Thelēma θέλημα

Thelēma (Greek θέλημα, Strong's G2307) is a Greek neuter noun meaning “will/desire”. It occurs 63 times in 59 verses of the New Testament.

Definition

From the STEPBible Brief Lexicon of Greek (based on Abbott-Smith), STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0.

Translated as

Verses

Every verse with Thelēma, with the English words that translate it highlighted (KJV or BSB; other translations show the KJV here).

Matthew

• Matthew 6:10
  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
• Matthew 7:21
  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
• Matthew 12:50
  For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
• Matthew 18:14
  Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
• Matthew 21:31
  Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.Which of the two did the will of his father?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.
• Matthew 26:42
  He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.A second time He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.”

Mark

• Mark 3:35
  For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.”

Luke

• Luke 11:2
  And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.So Jesus told them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.
• Luke 12:47
  And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows.
• Luke 22:42
  Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
• Luke 23:25
  And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.As they had requested, he released the one imprisoned for insurrection and murder, and handed Jesus over to their will.

John

• John 1:13
  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.
• John 4:34
  Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.
• John 5:30
  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear. And My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
• John 6:38
  For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.
• John 6:39
  And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day.
• John 6:40
  And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
• John 7:17
  If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own.
• John 9:31
  Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will.

Acts

• Acts 13:22
  And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.After removing Saul, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will carry out My will in its entirety.’
• Acts 21:14
  And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.When he would not be dissuaded, we fell silent and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”
• Acts 22:14
  And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear His voice.

Romans

• Romans 1:10
  Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.in my prayers at all times, asking that now at last by God’s will I may succeed in coming to you.
• Romans 2:18
  And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;if you know His will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law;
• Romans 12:2
  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
• Romans 15:32
  That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.

1 Corinthians

• 1 Corinthians 1:1
  Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
• 1 Corinthians 7:37
  Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.But the man who is firmly established in his heart and under no constraint, with control over his will and resolve in his heart not to marry the virgin, he will do well.
• 1 Corinthians 16:12
  As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient time.Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was not at all inclined to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.

2 Corinthians

• 2 Corinthians 1:1
  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:
• 2 Corinthians 8:5
  And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, because it was the will of God.

Galatians

• Galatians 1:4
  Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

Ephesians

• Ephesians 1:1
  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
• Ephesians 1:5
  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,
• Ephesians 1:9
  Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ
• Ephesians 1:11
  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,
• Ephesians 2:3
  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.
• Ephesians 5:17
  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
• Ephesians 6:6
  Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.

Colossians

• Colossians 1:1
  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
• Colossians 1:9
  For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
• Colossians 4:12
  Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in the full will of God.

1 Thessalonians

• 1 Thessalonians 4:3
  For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality;
• 1 Thessalonians 5:18
  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy

• 2 Timothy 1:1
  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus,
• 2 Timothy 2:26
  And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to his will.

Hebrews

• Hebrews 10:7
  Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.Then I said, ‘Here I am, it is written about Me in the scroll: I have come to do Your will, O God.’”
• Hebrews 10:9
  Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.Then He adds, “Here I am, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second.
• Hebrews 10:10
  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
• Hebrews 10:36
  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.
• Hebrews 13:21
  Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter

• 1 Peter 2:15
  For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.
• 1 Peter 3:17
  For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
• 1 Peter 4:2
  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.Consequently, he does not live out his remaining time on earth for human passions, but for the will of God.
• 1 Peter 4:19
  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should entrust their souls to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

2 Peter

• 2 Peter 1:21
  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

1 John

• 1 John 2:17
  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.
• 1 John 5:14
  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

Revelation

• Revelation 4:11
  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and came to be.”

Notes

1. Definition and verse list from STEPBible's tagged Hebrew Old Testament (TAHOT) and Greek New Testament (TAGNT) and Brief Lexicons, STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0.
2. English renderings from the public-domain KJV with Strong's numbers (eBible.org) and the Berean Standard Bible interlinear (public domain).