Understanding ἀπόβλητος (apoblētos) Strong’s G579: The Divine Truth About What God Has Made Clean and Acceptable

Pronunciation Guide: ah-POB-lay-tos

Basic Definition

Strong’s G579: A rare but theologically significant word meaning “to be thrown away” or “rejected.” It appears as a verbal adjective conveying the sense of something that should not be cast aside or rejected, especially in contexts dealing with God’s creation and what He has declared clean and acceptable.

Etymology and Morphology

• Verbal adjective
• Derived from ἀπό (away from) + βάλλω (to throw)
• Used primarily in teaching passages
• Found in both classical and Koine Greek
• Negated form indicates what should not be rejected

ἀπόβλητος Morphology:

• ἀπόβλητος (nominative singular) – that which is not to be thrown away
• ἀπόβλητον (accusative singular) – the thing not to be thrown away
• ἀπόβλητοι (nominative plural) – things not to be thrown away

Origin & History

The term ἀπόβλητος has deep roots in classical Greek literature, where it was used to describe items or people considered worthy of rejection or disposal. Xenophon employed it in his “Memorabilia” when discussing things deemed worthless or disposable. The word appears in various Greek philosophical works, often in discussions about value judgments and what society considers acceptable or unacceptable.

In the Septuagint, while the exact form ἀπόβλητος is not frequent, related forms of βάλλω appear regularly in contexts of rejection or casting away. This background provides important context for understanding its significant theological use in the New Testament, where it appears in a negative construction to emphasize what should not be rejected.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• That which is not to be thrown away or rejected
• Something declared acceptable or clean
• That which is worthy of being retained
• Something validated by divine authority

ἀπόβλητος Translation Options:

• “Not to be rejected” – Emphasizes the divine prohibition against rejection
• “To be accepted” – Positive rendering that captures the intended meaning
• “Not to be cast aside” – Reflects the physical metaphor in the Greek
• “Not to be thrown away” – Most literal translation preserving the original imagery

Biblical Usage

The word ἀπόβλητος appears most notably in 1 Timothy 4:4, where Paul confronts false teachers who were promoting ascetic practices and dietary restrictions. In this context, the word serves as a powerful theological statement about the goodness of God’s creation and the freedom believers have in the Messiah Jesus.

The verse appears in a broader discussion about false teachings that were threatening the early church, particularly those that imposed strict dietary rules and ascetic practices on believers. Paul uses ἀπόβλητος to emphasize that nothing God has created should be rejected when received with thanksgiving.

• “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected [ἀπόβλητος] if it is received with gratitude” 1 Timothy 4:4

Cultural Insights

In the first-century context, various religious and philosophical groups promoted ascetic practices and dietary restrictions as means of spiritual advancement. This included certain Jewish sects, like the Essenes, as well as various Gnostic-leaning groups that viewed material creation as inherently evil. Paul’s use of ἀπόβλητος directly confronts these teachings by affirming the goodness of God’s creation and the freedom believers have in the Messiah.

The word carries particular weight when considered against the background of Jewish dietary laws and the early church’s wrestling with questions about food offered to idols. The declaration that nothing is ἀπόβλητος (when received with thanksgiving) represents a significant theological statement about the new covenant’s relationship to Old Testament ceremonial laws.

Theological Significance

The use of ἀπόβλητος in 1 Timothy 4:4 carries profound theological implications about God’s character and His creation. It affirms the fundamental goodness of what God has made, echoing the repeated declaration in Genesis 1 that everything God created was “good.”

This word plays a crucial role in establishing a biblical theology of creation and redemption. It reinforces that the material world, despite being affected by the Fall, retains its God-given goodness and can be received with thanksgiving by believers. This understanding stands in opposition to both ascetic rejection of God’s good gifts and hedonistic abuse of them.

The theological impact of ἀπόβλητος extends to our understanding of Christian freedom and the relationship between the old and new covenants. It helps establish that ceremonial restrictions have been fulfilled in the Messiah, while maintaining the moral law’s validity.

Personal Application

Understanding ἀπόβλητος challenges believers to examine their attitudes toward God’s creation and His gifts. It calls us to reject false asceticism while embracing a lifestyle of gratitude and proper stewardship of what God has provided. This word reminds us that our appreciation for God’s gifts should be expressed through thanksgiving rather than rejection or abuse.

This understanding can transform how we view everything from our daily bread to our physical bodies – all are gifts from God to be received with thanksgiving and used for His glory. It encourages a balanced, biblical approach to enjoying God’s creation while maintaining proper spiritual priorities.

Related Words

• δεκτός (dektos) – acceptable, welcome – Emphasizes positive reception versus rejection – See G1184
• βάλλω (ballo) – to throw, cast – The root verb from which ἀπόβλητος is partially derived – See G906
• ἀπωθέω (apotheo) – to push away, reject – Similar concept but more forceful – See G683
• ἀδόκιμος (adokimos) – disapproved, rejected – Carries sense of failing a test – See G96

Did you Know?

• The word ἀπόβλητος appears only once in the New Testament, but its theological significance far outweighs its frequency, addressing crucial issues about God’s creation and Christian freedom.
• The concept behind ἀπόβλητος played a vital role in the early church’s understanding of dietary freedom, particularly as Gentile believers struggled with questions about food offered to idols and Jewish dietary laws.
• The use of this term in 1 Timothy 4:4 connects to Peter’s vision in Acts 10, where God declares, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.” Both passages emphasize divine authority in declaring what is acceptable.

Remember This

ἀπόβλητος stands as a powerful reminder that when God declares something good and acceptable, no human tradition or teaching has the authority to reject it.