The Greek adjective ἀνεπαίσχυντος (anepaischyntos) means “shameless” or “without shame.” It is derived from the prefix ἀν- (an-), meaning “not,” and ἐπαίσχυντος (epaischyntos), meaning “ashamed” or “embarrassed.” The term describes a lack of moral sensitivity or shame, often referring to behavior that is bold or brazen without regard for social norms or moral expectations.

Detailed Overview

According to Strong’s Concordance, ἀνεπαίσχυντος (G422) is used to describe a quality of being shameless or unabashed. It appears in 2 Corinthians 10:1, where Paul uses it to describe his approach when dealing with the Corinthians. He contrasts his gentle and humble approach with the boldness of others, suggesting that his actions are not driven by shamelessness but by humility and love.

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The Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich (BDAG) Greek-English Lexicon provides additional context by defining ἀνεπαίσχυντος as “shameless” or “brazen.” BDAG explains that the term reflects a lack of appropriate embarrassment or moral restraint, indicating a person who behaves boldly without regard for social propriety or ethical standards.

The Liddell-Scott-Jones (LSJ) Greek-English Lexicon supports this definition by describing ἀνεπαίσχυντος as “shameless” or “insolent.” LSJ highlights its use in classical Greek literature to denote behavior that is excessively bold or disregards conventional standards of decency, aligning with its biblical usage to describe an attitude of moral indifference or audacity.

In summary, ἀνεπαίσχυντος primarily means “shameless” or “without shame,” indicating a lack of moral sensitivity or embarrassment. This meaning is consistently supported by Strong’s Concordance, BDAG, and LSJ, each providing context for its use in describing behaviors or attitudes that disregard social norms and ethical standards in biblical and classical Greek literature.