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My mother-in-law had just died, and we were discussing who would write the eulogy. I had written a blog about this and also the first draft of the official obituary, so my name came up (I declined). Vaguely, I remembered that the meaning of eulogy was something like praise. And I recognized some Greek roots in the word. So I decided to look up the etymology of the word.
The Online Dictionary of Etymology has this:
mid-15c., from Latin eulogium, from Greek eulogia "praise; good or fine language" (in New Testament, "blessing"), from eu "well" (see eu-) + -logia "speaking" (see -logy).
The Strong's Talking Greek and Hebrew Dictionary has this:
(G2127) εὐλογέω (eulogeō) - from a compound of (G2095) (eu) and (G3056) (logos); to speak well of, i.e. (religiously) to bless (thank or invoke a benediction upon, prosper) :- bless, praise
Or, to put it another way, eulogy means good words.
As we were discussing the life of my mother-in-law after she died, one of the good words that came up was that she never spoke ill of anyone. In other words, one of the good words about her was that she was a woman of good words. What a great legacy. The same can not be said of me.
It's interesting that we typically reserve the eulogy until after someone dies. If we have something nice to say about someone, why wait until they cannot hear? I did once write some good words for my sister's husband while he was still with us and could appreciate them.
We can have a profound positive impact on others when we are people of good words. The Apostle Paul wrote, "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." (Colossians 4:6 NIV) We all appreciate grace-filled conversations that build us up and encourage us.
Several years ago, I told the story of Kung Nang, who had to overcome words that discouraged her as she learned to play guitar. These days she is a member of the worship band in her church. The power of good words.
James wrote, "With the tongue we praise (eulogumen - ευλογουμεν) our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise (eulogia - ευλογια) and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. (James 3:9-10 NIV). We have a choice to make, we can use our words to eulogize someone, or we can use our words to curse them. Which will it be?
I'm not well known for my construction skills. If you put a hammer in my had it is more often a tool of destruction than of construction. Our words are like a hammer—we can use them to build up or to tear down.
As I write this, we have just received a message from someone noting the power of hurtful words. I, myself, have been the source of hurtful words in the past. But this should not be what characterizes us as believers. A piece of advice we tossed around as children (though we didn't always follow it ourselves) was, "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say it." Let us choose to eulogize the living—to be people of good words.
Following is the use of eulogy in the New Testament
Unless marked with asterisks, italicized words are from Strong's Greek 2127: eulogeō = bless, speak well of
All verses from the Lexam English Bible translation.
Matthew 14:19
And he commanded the crowds to recline for a meal on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks. And after breaking them, he gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
Matthew 21:9
And the crowds who went ahead of him and the ones who followed were shouting, saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Matthew 25:34
Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world!
Matthew 23:39
For I tell you, you will never see me from now on until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”
Matthew 26:26
Now while they were eating Jesus took bread and, after giving thanks, he broke it, and giving it to the disciples, he said, “Take, eat, this is my body.”
Mark 6:41
And taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves and gave them to his disciples so that they could set them before them. And he distributed the two fish to them all.
Mark 8:7
And they had a few small fish, and after giving thanks for them, he said to set these before them also.
Mark 10:16
And after taking them into his arms, he blessed them, placing his hands on them.
Mark 11:9
And those who went ahead and those who were following were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Mark 11:10
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
Mark 14:22
And while they were eating, he took bread and, after giving thanks, he broke it and gave it to them and said, “Take it, this is my body.”
Mark 14:61
But he was silent and did not reply anything. Again the high priest asked him and said to him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed* One?”
Luke 1:42
And she cried out with a loud shout and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
Luke 1:64
And his mouth and his tongue were opened immediately, and he began to speak, praising God.
Luke 1:68
“Blessed* be the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited to help and has redeemed his people,
Luke 2:28
he took him in his arms and praised God and said,
Luke 6:28
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Luke 9:16
And taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them and began giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd.
Luke 13:35
Behold, your house has been left to you! And I tell you, you will never see me until the time will come when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”
Luke 19:38
saying, “Blessed is the king, the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Luke 24:30
And it happened that when he reclined at the table with them, he took the bread and gave thanks, and after breaking it, he gave it to them.
Luke 24:50
And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them.
Luke 24:51
And it happened that while he was blessing them, he parted from them and was taken up into heaven.
Luke 24:53
And they were continually in the temple courts praising God.
John 12:13
took the branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, and began crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord, even the king of Israel!”
Acts 3:26
God, after he had raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning each of you back from your wickedness!”
Romans 1:25
who exchanged the truth of God with a lie, and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed* for eternity. Amen.
Romans 9:5
to whom belong the patriarchs, and from whom is the Christ according to human descent, who is God over all, blessed* forever! Amen.
Romans 12:14
Bless those who persecute, bless and do not curse them.
Romans 15:29
and I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing** of Christ.
Romans 16:18
For such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own stomach, and by smooth speech and flattery** they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.
1 Corinthians 4:12
and we toil, working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure;
1 Corinthians 10:16
The cup of blessing** which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?
1 Corinthians 14:16
For otherwise, if you praise in your spirit, how will the one who fills the place of the outsider say the “amen” at your thanksgiving, because he does not know what you are saying?
2 Corinthians 1:3
Blessed* is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
2 Corinthians 9:5
Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers that they should go on ahead to you and make arrangements in advance for your generous gift** that was promised previously, so this would be prepared as a generous gift** and not as grudgingly granted.
2 Corinthians 9:6
Now the point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully** will also reap bountifully**.
2 Corinthians 11:31
The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed* forever, knows that I am not lying.
Galatians 3:9
So then, the ones who have faith are blessed together with Abraham who believed.
Galatians 3:14
in order that the blessing** of Abraham might come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Ephesians 1:3
Blessed* is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing** in the heavenly places in Christ,
Hebrews 6:7
For ground that drinks the rain that comes often upon it, and brings forth vegetation usable to those people for whose sake it is also cultivated, shares a blessing** from God.
Hebrews 6:14
saying, “Surely I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply you.”
Hebrews 7:1
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
Hebrews 7:6
But the one who did not trace his descent from them collected tithes from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.
Hebrews 7:7
Now without any dispute the inferior is blessed by the more prominent.
Hebrews 11:20
By faith also Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things that were going to happen.
Hebrews 11:21
By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
Hebrews 12:17
For you know that also afterwards, when he wanted to inherit the blessing**, he was rejected, because he did not find an occasion for repentance, although he sought it with tears.
James 3:9
With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
James 3:10
From the same mouth come blessing** and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so!
1 Peter 1:3
Blessed* be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Peter 3:9
not repaying evil for evil or insult for insult, but on the other hand blessing others, because for this reason you were called, so that you could inherit a blessing.**
Revelation 5:12
saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise**!”
Revelation 5:13
And I heard every creature that is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and in the sea and everything in them saying, “To the one who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb be praise** and honor and glory and power forever and ever.”
Revelation 7:12
saying, “Amen! Praise** and glory, and wisdom and thanksgiving, and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen!”
* Strong's Greek 2128: εὐλογητός eulogētos = to bless, well spoken of, worthy of praise
** Strong's Greek 2129: εὐλογία: eulogia = commendation, blessing
