Except It Abide In The Vine: A Word Study of ΜΈΝΩ

Μένω is a word with lush pastoral overtones.

It occurs over 100 times in the New Testament as both a transitive and intransitive verb.

INTRANSITIVE MEANINGS

When used as an intransitive verb, μένω refers to a person or thing that remains or stays in the same place or state.

When referring to a location or habitation, the word typically means dwell, abide or lodge in.

Thus in John 1:38, the two disciples ask Jesus διδάσκαλε, ποῦ μένεις; (teacher, where do you stay [dwell]?).

In Luke 19:5, Jesus says to Zacchaeus perched in his arborial vantage point “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for δεῖ με μεῖναι (for I must stay [lodge]) at your house today.

In Luke 10:7, the worker is worthy of his wage and is exhorted by Jesus to “μένετε (remain [dwell]) in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide.”

In other intransitive meanings signifying place, it can simply mean remain. In Acts 27:31, Paul warns the centurion and soldiers that they cannot be saved unless μείνωσιν (they remain) in the boat (no one abided or dwelt in a boat in those days).

The term “abide” in the title of this post is taken from John 15:4 and refers to a branch that remains on the vine and thus bears fruit.

When referring to a state, the word depicts a continuing condition.

In John 8:31, Jesus says to the Jews who had believed him “εαν ὑμεῖς μείνητε (if you abide) in my word, you are truly my disciples.” i.e. if you continue in a state of belief…

In 1 Corinthians 7:40, the apostle Paul recommends that a woman recently widowed μείνῃ (remain) as she is, rather than remarry.

In 1 John 3:15, eternal life is a state μένουσαν (remaining or continuing) in a person.

By far the greater occurrences of μένω are intransitive, but a few transitive uses do occur.

Technical Interlude

Μένω is a liquid verb with a stem ending in ν. The future is μενῶ and the aorist is ἔμεινα.

Transitive Meanings

When used with a direct object, μένω means to wait for someone or something.

In Acts 20:5, Paul and the group accompanying him ἔμενον (were waiting for) the disciples at Troas.

A little later in that same chapter, Paul states that in every city imprisonment and afflictions μένουσιν (await) him.

Cognate Words

An important cognate of μένω in the New Testament is the noun ὑπομονή, ῆς, ἡ. This word occurs 32 times in the New Testament and means patience, steadfastness, perseverance, all meanings that have to do with remaining or abiding.

The early Christians are often exhorted to show ὑπομονή against all that Rome and others closer to home could throw at them.

In Luke 21:19, Jesus tells his followers that, even though they will be hated by all, not a hair of their head will perish because “ἐν τῇ ὑπομονῇ ὑμῶν (by your endurance) you will gain your lives”.

Perhaps the epitome of this ancient virtue when transposed to an early Christian worldview occurs in 2 Thessalonians 3:5 when Paul prays that the Lord direct the hearts of the Thessalonian congregation to the love of God and to the ὑπομονὴν (steadfastness) of Christ.

Christ throughout life on earth and at the right of his Father is steadfastness writ large.