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προκοπή

prokopḗ

G4297 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A state or process of advancing or making progress—particularly in growth, improvement, or movement forward in a figurative sense. In the New Testament, primarily refers to the advancement, progress, or furtherance of something (such as the message, a person, or a virtue). May describe both subjective growth (personal, spiritual, or moral progress) and objective advancement (the success or spread of an effort or cause).

Semantic Range

advancement, progress, furtherance, improvement, personal growth, advancement of a cause or message

Root / Etymology

From the verb προκόπτω (prokóptō, 'to advance, to make progress'), itself derived from πρό (pro, 'before, forward') and κόπτω (kóptō, 'to cut, strike'), suggesting the idea of making one’s way forward, often by cutting a path ahead.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The noun προκοπή is rare in pre-Koine Greek but appears in later writers and the Koine period (notably in the New Testament and some Hellenistic sources) with the sense of advancement or progress. In Pauline epistles (e.g., Philippians 1:12, 1:25; 1 Timothy 4:15), it can indicate both the advancement of a cause (such as the good news) and personal spiritual growth or profit. The term’s imagery may evoke a journey or expedition, reflecting the underlying sense of forging a path ahead. In classical Greek, verbs from the same root refer to physical progress or making one's way through obstacles—over time, this metaphorical sense of advancement or improvement became more dominant. English translations such as 'furtherance,' 'progress,' or 'advancement' capture elements, but not always the nuance of actively moving forward against difficulty. The term rarely appears as a commercial or financial profit in the New Testament. There is little overlap with the nuances of μαθητής ('disciple,' i.e. one advancing in learning) or μετοχή ('participation'), but it may, in context, be associated with progress-in-learning or spiritual maturity.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from προκόπτω; progress, i.e. advancement (subjectively or objectively):--furtherance, profit.

Root Family

προκοπή (prokopē) — advancement, progress, forward movement, furtherance, growth

Root προκοπ- to advance, to progress, to move forward

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4297-02 προκοπὴν prokopen N ACC F SG progress advancement advancement 2
G4297-01 προκοπὴ prokope N NOM F SG progress advancement progress 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4297-02 Philippians 1:12 προκοπὴν prokopen N ACC F SG progress advancement advancement
G4297-02 Philippians 1:25 προκοπὴν prokopen N ACC F SG progress advancement advancement
G4297-01 1 Timothy 4:15 προκοπὴ prokope N NOM F SG progress advancement progress
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