πρόθεσις

πρόθεσις — próthesis

πρόθεσις, προθέσεως, ἡ (προτίθημι);

1. the setting forth of a thing, placing of it in view (Plato, Demosthenes, Plutarch); οἱ ἄρτοι τῆς προθέσεως (Vulg.panes propositionis), the showbread, the Sept. for הַפָנִים לֶחֶם (Exo 35:13; Exo 39:18; 1Ki 7:48 ), and הַמַּעֲרֶכֶת לֶחֶם (1Ch 9:32; 1Ch 23:29); twelve loaves of wheaten bread, corresponding to the number of the tribes of Israel, which loaves were offered to God every Sabbath, and, separated into two rows, lay for seven days upon a table placed in the sanctuary or anterior portion of the tabernacle, and afterward of the temple (cf. Winer, RWB, under the word Schaubrode; Roskoff in Schenkel see p. 213f; (Edersheim, The Temple, chapter ix., p. 152ff; BB. DD.)): Mat 12:4; Mar 2:26; Luk 6:4 (οἱ ἄρτοι τοῦ προσώπου, namely, Θεοῦ, Neh 10:33; ἄρτοι ἐνωπιοι, Exo 25:29); ἡ πρόθεσις τῶν ἄρτων (the rite of) the setting forth of the loaves, Heb 9:2.

2. a purpose (2Ma 3:8; (Aristotle), Polybius, Diodorus, Plutarch): Act 27:13; Rom 8:28; Rom 9:11; Eph 1:11; Eph 3:11; 2Ti 1:9; 2Ti 3:10; τῇ προθέσει τῆς καρδίας, with purpose of heart, Act 11:23.