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διχοστασία

dichostasía

G1370 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Dichostasía refers to a state or act of causing division, dissension, or separation between groups or individuals. The primary meaning is 'division into two parts,' but in context it more often denotes the arising or fomenting of discord, schism, or internal strife within a group, such as a community or assembly. In the NT and later Koine, it typically implies the negative sense of creating factions or encouraging discord, especially in social or religious contexts.

Semantic Range

division, dissension, factionalism, schism, discord within a group, causing or inciting controversy or separation, internal strife

Root / Etymology

From δίς (twice, doubly) and στάσις (standing, faction, party, rebellion); literally 'a standing apart by twos' or separation into two (groups or opinions). The formation combines these to mean setting apart into separate stances; i.e., division.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Earliest attestation is in later Hellenistic Greek, with rare occurrences outside biblical and early Christian literature. In the New Testament (Romans 16:17; Galatians 5:20), διχοστασία refers to divisions that threaten the cohesion of the early assemblies, especially those due to disputes over teaching or practice. The term strongly connotes destructive internal quarrels or factionalism rather than formal political sedition (which στᾶσις would more directly denote). Unlike the more general διαιρεσις (division), διχοστασία stresses the negative and often personal or doctrinal aspect of discord. Standard English translations as 'division,' 'dissension,' or 'sedition' do not always capture the nuance of internal, often covert, disruption within a group. The term is contrasted with ἑνότης (unity).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a derivative of δίς and στάσις; disunion, i.e. (figuratively) dissension:--division, sedition.

Root Family

διχοστασία (dichostasía) — division, dissension, factional separation, standing apart in parties

Root διχοστασ- to divide, to stand apart, to separate into factions

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1370-01 διχοστασίαι dichostasiai N NOM F PL dissensions factional divisions factional divisions 1
G1370-02 διχοστασίας dichostasias N ACC F PL divisions factional divisions factional divisions 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1370-02 Romans 16:17 διχοστασίας dichostasias N ACC F PL divisions factional divisions factional divisions
G1370-01 Galatians 5:20 διχοστασίαι dichostasiai N NOM F PL dissensions factional divisions factional divisions
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