Heirs (2818) (Kleronomos from kleros = a lot - lots were cast or drawn to divide property or select a winner or an heir + nemomai = to possess, to distribute among themselves), literally refers to one who obtains a lot or portion. It is one who receives something as a possession or a beneficiary (the person named as in an insurance policy to receive proceeds or benefits). It signifies more than one who inherits and it includes the idea of taking into possession. The New Testament usage of kleronomos applies primarily to the realm of spiritual inheritance. Detzler records a different origin stating that kleronomos is a combination of two words: kleros (a lot or inheritance) and nomos (law). Thus the word kleronomos indicates the legal distribution of possessions or lots to heirs...In the original Greek culture, possessions were passed on to any person named in one's will. In fact, Greeks often built their fortunes for the purpose of passing them on to favored relatives. The Romans widened the concept to enable the distribution of possessions or wealth among close friends or loyal servants. To the Jews, however, an inheritance was usually reserved for one's children. In fact this was preserved in the Law as the principle to be followed. The Greek Old Testament also used kleros to refer to casting of the lot, as was seen in the use of the Urim and Thummim (Ex. 28:30; Lev 8:8). (Detzler, Wayne E: New Testament Words in Today's Language. Victor. 1986) In the Greco-Roman world the word kleronomos was a legal term and was found on ancient inscriptions of Asia Minor to refer to a son after he was succeeded to the inheritance as representative of his father, undertaking all the duties and obligations of his father. A heir is one who receives or is entitled to receive some endowment or quality from a parent or predecessor Richards writes that kleronomos is... one who takes possession of or inherits. The emphasis is on the heir's right to possess. (Richards, L O: Expository Dictionary of Bible Words: Regency) Vincent comments that... an inheritance is originally a portion which one receives by lot in a general distribution. In the New Testament the idea of chance attaching to the lot is eliminated. It is the portion or heritage which one receives by virtue of birth or by special gift. So of the vineyard seized by the wicked husbandmen: “Let us seize on his inheritance” (Matt. 21:38); of Abraham in Canaan: “God gave him none inheritance” (Acts 7:5); “an eternal inheritance” (see note Hebrews 9:15). The figure (of an heir and the inheritance) is based upon Roman, not upon Jewish, law. According to Roman law, all the children, sons and daughters, inherited alike. According to Jewish law, the inheritance of the sons was unequal, and the daughters were excluded, except where there were no male heirs. Thus the Roman law furnished a more truthful illustration of the privileges of Christians. (Commenting on Jesus as heir in He1:2 [note]) God eternally predestined the Son to be the possessor and sovereign of all things. Compare Psalm 89:28 [Spurgeon's note]. Heirship goes with sonship. See Ro 8:17 [note]; Gal. 4:7. Christ attained the Messianic Lordship through incarnation. Something was acquired as the result of His incarnation which He did not possess before it, and could not have possessed without it. Equality with God was His birthright; but out of His human life, death, and resurrection came a type of sovereignty which could pertain to Him only through His triumph over human sin in the flesh (He 1:3-note), through His identification with men as their brother. Messianic Lordship could not pertain to His preincarnate state: it is a matter of function, not of inherent power and majesty. He was essentially Son of God; He must become Son of man.) Vine commenting on the use of kleronomos in He 1:2 (note) writes that kleronomos, “heir,” signifies more than one who inherits, or obtains a portion, it means (like the corresponding Hebrew word, yaresh = 03423 = take something from someone else and possess it for yourself) to take into possession. The word, while being virtually a title, also conveys the significance of dominion and authority... that property in real estate which in ordinary course passes from father to son on the death of the former Gerald Cowen has a lengthy note on kleronomos... Originally it denoted one who obtained a lot or portion. In Homer, for instance, it referred to a fragment of stone or wood used as a lot. The portion allotted by this casting of lots was the inheritance. Originally, an inheritance referred to that which had been received from the past. However, in the New Testament especially, the emphasis is changed somewhat to include the future as well. In the Old Testament there are two basic ways the concept is used. (1) Captives and captured booty were divided among the victors by lots. Psalm 22:18 predicts the fact that Jesus' clothes would be divided by lot. The captives of Israel were divided among their conquerors: "They have cast lots for my people" (Joel 3:3). (2) The Land of Promise is Jehovah's inheritance. Jeremiah said, "You defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination" (Jer 2:7). David said to Saul, "For they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord" (1Sa 26:19). The Levite was given no portion in the Promised Land for "the Lord is his inheritance" (Deut. 10:9). In the Greek papyruses of New Testament times the word kleronomos is used in its ordinary sense of "heir." An example from A.D. 125 says, "If I die with this will unchanged, I leave my daughter Ammonous heir." However, a very important point is that being an heir usually involved responsibilities. A Macedonian inscription says, "But if my heir neglect anything he shall pay to the treasurer a fine of 750 denarii." Concerning kleronomos Moulton and Milligan conclude, "In the inscriptions the one thing most often emphasized is the obligation of the kleronomos to fulfill certain conditions devolving upon him as an heir. When Paul insists that only those who fulfill the conditions of heirship are truly heirs, he is making use of a well-known principle." It is interesting to find also that it was not unheard of for persons to refuse an inheritance because they did not want to take on the responsibilities or fulfill the conditions associated with it. Another papyrus cited by Moulton and Milligan says, "As I have no intention of entering on his inheritance, I am obliged to send you notice, that you may give instructions about the next step to be taken, in order to free me from responsibility after his death." In the New Testament kleronomos occurs fifteen times. In most, it is used in the ordinary sense of an "heir," one to whom property is to pass after the death of the owner. Three Gospels record the parable of the wicked husband-men who killed the son and heir of the owner in order to seize his inheritance (Matt. 21:38; Mark 12:7; Luke 20:14). Galatians 4:1 describes a child who is an heir but is too young to manage his own affairs. Primarily kleronomos is soteriological in its emphasis. Abraham was appointed an "heir of the world" through the "righteousness of faith" (Romans 4:13-note). Because believers are now children of God, they have become "an heir of of God through Christ" (Gal. 4:7). The inheritance is eschatological in nature and at the same time present in effect. In Romans 8:17-note the emphasis is on the future glory that will be a part of being an heir of God. In Eph 3:6-note the Gentiles are already fellow-heirs, part of the same body with the Jews (the church), and "partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel." Just as in the secular world where heirs had to meet pre-scribed conditions in order to inherit, there are conditions that must be met before one qualifies as an heir of God. Noah prepared the ark by faith and became an heir of righteousness, which comes as a result of faith (Hebrews 11:7-note). Abraham became "heir of the world" through the "righteousness of faith" (Romans 4:13; 4:14-notes). Paul explained to the Galatians that the only way to become an heir of God is through Christ (Gal. 4:7). The inheritance that God has promised to those who believe is based on the condition of faith, by which we become children of God and are placed in Christ, by which also we receive now the righteousness of Christ. Having been made righteous by the grace of God, we are also made heirs "according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:7). (Cowen, Gerald: Salvation Word Studies from the Greek New Testament) See excellent summary of Inheritance in Baker's Evangelical Dictionary article Kleronomos is found 15 times in the NT and 4 times in the Septuagint (LXX) (Jdg 18:7; 2 Sa 14:7; Jer 8:10; Micah 1:15)... Matthew 21:38 "But when the vine-growers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir (kleronomos - the one who would take over the property) ; come, let us kill him, and seize his inheritance (kleronomia).' Mark 12:7 "But those vine-growers said to one another, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance (kleronomia) will be ours!' Luke 20:14 "But when the vine-growers saw him, they reasoned with one another, saying, 'This is the heir; let us kill him that the inheritance (kleronomia) may be ours.' Romans 4:13 (note) For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. Romans 4:14 For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified; Romans 8:17 (note) and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. (Comment: Roman law made all children, including adopted ones, equal heritors. Jewish law gave a double portion to the eldest son. The Roman law was naturally in Paul’s mind, and suits the context, where adoption is the basis of inheritance.) Galatians 3:29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. (Comment: This promise does not mean that believers will receive the land promises of Abraham [those covenant promises will be given to believing Israel in the Millennium finally fulfilling God's original promises to Abraham], but rather speaks of the blessings that accrue as the result of justification by faith.) Galatians 4:1 Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, Galatians 4:7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. Titus 3:7 (note) that being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope (certainty is expressed by this word, with no hint of uncertainty as in the common vernacular) of eternal life. (Comment: Heirship of eternal life is the result of justification and this is attested and confirmed by the Holy Spirit) Hebrews 1:2 (note) in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. Hebrews 6:17 (note) In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, Hebrews 11:7 (note) By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. (Comment: Noah became an actual possessor of the righteousness according to faith) James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? The believer's heirship is not merely a future hope but a present reality. Even now in this present life we have the right as God's children to look forward to the full possession of that which we now possess only in principle. And this future inheritance serves to motivate us to godliness, etc for as C S Lewis wrote... A continual looking forward to the eternal world is not a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do. It does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is. If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. In Romans 8 Paul states that since we are God's spiritual children we are... heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. (see note Romans 8:17) The actual experience of obtaining our full inheritance awaits the return of our Lord and Savior. Illustration - English poet Edward Lear, known for his quaint children’s poems and accompanying drawings, was asked to give Queen Victoria drawing lessons. After one of the lessons, the Queen showed Lear several of the family heirlooms that were on display in her living quarters in the palace. Lear, taken with the beauty of the things he saw, without thinking cried out: “Oh, where did you get all these beautiful things?” Queen Victoria replied, “I inherited them, Mr. Lear.” In this passage the apostle reminds Titus of the precious inheritance he received when he experienced the washing of rebirth and the renewal of the Holy Spirit. (Today in the Word) ACCORDING TO THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE: kat elpida zoe aioniou: (Titus 1:2, 2:13- see hope in notes on Titus 1:2; 2:13) According to (kata) - this is proportional to this great hope. If God's hope is a "billion" dollars, God does not just give us $5 (a portion) but proportionate to His largess of hope! The hope of eternal life - The certainty of such an everlasting life is the firm foundation of the believer. Jamieson rightly states that... Such a blessed hope, which once was not possessed, will lead a Christian to practice holiness and meekness toward others, the lesson especially needed by the Cretans. Expositor's Bible Commentary explains that... Our standing as heirs is according to (kata - 2596), in full harmony with, "the hope of eternal life" (Titus 1:2-note). Our present experience of salvation can give us only a tantalizing foretaste of the nature of our future inheritance. (Gaebelein, F, Editor: Expositor's Bible Commentary 6-Volume New Testament. Zondervan Publishing) Vine explains "according to the hope of eternal life" noting that... this relation to God involves our becoming “heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ” (Ro 8:1- note). This, the outcome of the pouring forth of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, is the effect of regeneration. All that will be ours as heirs is in accordance with the hope granted us as our present enjoyment. If there were no present hope, sure and certain, there could be no inheritance. That is the significance of the preposition rendered “according to." (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson )