αἵρεσιςhaíresis
properly, a choice, i.e. (specially) a party or (abstractly) disunion
Greek (New Testament) · G139
Meanings
1. capture.
2. choosing, choice.
3. that which is chosen, hence, opinion; especially a peculiar opinion, heresy: 1 Corinthians 11:19, Galatians 5:20, 2 Peter 2:1, R, text
4. In late writers, of a set of persons professing particular principles or opinions, a school, sect, party, faction: Acts 5:17, Acts 15:5, Acts 24:5, Acts 24:14, Acts 26:5, Acts 28:22, 1 Corinthians 11:19, Galatians 5:20, 2 Peter 2:1, R, margin.
Same root
Where it appears
Appears 9 times in the Bible.
- Acts 5:17 The high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.
- Acts 15:5 But then some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and insisted, “The Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow the law of Moses.”
- Acts 24:5 We have found this man to be a troublemaker who is constantly stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the cult known as the Nazarenes.
- Acts 24:14 “But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets.
- Acts 26:5 If they would admit it, they know that I have been a member of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of our religion.
- Acts 28:22 But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere.”
Source: G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), public domain.