G3393

Unveiling the Word

In Biblical studies, understanding Greek words like μίασμα (míasma) deepens our insight into the text and its cultural implications. This word appears in 2 Peter 2:20, where it carries significant theological and moral weight. The term deals with the idea of defilement, particularly in a moral or spiritual sense, which aligns closely with the broader New Testament themes of purity and holiness. In ancient Greek culture, μίασμα was used to describe pollution or contamination, often with a religious or ritualistic connotation. It provides a powerful picture of the effects of sin and moral corruption on both the individual and the community.

Necessary Information

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Greek Word: μίασμα (míasma), pronounced MEE-as-mah.

Etymology: Derived from the root verb μιαίνω (miaínō), which means “to stain” or “to pollute.” The word itself relates to contamination or defilement, often used in a metaphorical sense to refer to moral corruption or impurity.

Part of Speech: μίασμα is a noun, typically neuter in gender, and it refers to the act or state of defilement. It is used to indicate something that brings pollution, often related to sin or evil actions.

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Defining Meanings

1. Moral Defilement: The primary meaning of μίασμα in the New Testament context is moral defilement. It refers to the corruption of one’s soul or character due to sinful behavior. This idea is frequently connected to the warnings about falling back into sinful practices after having received knowledge of the truth, as in 2 Peter 2:20.

2. Ritual Impurity: In ancient Greek and Jewish contexts, μίασμα also held a strong association with ritual impurity. Something or someone that was defiled through contact with unclean things or behaviors was said to be in a state of μίασμα, making them unfit for participation in religious practices.

3. Spiritual Contamination: Beyond the physical or ritual, μίασμα implies spiritual contamination. This deeper, more abstract form of defilement points to the soul’s pollution through sin and ungodly behaviors.

Exploring Similar Words

1. μιαίνω (miaínō): Pronounced mee-AY-noh, this is the verb form of μίασμα. It describes the action of defiling or staining something or someone.

2. κοινόω (koinóō): Pronounced koy-NOH-oh, meaning “to make common” or “to defile.” While similar in meaning to μίασμα, κοινόω often relates specifically to making something profane or unclean by association with common or impure things.

Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a noun, μίασμα is typically used in the neuter singular form, though it can also appear in plural when referring to multiple instances of defilement. Since it is a third-declension noun, it follows the common third-declension endings for neuter nouns in Greek.

Case, Number, Gender: μίασμα is neuter in gender and can appear in various cases (nominative, genitive, accusative) depending on its role in the sentence. It is most commonly used in the singular form, referring to a singular act of defilement.

Declension:

• Nominative Singular: μίασμα

• Genitive Singular: μιάσματος

• Dative Singular: μιάσματι

• Accusative Singular: μίασμα

Studying Lexicon Insights

Across Greek lexicons, μίασμα is consistently associated with the concept of defilement. In theological contexts, it refers to the state of being morally or spiritually unclean, often as a result of sin or unethical behavior. In classical Greek, it was used to denote physical or ritualistic contamination, such as the defilement caused by bloodshed or other unclean actions. In the New Testament, μίασμα is used to emphasize the danger of falling back into sinful practices, which can defile one’s soul and lead to spiritual ruin. This overview synthesizes insights from BDAG, Thayer’s, LSJ, Vine’s, Strong’s, LEH, and Moulton and Milligan.

Tracing Related Scriptures

1. 2 Peter 2:20: “For if after they have escaped the defilements [μίασμα] of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.”

Analyzing Classical Usage

Author Name of Work Text with μίασμα

Sophocles Oedipus Rex “The land is defiled [μίασμα] by bloodshed.”

Plato Laws “Those who defile [μίασμα] the temple must be purified.”

Septuagint Leviticus 18:25 “The land is polluted [μίασμα] by the abominations committed.”

Noteworthy Summary

The Greek word μίασμα encapsulates the idea of defilement, whether moral, spiritual, or ritualistic. Its appearance in the New Testament, particularly in 2 Peter 2:20, emphasizes the seriousness of falling back into sinful behaviors after receiving the knowledge of Christ. The word is deeply rooted in both Jewish and Greco-Roman ideas of purity and pollution, making it a critical term for understanding the biblical concept of holiness and sanctification.

Did You Know?

• μίασμα is a term that was widely used in ancient Greek tragedies to describe the pollution caused by bloodshed or murder.

• In classical Greek religion, rituals were often performed to cleanse individuals or communities from μίασμα, particularly after acts of violence.

• The use of μίασμα in the New Testament reflects a transition from ritualistic concerns to a focus on spiritual and moral purity.