Brief Overview of προσκοπή (Strong’s G4349: proskopē)

Strong’s G4349: A noun derived from proskopto (to strike against), meaning “occasion of stumbling, cause for offense.” Used uniquely in 2 Corinthians to describe Paul’s commitment to avoid causing any hindrance to the ministry of the gospel through his conduct.

U- Unveiling the Word

Προσκοπή represents an occasion for stumbling or cause of offense that might hinder the gospel’s advancement. In its sole New Testament appearance, Paul uses it to express his determination to avoid any behavior that might discredit the ministry. The compound structure emphasizes both the action of stumbling and its occasion. Early church fathers frequently used this term when discussing ministerial conduct and its impact on gospel witness. Today, it continues to challenge believers to consider how their actions might affect others’ reception of the gospel.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: προσκοπή, proskopē, pros-ko-PAY
• Pronunciation: Emphasis on ‘PAY’, with ‘pros’ quickly spoken
• Part of Speech: Noun

Etymology:

• πρός (pros) – prefix meaning “against”
• κόπτω (koptō) – root verb meaning “to strike”
• -η (-ē) – suffix forming abstract nouns
  The combination forms a noun expressing the concept of striking against or causing offense.

D – Defining Meanings

• Occasion of stumbling
• Cause for offense
• Hindrance to faith

For compound words:
The prefix πρός with κόπτω creates the concept of striking against, while the -η suffix transforms it into an abstract noun describing the occasion or cause.

Translation Options:

• “cause for offense” – emphasizes the source
• “occasion of stumbling” – reflects the opportunity for failure
• “hindrance” – captures the practical effect

E – Exploring Similar Words

• πρόσκομμα (proskomma, PROS-kom-ma) – stumbling block
  See G4348
• σκάνδαλον (skandalon, SKAN-da-lon) – snare, offense
  See G4625
• ἐμπόδιον (empodion, em-POD-ee-on) – impediment
  See G1694

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a noun, προσκοπή shows these features:

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular
• Gender: Feminine
• Declension: First

Examples of case usage:

• Nominative: προσκοπή
• Genitive: προσκοπῆς
• Dative: προσκοπῇ
• Accusative: προσκοπήν

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its use in ministry contexts. Thayer’s notes its connection to causing offense. LSJ provides evidence of its use in moral contexts. Vine’s connects it to ministerial responsibility. Strong’s highlights its relation to stumbling. LEH notes its rarity in biblical Greek. Moulton and Milligan cite limited papyri evidence.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
We put no [προσκοπήν] obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry. 2 Corinthians 6:3

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Προσκοπή powerfully reminds us of our responsibility to represent Christ well. Just as Paul was careful to avoid hindering the gospel through his conduct, we too must consider how our lives affect others’ view of Christ. The good news is that God empowers us to live in ways that attract rather than repel people from the gospel.

D – Did You Know?

1. This word appears only once in the New Testament
2. It’s used in Paul’s most personal defense of his ministry
3. Early church writers adopted it as a key term for ministerial ethics

Strong’s G4349: A noun derived from proskopto (to strike against), meaning “occasion of stumbling, cause for offense.” Used uniquely in 2 Corinthians to describe Paul’s commitment to avoid causing any hindrance to the ministry of the gospel through his conduct.

Part of speech: Noun

Tags: offense, stumbling, ministry-conduct, Paul, ethical-behavior, gospel-witness, Christian-testimony, hindrance, ministry-ethics, Christian-conduct, example, influence, responsibility, pastoral-ministry, witness​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​