apokatastasis
|a-po-ka-ta-sta-sis|
/ˌæpəˌkætəˈsteɪsɪs/
universal restoration
Etymology
'apokatastasis' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'ἀποκατάστασις', where 'apo-' meant 'away/from' and 'katastasis' meant 'a standing together/ restoration.'
'apokatastasis' changed from Medieval Latin 'apocatastasis' (used in theological Latin) and from Ancient Greek 'ἀποκατάστασις' before entering English via theological and scholarly writings.
Initially, it meant 'restoration' in a general sense, but over time (especially in Christian theology) it evolved to the more specific meaning of 'universal restoration or reconciliation.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
restoration; the act of restoring to a previous or original state (general, secular sense).
In classical contexts, apokatastasis can refer simply to the restoration of a city or order.
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Noun 2
theological doctrine of universal restoration or universal reconciliation — the belief that all souls (or all things) will ultimately be restored to God or brought to a reconciled state.
Origen is often associated with apokatastasis, the idea that ultimately all souls will be reconciled to God.
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Last updated: 2025/09/20 04:09