Understanding διακατελέγχομαι (diakatelegchomai) Strong’s G1246: The Powerful Confutation that Thoroughly Refutes Opposition and Vindicates Truth

Pronunciation Guide: dee-ah-kat-el-ENG-khom-ahee

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1246: διακατελέγχομαι (diakatelegchomai) refers to the act of thoroughly refuting or confuting an opponent with powerful arguments, particularly in public debate. It implies a complete victory in argumentation where the opponent’s position is thoroughly disproven. The word conveys not just disagreement, but a conclusive refutation that leaves the opposition without a valid counterargument.

Etymology and Morphology

• Verb (Present, Middle/Passive, Indicative)
• Compound of three Greek elements: διά (dia, “through/thoroughly”), κατά (kata, “down/against”), and ἐλέγχω (elegchō, “to expose/refute/convict”)
• Used primarily in narrative contexts describing apologetic discourse
• Rare word appearing only once in the New Testament
• Middle voice indicating personal involvement in the action

διακατελέγχομαι Morphology:

• διακατελέγχομαι (present middle/passive indicative, 3rd person singular) – he/she thoroughly refutes
• διακατήλεγξατο (aorist middle indicative, 3rd person singular) – he thoroughly refuted
• διακατελεγχόμενος (present middle/passive participle, masculine nominative singular) – thoroughly refuting/being thoroughly refuted

Origin & History

The compound verb διακατελέγχομαι represents an intensified form of ἐλέγχω (elegchō), which was commonly used in classical Greek rhetoric and legal contexts. In classical literature, Aristotle uses the simple form ἐλέγχω in his “Rhetoric” to describe the process of exposing contradictions in an opponent’s argument. The prefix combination διά-κατά creates an emphatic form that stresses the thoroughness and conclusiveness of the refutation.

The Septuagint uses related terms like ἐλέγχω to translate Hebrew words for conviction and rebuke, though διακατελέγχομαι itself does not appear in the Septuagint. This suggests it may have been a later development in Koine Greek, possibly within the context of Hellenistic debate culture that influenced early Christian apologetics. Early church father Justin Martyr uses similar compound forms when describing Christian apologetic discourse in his “Dialogue with Trypho,” indicating the importance of thoroughgoing refutation in early Christian defense of the faith.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• A powerful and public refutation that thoroughly dismantles opposing arguments
• A comprehensive confutation that leaves no room for valid counterarguments
• A persuasive demonstration that vindicates one position while invalidating another
• A conclusive conviction that exposes the error of opposing viewpoints

διακατελέγχομαι Translation Options:

• Thoroughly refute – Emphasizes the completeness of the refutation, capturing the force of both the διά and κατά prefixes
• Powerfully confute – Highlights the decisive nature of the argumentation that leaves opponents without response
• Conclusively disprove – Focuses on the finality of the refutation, showing no ground remains for the opposing view
• Vigorously convince – Emphasizes the persuasive aspect that not only defeats opposition but convinces hearers
• Utterly confound – Captures the effect on opponents who are left without valid defense after being refuted

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, διακατελέγχομαι appears only once, in Acts 18:28, where it describes Apollos’s powerful apologetic ministry. The context involves Apollos, a learned Alexandrian Jew who had become a believer in Yeshua (Jesus) and was skillfully defending the Messianic claims about Him. The text emphasizes that he did this “publicly” (δημοσίᾳ, dēmosia), indicating that his thorough refutation occurred in public debate settings.

Luke’s choice of this rare, intensified compound verb suggests the exceptional persuasive power and conclusiveness of Apollos’s arguments. This aligns with Luke’s earlier description of Apollos as “mighty in the Scriptures” (δυνατὸς ὢν ἐν ταῖς γραφαῖς), indicating his extensive knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures that he employed to make his case for Yeshua as the Messiah.

While the specific word διακατελέγχομαι appears only once, related terms like ἐλέγχω (elegchō) appear throughout the New Testament in contexts of conviction, refutation, and correction:

• “For he powerfully refuted [διακατηλέγχετο] the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that Yeshua was the Messiah.” Acts 18:28

Cultural Insights

In the Hellenistic world of the first century, public debate and rhetorical skill were highly valued, especially in centers of learning like Alexandria (Apollos’s hometown) and Athens. διακατελέγχομαι represents the apologetic strategy employed in the marketplace of ideas where Christians had to defend their faith against both Jewish and Greek opposition. The Areopagus in Athens, the synagogues throughout the Mediterranean world, and the public forums served as venues where such thorough refutations would take place.

Apollos’s use of this method reflects the adaptation of Jewish midrashic interpretation and debate techniques to the defense of Messianic claims. This intersection of Jewish scriptural exegesis with Greek rhetorical forms created a powerful apologetic approach. The Hebrew tradition of pilpul—intense analysis and debate of texts—combined with Greek dialectic created a formidable method of argumentation that early Messianic Jews like Apollos employed to show how Yeshua fulfilled the Messianic prophecies of the Tanakh (Old Testament).

The public nature of this refutation also reflects the importance of communal validation in Mediterranean culture. Truth claims weren’t just matters of private conviction but required public defense and acceptance. When Apollos “powerfully refuted” opposition, he was participating in the expected social process for establishing truth in his cultural context.

Theological Significance

The use of διακατελέγχομαι in describing Apollos’s ministry highlights the intellectual and rational foundation of early Christian faith. This contradicts any notion that following Yeshua requires blind faith or rejection of reasoned argument. Instead, it demonstrates that from its earliest days, faith in Yeshua as Messiah was presented as standing up to and defeating opposing viewpoints through reasoned argument from Scripture and evidence.

The theological implications extend to our understanding of the nature of truth itself. The use of this term suggests that truth is not merely subjective or relative but can be demonstrated through proper reasoning and evidence. Yahweh’s truth is robust enough to withstand scrutiny and powerful enough to overcome opposition. This reflects the character of God as the source of all truth, whose revelation in Scripture and in His Son provides a foundation firm enough to thoroughly refute any contradicting claims.

Moreover, the fact that Scripture records this thorough refutation being accomplished specifically “by the Scriptures” highlights the sufficiency and authority of God’s Word. Apollos did not need to resort to mere human wisdom or rhetoric; the Scriptures themselves contained the necessary evidence and arguments to demonstrate that Yeshua is indeed the promised Messiah. This underscores Yahweh’s faithfulness in providing clear revelation that, when properly understood, leads to recognition of His Son.

Personal Application

The example of Apollos and the concept of διακατελέγχομαι challenge believers today to develop a thoroughly reasoned understanding of their faith. In a world filled with competing worldviews and challenges to biblical truth, we are called not merely to assert our beliefs but to be prepared to defend them with sound reasoning and scriptural evidence. This requires diligent study of both Scripture and the objections raised against it.

However, we must remember that the goal of such thorough refutation is not to win arguments but to win people. Apollos used his skills to convince others that Yeshua is the Messiah—not to elevate himself or simply defeat opponents. When we engage in apologetics today, our aim should be the same: to lovingly but thoroughly address objections that hinder others from embracing the truth about Yeshua. As we grow in our ability to “thoroughly refute” opposition to the Gospel, we should do so with the gentleness and respect that reflects the character of our Messiah (1 Peter 3:15-16).

Related Words

• ἐλέγχω (elegchō) [eh-LENG-khō] – To convict, refute, expose, reprove; the base word from which διακατελέγχομαι is derived, but without the intensification. Used when exposing someone’s sin or error. See G1651
• ἔλεγξις (elenxis) [EL-eng-xis] – A rebuke or reproof; the noun form related to ἐλέγχω, referring to the act of refutation or conviction. See G1649
• ἀπολογέομαι (apologeomai) [ap-ol-og-EH-om-ai] – To speak in defense, to make a defense; used for formal defense speeches but without the specific connotation of thoroughly refuting opponents. See G626
• πείθω (peithō) [PIE-thō] – To persuade, convince; focuses on the positive aspect of bringing someone to a conviction rather than the negative aspect of refuting opposition. See G3982
• συζητέω (suzēteō) [sood-zay-TEH-oh] – To discuss, dispute, debate; describes the process of engaged discussion but lacks the definitive, conclusive nature of διακατελέγχομαι. See G4802

Did You Know?

• The compound διακατελέγχομαι is one of the longest verbs used in the New Testament, reflecting the comprehensive nature of the refutation it describes. This linguistic intensification through prefixing was a common feature in Koine Greek that added layers of meaning to base words.
• Apollos, who is described using this rare verb, came from Alexandria, Egypt—home to the largest library in the ancient world and a center of both Jewish and Greek learning. This background equipped him with the extensive knowledge necessary to “thoroughly refute” opposition through careful scriptural analysis and argumentation.
• The concept behind διακατελέγχομαι influenced the development of formal Christian apologetics in subsequent centuries. Church fathers like Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Justin Martyr employed similar systematic refutation techniques to defend orthodox Christianity against heretical teachings and pagan critiques, developing what we now know as systematic theology.

Remember This

διακατελέγχομαι reminds us that God’s truth doesn’t merely survive scrutiny—it triumphs through it, thoroughly refuting every objection when skillfully presented from the solid foundation of Scripture.