Introduction

In the realm of Biblical studies, understanding the nuances of Greek words is essential for interpreting the New Testament accurately. One such word, ἐλλογέω (ellogeō), plays a crucial role in understanding concepts of accounting, crediting, and imputation, particularly in theological contexts like justification and righteousness. This term, though not frequently used in the New Testament, carries significant weight in the broader discussion of how God reckons righteousness to believers. It also provides insight into ancient Greek culture, where financial and legal terminologies often overlapped with moral and religious concepts.

Key Information:

• Greek Word: ἐλλογέω (ellogeō) [el-loh-GEH-oh]
• Etymology: Derived from the preposition ἐν (en) meaning “in” and the verb λογίζομαι (logizomai) meaning “to reckon” or “to count.”
• Part of Speech: Verb (active voice, indicative mood)
• The F.O.G Word Choice: Coming Soon

Primary Meanings:

• To Charge to an Account: The primary meaning of ἐλλογέω involves the act of imputing or reckoning something to someone’s account, particularly in a financial or legal sense.
• To Attribute or Credit: It can also mean to credit something to someone, as in attributing righteousness or sin to a person.

Similar Words:

• λογίζομαι (logizomai) [loh-GHEE-zoh-my]: A closely related verb meaning “to reckon” or “to account.” While logizomai is broader in usage, ἐλλογέω specifically emphasizes the act of imputing or charging to an account.
• ἀποδίδωμι (apodidōmi) [ah-poh-DEE-doh-mee]: Meaning “to give back” or “to render,” it is used in similar contexts where something is attributed or given to someone, often in terms of reward or retribution.

Further Insights:

• Morphology: ἐλλογέω is a compound verb formed from ἐν (en) and λογίζομαι (logizomai). As a verb, it follows the standard conjugation patterns of Greek verbs in the active voice.
• Linguistic Features: The word reflects a fusion of legal and financial language, indicative of the cultural context where such terms were not just transactional but carried moral and ethical implications.

Lexicon Insights:

BDAG:
BDAG lists ἐλλογέω as meaning “to charge to one’s account” or “to reckon,” emphasizing its use in contexts where something is imputed or attributed to a person, particularly in legal or financial scenarios.

Thayers:
Thayer’s lexicon highlights the word’s usage in accounting and legal language, where it signifies the act of crediting or charging something to someone’s account. Thayer notes its theological importance in passages discussing righteousness and sin.

Vines:
Vine’s Expository Dictionary notes that ἐλλογέω is used in the sense of “imputing” or “crediting,” particularly in contexts where something is reckoned to someone, either for good (as in righteousness) or for ill (as in sin).

LSJ:
The Liddell-Scott-Jones lexicon traces ἐλλογέω back to classical Greek, where it was commonly used in financial and legal documents to denote the act of charging or attributing something to someone’s account.

Strongs Exhaustive Concordance:
Strong’s Concordance defines ἐλλογέω as “to reckon in, to charge to an account,” underscoring its role in theological discussions of imputation and divine accounting.

Scripture References:

• Romans 5:13 – “For sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted (ἐλλογέω) where there is no law.”
• Philemon 1:18 – “If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that (ἐλλογέω) to my account.”

Classical Usage:

Summary of ἐλλογέω (G1677: ellogeō):

The verb ἐλλογέω, meaning “to charge to an account” or “to reckon,” is a crucial term in understanding the concept of imputation in both legal and theological contexts. Used sparingly in the New Testament, it carries significant implications, especially in Pauline theology, where it is central to discussions of how God credits righteousness to believers. Understanding ἐλλογέω helps us grasp the depth of early Christian thought concerning sin, righteousness, and divine judgment, as well as how these concepts were understood within the broader Greco-Roman world.

Did You Know?

The concept of “imputation,” as conveyed by ἐλλογέω, was not just a religious idea but was deeply rooted in the legal and financial practices of the ancient world. In Roman law, for example, the act of imputing a debt or credit to someone’s account could have significant social and legal consequences, underscoring the seriousness with which such terms were understood in early Christian theology.