homologumena: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical/Scholarly
Quick answer
What does “homologumena” mean?
A biblical studies term referring to those New Testament books whose authenticity and canonical status were universally accepted in the early church.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A biblical studies term referring to those New Testament books whose authenticity and canonical status were universally accepted in the early church.
In a broader scholarly context, it can denote any body of texts or works whose authorship or authenticity is uncontested, in contrast to those that are disputed (antilegomena).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences. Usage is identical and confined to the same academic circles.
Connotations
Neutral, technical, historical.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both varieties, appearing only in specialised theological literature.
Grammar
How to Use “homologumena” in a Sentence
[The] homologumena [were/are] contrasted with...[Subject] discusses the canonical status of the homologumena.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “homologumena” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The homologumena books formed the core of the canon.
American English
- The homologumena texts were never in serious doubt.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never used.
Academic
Primary context. Used in theological, religious studies, and historical textual analysis publications and lectures.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
The specific technical context is biblical canon formation and patristics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “homologumena”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “homologumena”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “homologumena”
- Misspelling (e.g., homologomena, homologumana).
- Using it outside of a theological/textual-critical context.
- Confusing it with 'homologous' from biology.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While its primary use is theological, by analogy it could be applied in literary or historical scholarship to denote a corpus of uncontested authentic works of a given author, though this is extremely rare.
It is a plural noun (from Greek, 'things agreed upon'). One would refer to 'the homologumena are' not 'is'. A singular form ('homologumenon') exists but is vanishingly rare.
In British English: /ˌhɒməlɒɡjuːˈmiːnə/. In American English: /ˌhoʊməˌlɑːɡjuːˈmiːnə/. Stress falls on the 'mee' syllable.
It refers to a very specific historical-theological concept with a limited technical audience. As modern biblical studies have evolved, simpler phrases like 'undisputed books' or 'core canon' are often preferred.
A biblical studies term referring to those New Testament books whose authenticity and canonical status were universally accepted in the early church.
Homologumena is usually technical/scholarly in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No idioms exist for this term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'HOMO' (same) + 'LOGUMENA' (things said). The 'same things said' by everyone, meaning universally accepted.
Conceptual Metaphor
The core canon as a solid, agreed-upon foundation versus the disputed, fringeware (antilegomena).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'homologumena' primarily used?