Ainos
“Praise” is used as a noun, verb, and adjective, sometimes with the prefix “ep-,” upon. Other Greek words have been translated “praise” in various versions, but are better rendered glory, eulogize, virtue, or sing hymns. The ainos root word is the building block of the New Testament concept of “praise.”
ainos
- Matthew 21:16 (Psalm 8:2) “Out of the mouths of babes and nursing infants you have called forth praise.” Called forth is variously translated, but is not the word commonly translated perfect. Jesus’ point was that, although adults like the scribes were indignant, the youthful blessed Him, in the same way as in Psalm 8 in which enemies were silenced by the praises of babes. In Hebrew, hosanna means “rescue us.”
- Luke 2:13 “A multitude of the heavenly host praising God” Angels praised God by announcing the birth of the Messiah.
- Luke 2:20 “The shepherds returned glorifying and praising God.” The shepherds told people what they had seen (2:17 – 18).
- Luke 18:43 “All the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.”
- Luke 19:37 “The whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen.” Their praise resulted in opposition by the Pharisees.
- Acts 2:47 [The first Christians were] “praising God and having favor with all the people.”
- Acts 3:8 – 9 “He, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them, walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God.”
- Romans 15:11 [Psalm 117:1] “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles. Laud Him, all you peoples.”
- Hebrews 13:15 “Therefore, by Him, let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to [of] God, that is, the fruit of lips, giving thanks to His name.”
- Revelation 19:5 “Then a voice came from the throne, saying, ‘Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, small and great.”
epainos
- Romans 2:29 “Whose praise is not from men but from God.”
- Romans 13:3 “Do what is good and you will have praise from the same.”
- 1 Corinthians 4:5 “Each one’s praise will come from God.”
- 1 Corinthians 11:2 “Now I praise you, brethren…”
- 1 Corinthians 11:17 “Now in giving this instruction, I do not praise you.”
- 1 Corinthians 11:22 “Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:18 “We have sent with him the brother whose praise in the gospel is throughout all the churches.”
- Ephesians 1:6 “…to the praise of the glory of His grace…”
- Ephesians 1:12 “We who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory”
- Ephesians 1:14 “…until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”
- Philippians 1:11 “…being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
- Philippians 4:8 “…if there is anything praiseworthy…”
- 1 Peter 1:7 “…your faith…may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
- 1 Peter 2:14 “…to governors…for the praise of those who do good.”
Conclusion:
- Praise implies that good things are said about someone to an audience.
Dubious Usages:
- “Praise songs” often lack a message for the audience, but rather turns to the mystical.
- “Praise and worship” generally refers to a gathering of Christians.
- The most common teaching about praise places its context primarily in prayer.