage cited); ά᾿θληται, Polybius 1, 6, 6).

2. equivalent to ἀληθής, true, veracious, sincere, (often so in the Sept.): καρδία, Heb 10:22 (μετ' ἀληθείας ἐν καρδία ἀληθινή, Isa 38:3); λόγοι, Rev.; (Plutarch, apoph, p. 184 e.). (Cf. Cremer, 4te Aufi. under the word ἀλήθεια.)