In the backs of our brains we store all kinds of information. Occasionally, just for fun, we swipe away the cobwebs of our minds and try to remember some of our mental treasures. Among some of the treasures we sometimes find old word parts from a Latin or Greek course taken years earlier. One such prefix is “epi-.” It means “upon” or “about.”
Perhaps we remember this prefix because we see it so often in English words. People in California regularly hear about the epicenter of the latest earthquake. At funerals we hear epitaphs. On television we watch episodes. At the end of a book we read an epilogue. Some winters we experience epidemics of the flu.
Thinking about one’s relationship with Christ and how He showers us with grace, may cause us to wonder if it could be called epigrace. Perhaps the Holy Spirit falling upon us could be called epidivinity. One thing for sure is we have experienced epilove.
“Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgression—it is by grace you have been saved.” Eph. 2:4-5.
Written October 15, 2002