Brief Overview of ῥᾳδιούργημα (Strong’s G4467: rhadiourghēma)

Strong’s G4467: A noun denoting a crime, misdeed, or fraudulent act. Used in legal contexts to describe serious offenses requiring judicial intervention. Derived from roots meaning “easy” and “work,” suggesting activities done with casual disregard for law or morality.

U- Unveiling the Word

ῥᾳδιούργημα describes criminal behavior or wrongdoing that warrants legal action. In its New Testament context, it appears in Gallio’s judgment regarding accusations against Paul, indicating a serious crime worthy of Roman judicial attention. Early church writers used this term to distinguish between civil crimes and religious disputes. The word suggests actions done with a casual disregard for law, ethics, or proper conduct. Today, this word helps us understand the distinction between civil and religious matters in early Christian legal contexts.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ῥᾳδιούργημα, rhadiourghēma, /raidyˈurgema/
• Pronunciation Guide: “rhai-dee-OOR-gay-mah” (stress on third syllable)
• Part of Speech: Noun (neuter)

Etymology:

• Component: ῥᾴδιος (rhadios) meaning “easy”
• Component: ἔργον (ergon) meaning “work”
• Suffix: -μα (-ma) forming concrete nouns
• Combined meaning: “something easily/carelessly done”

D – Defining Meanings

• Criminal act
• Misdeed
• Fraudulent behavior
• Serious offense

For compound words:
The combination of “easy” + “work” + noun suffix creates the concept of wrongdoing done without proper regard for consequences

Translation Options:

• Crime – Best legal equivalent
• Misdeed – More general translation
• Wrongdoing – Emphasizes moral aspect

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ἀδίκημα (adikēma) /aˈdikema/ – injustice, wrongdoing – See G92
• ἁμάρτημα (hamartēma) /haˈmartema/ – sin, offense – See G265
• παρανομία (paranomia) /paranoˈmia/ – lawlessness – See G3892

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological Features (Noun):

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Gender: Neuter
• Declension: Third

Examples:

• Nominative: ῥᾳδιούργημα (crime)
• Genitive: ῥᾳδιουργήματος (of a crime)
• Dative: ῥᾳδιουργήματι (to/by a crime)
• Accusative: ῥᾳδιούργημα (crime as object)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes its legal usage. Thayer’s notes its connection to casual wrongdoing. LSJ provides examples from legal documents. Vine’s highlights its singular New Testament appearance. Strong’s connects it to criminal behavior. LEH traces similar terms in Greek legal texts. Moulton and Milligan show its use in legal papyri.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:
“If it were a matter of wrong or wicked [ῥᾳδιούργημα] crime, O Jews, reason would that I should bear with you.” Acts 18:14

Additional References:
No additional New Testament references.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

ῥᾳδιούργημα helps us understand the distinction between civil and religious matters in early Christianity. Its use in Gallio’s judgment proclaims the good news by showing how God protected Paul’s ministry from false accusations, allowing the gospel to spread through legal protections rather than persecution.

D – Did You Know?

1. The word influenced development of legal terminology in early church documents.
2. It appears in ancient Greek court records describing various crimes.
3. Early Christian apologists used this term when discussing false accusations against believers.

Strong’s G4467: A noun describing serious criminal behavior or wrongdoing worthy of legal attention. Used in contexts distinguishing civil crimes from religious disputes. Reflects Roman legal terminology and early church-state relations.

Part of speech: Noun (neuter)

Tags: crime, wrongdoing, legal system, Roman law, Paul, Gallio, justice, criminal behavior, civil law, persecution, legal protection, judicial system​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​