Pronunciation Guide: ah-PEI-pon (απ-ει-πον)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G550: ἀπεῖπον is a powerful verb that means to speak out against, to renounce, or to give up with decisive firmness. It carries the sense of making a definitive break or separation from something through verbal declaration. The word specifically implies a formal or serious renunciation of things that are hidden or shameful.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Verb (Second Aorist Active Indicative)
• Root Components: ἀπό (from, away from) + εἶπον (to speak, say)
• Primary Usage: Found in didactic (teaching) passages
• Language Origin: Classical Greek
• Voice: Active
• Tense: Second Aorist (describing a completed action)

ἀπεῖπον Morphology:

• ἀπεῖπον (1st person singular) – I renounced/spoke against
• ἀπεῖπας (2nd person singular) – you renounced/spoke against
• ἀπεῖπε(ν) (3rd person singular) – he/she/it renounced/spoke against
• ἀπείπαμεν (1st person plural) – we renounced/spoke against
• ἀπείπατε (2nd person plural) – you all renounced/spoke against
• ἀπεῖπαν (3rd person plural) – they renounced/spoke against

Origin & History

The word ἀπεῖπον has deep roots in classical Greek literature, where it was commonly used in legal and formal contexts to indicate an official renunciation or rejection. In Plato’s Republic (Book IV, 436b), it appears in discussions about refusing or renouncing certain philosophical positions. The compound formation with ἀπό intensifies the basic verb εἶπον, emphasizing the completeness of the renunciation.

In the Septuagint, ἀπεῖπον appears in contexts of moral and spiritual rejection of evil practices. Notable usage occurs in 1 Kings 11:2 (LXX) regarding Solomon’s obligation to renounce foreign marriages that would turn his heart away from God.

The early church father John Chrysostom, in his homilies on 2 Corinthians, emphasizes the word’s connection to decisive moral choice and public declaration of allegiance to truth over shame.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• A formal or official renunciation of something previously hidden
• A decisive verbal declaration against shameful practices
• A complete and definitive rejection of something morally questionable

ἀπεῖπον Translation Options:

• “We have renounced” – Emphasizes the complete and definitive nature of the action
• “We have utterly rejected” – Captures the intensity and finality of the renunciation
• “We have decisively turned away from” – Reflects the moral and directional aspect
• “We have explicitly rejected” – Highlights the verbal declaration aspect

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, ἀπεῖπον appears most notably in 2 Corinthians 4:2, where Paul uses it to describe the apostolic ministry’s complete rejection of shameful and hidden things. The context emphasizes transparent truth-telling and moral integrity in ministry.

The word’s single New Testament occurrence is particularly significant as it appears in a passage contrasting the open proclamation of truth with hidden, shameful practices. This usage aligns with the word’s classical meaning while adding spiritual and ministerial dimensions.

• “But we have renounced [ἀπεῖπον] the hidden things of shame” 2 Corinthians 4:2

Cultural Insights

In the ancient Mediterranean world, public declarations of renunciation carried significant social and legal weight. Such declarations often marked a decisive break with previous associations or practices. This cultural background illuminates Paul’s use of ἀπεῖπον in 2 Corinthians 4:2, where he’s essentially making a public declaration of the moral standards governing his ministry.

The concept also connects with the Jewish practice of making public declarations of separation from unclean things, as seen in the reforms of Ezra and Nehemiah. This background would have resonated strongly with Jewish believers in the early Messianic communities.

Theological Significance

The use of ἀπεῖπον in 2 Corinthians 4:2 reveals a profound theological truth about the nature of genuine ministry and spiritual transformation. It demonstrates that authentic service to God requires not just adding positive practices but also decisively renouncing hidden things that compromise integrity.

The word’s appearance in this context also highlights the biblical principle that light and darkness cannot coexist in genuine ministry. The decisive nature of ἀπεῖπον suggests that there can be no half-measures in rejecting practices that dishonor God.

This usage also points to the transformative power of the Gospel, which enables believers to make clean breaks with past sinful practices through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Personal Application

When we understand the full force of ἀπεῖπον, we’re challenged to examine our own lives for areas where we might be maintaining hidden practices inconsistent with our profession of faith. The word calls us to decisive action – not just a gradual drifting away from sin, but a definitive renunciation of anything that compromises our witness.

This word also encourages us that through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can make complete breaks with past sins and shameful practices. It’s a reminder that God calls us to walk in the light, with nothing hidden or shameful clouding our testimony.

Related Words

• ἀποτάσσω (apotassō) – to set apart, withdraw from, bid farewell – emphasizes separation but focuses more on the act of departure rather than verbal declaration See G657
• ἀρνέομαι (arneomai) – to deny, refuse, reject – similar in rejection but often used for denying claims or refusing requests See G720
• παραιτέομαι (paraiteomai) – to beg off, excuse oneself, avoid – implies rejection but with a focus on avoiding or excusing oneself See G3868
• ἀποβάλλω (apoballō) – to throw away, cast off – physical action of rejection rather than verbal declaration See G577

Did you Know?

• The compound structure of ἀπεῖπον (ἀπό + εἶπον) creates one of the strongest expressions of rejection in biblical Greek, emphasizing both separation (ἀπό) and verbal declaration (εἶπον) in a single word.
• In ancient Greek legal documents, forms of ἀπεῖπον were used in formal declarations of disownership or disinheritance, showing its gravity as a legal and social term.
• The word’s appearance in 2 Corinthians 4:2 is part of Paul’s larger defense of his ministry’s integrity, contrasting his open proclamation of truth with the secretive methods of false teachers.

Remember This

ἀπεῖπον embodies the powerful truth that genuine spiritual transformation requires not just embracing truth but decisively renouncing everything that contradicts it.