ἀληθινός

(ή, (frequent in secular writings from Plato down; (twenty-three times in John's writings; only five (according to Lachmann six) times in the rest of the N. T.));
1. that which has not only the name and semblance, but the real nature corresponding to the name (Tittmann, p. 155; ("particularly applied to express that which is all that it pretends to be, for instance, pure gold as opposed to adulterated metal" Donaldson, New Crat. § 258; see, at length, Trench, § viii.)), in every respect corresponding to the idea signified by the name, real and true, genuine;
a. opposed to what is fictitious, counterfeit, imaginary, simulated, pretended: Θεός (אֱמֶת אֱלֹהַי, 2 Chr 15:3), 1 Thess 1:9; Heb 9:14 Lachmann; Jn 17:3; 1 Jn 5:20. (ἀληθινοί φίλοι, Demosthenes, Philippians 3, p. 113, 27.)
b. it contrasts realities with their semblances: σκηνή, Heb 8:2; the sanctuary, Heb 9:24. (ὁ ἵππος contrasted with ὁ ἐν τῇ εἰκόνι, Aelian v. h. 2, 3.)
c. opposed to what is imperfect, defective, frail, uncertain: Jn 4:23, Jn 4:37; Jn 7:28; used without adjunct of Jesus as the true Messiah, Rev 3:7; φῶς, Jn 1:9; 1 Jn 2:8; κρίσις, Jn 8:16 (L T Tr WH; Isa 59:4); κρίσεις, Rev 16:7; Rev 19:2; ἄρτος, as nourishing the soul unto life everlasting, Jn 6:32; ἄμπελος, Jn 15:1; μαρτυρία Jn 19:35; μάρτυς, Rev 3:14; δεσπότης, Rev 6:10; ὁδοί, Rev 15:3; coupled with πιστός, Rev 3:14; Rev 19:11; substantively, τό ἀληθινόν the genuine, real good, opposed to external riches, Lk 16:11 ((οἷς μέν γάρ ἀληθινός πλοῦτος οὐρανῷ, Philo de praem, et poen. § 17, p. 425, Mang. edition; cf. Wetstein (1752) on Luke, the passage cited); ά᾿θληται, Polybius 1, 6, 6).
2. equivalent to ἀληθής, true, veracious, sincere, (often so in the Sept.): καρδία, Heb 10:22 (μετ' ἀληθείας ἐν καρδία ἀληθινή, Isa 38:3); λόγοι, Rev. (); Rev 21:5; (Plutarch, apoph, p. 184 e.). (Cf. Cremer, 4te Aufi. under the word ἀλήθεια.)