Two Greek Words Translated as House

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On the whole, in spite of authorities, I am disposed to think that οἶκος is the house viewed from outside as an object set before us, οἰκία from inside; οἶκος the building as such, the temple always, so a family, or lineage metaphorically. It is very often merely a difference of conception in the writer. If I think of the house as a building to which I came, I should say, οἶκος, if I was going in to a set of people in it, or having to do with the house inside of it, not materially, but as containing, I should say, elide. We have a striking example, how near they run together, and yet have a different sense: in 1 Cor. 1:1616And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. (1 Corinthians 1:16) οἶκος of Stephanas, the family looked at objectively from without; in xvi. 15, οἰκία. The material house as from without was not the first-fruits, but the household as a whole which was so. What seems a difficulty is the end, of sermon on the Mount, building the house on a rock. (Matt. 7:24; 2524Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: (Matthew 7:24) Luke 6:48, 4948He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. (Luke 6:48‑49): as far as I find, it is always thus, ᾠκοδόμησεν οἰκίαν.) I think οἰκία is the whole concern the builder had in his mind for his habitation, a dwelling with his family, which was of course a house. Hence “go not from house to house,” is οἰκία, though they might from οἶκος to οἶκος. Cf. Matt. 5:1515Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. (Matthew 5:15); Phil. 4:2222All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household. (Philippians 4:22), and more strongly Matt. 10:12, 13, 14; 13:5112And when ye come into an house, salute it. 13And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. (Matthew 10:12‑14)
51Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. (Matthew 13:51)
; John 4:5353So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. (John 4:53). In Luke 10:55And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. (Luke 10:5), we have both. They go into the οἰκίαν or dwelling containing the family, and say, Peace be to this house, οἴκῳ, an object before their minds as one thing. They brake bread, κατ' οἶκον; and τὴν κατ' οἶκον αὐτῶν ἐκκλησίαν, meeting there, not in the household. See Acts 2:46; 5:42; 8:3; 20:2046And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, (Acts 2:46)
42And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. (Acts 5:42)
3As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. (Acts 8:3)
20And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, (Acts 20:20)
. So the blessing comes as the peace on the οἶκον, Luke 19:99And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. (Luke 19:9). In Matt. 12:2525And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: (Matthew 12:25), οἰκία κατ' ἑαυτῆς, in Luke 11:1717But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. (Luke 11:17), οἶκος ἐπὶ οἶκον. Here in Luke οἰκία would not do; it is a single whole thing, not collective as in Matthew: οἰκία would have been too intimate.