The Greek word ἀπέκδυσις (apekdýsis) is derived from the verb ἀπεκδύομαι (apekdýomai), meaning “to put off” or “to take off” garments. Thus, ἀπέκδυσις refers to the act or process of “putting off” or “shedding” something. It is used both in a literal sense, such as removing clothing, and in a metaphorical sense, to signify the removal or discarding of attributes, behaviors, or conditions.

Detailed Overview

1. Strong’s Concordance: Strong’s defines ἀπέκδυσις as “a stripping off” or “a putting off,” which primarily relates to the act of removing clothing but can extend to a figurative sense of discarding or laying aside certain attributes or behaviors.
2. Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich (BDAG) Greek-English Lexicon: BDAG describes ἀπέκδυσις as “a taking off” or “shedding,” with both literal and metaphorical applications. In a metaphorical context, it often implies a process of discarding or leaving behind undesirable attributes or conditions. BDAG emphasizes its use in moral or ethical contexts, where it refers to the abandonment of former ways in favor of new practices.
3. Liddell-Scott-Jones (LSJ) Greek-English Lexicon: LSJ defines ἀπέκδυσις as “the act of stripping off” or “shedding,” noting its use both in the literal sense of removing clothes and metaphorically to describe the act of putting aside or abandoning certain traits or states. The lexicon highlights its figurative usage in describing a change or transformation through the removal of undesirable elements.
4. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon: Thayer’s explains ἀπέκδυσις as “a stripping off” or “shedding,” particularly in metaphorical terms, where it refers to the removal of old, undesirable behaviors or conditions to embrace a new way of life. It underscores the concept of transition and transformation through the act of discarding.

In summary, ἀπέκδυσις (apekdýsis) denotes the process of removing or shedding, with applications both literal and metaphorical. It is used to describe the physical act of taking off garments and, more significantly, the metaphorical act of discarding old behaviors or attributes to adopt new ones.