False Brothers Exposed: ψευδάδελφος (Strong’s G5569: pseudadelphos) Unmasks Gospel Enemies

Strong’s G5569: A compound word combining “pseudo” (false) and “adelphos” (brother), referring to pretend Christians who infiltrate the church with harmful intentions, particularly prevalent in early church conflicts over doctrine and practice.

U- Unveiling the Word

The term ψευδάδελφος (pseudadelphos) combines the concepts of deception and brotherhood, creating a powerful description of those who falsely claim Christian fellowship. This compound word perfectly captures the serious threat faced by the early church – individuals who presented themselves as genuine believers but harbored ulterior motives. The apostle Paul encountered such false brothers who sought to undermine the gospel of grace with legalistic requirements. Today, this term remains remarkably relevant as churches continue to face challenges from those who infiltrate Christian communities with false teaching or malicious intent, making it crucial for believers to exercise discernment while maintaining genuine Christian fellowship.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ψευδάδελφος, pseudadelphos, psyoo-dad-el-fos
• Pronunciation: psyoo (as in ‘pseudo’) – dad (as in ‘dad’) – el (as in ‘elephant’) – fos (as in ‘phosphate’)
• Part of Speech: Masculine Noun

Etymology:

• ψευδής (pseudes) – false, lying
• ἀδελφός (adelphos) – brother
  The prefix ψευδ- indicates falseness or deception
  The root -αδελφος conveys brotherhood or close relationship

D – Defining Meanings

• One who falsely claims to be a Christian brother
• A pretender in the faith
• An infiltrator in the Christian community

For compound words:
ψευδ- (false) + αδελφός (brother) creates a term describing someone who presents themselves as a spiritual sibling but is actually an impostor

Translation Options:

• False brother – captures the basic meaning most directly
• Pretend believer – emphasizes the deceptive nature
• Counterfeit Christian – reflects the intentional falsehood

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ψευδαπόστολος (pseudapostolos) – false apostle, differentiating by specific role claimed – See G5570
• ψευδοδιδάσκαλος (pseudodidaskalos) – false teacher, focusing on teaching role – See G5572
• ψευδόχριστος (pseudochristos) – false Messiah, claiming messianic status – See G5580

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Noun Features:

• Case: Nominative, Accusative, Genitive, Dative
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Gender: Masculine
• Declension: Second declension

The word follows standard second declension patterns:
Singular: ψευδάδελφος, ψευδάδελφον, ψευδαδέλφου, ψευδαδέλφῳ
Plural: ψευδάδελφοι, ψευδαδέλφους, ψευδαδέλφων, ψευδαδέλφοις

Related adjective form: ψευδαδελφικός (false-brotherly)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

The major lexicons consistently emphasize the deliberately deceptive nature of ψευδάδελφος. BDAG highlights its use in contexts of ecclesiastical conflict, while Thayer’s emphasizes the element of intentional infiltration. LSJ notes its rare occurrence in non-Christian literature, suggesting its special significance in Christian contexts. Vine’s draws attention to its connection with Judaizers who opposed Paul’s ministry. Strong’s connects it to other ψευδ- compound words describing various forms of religious deception. Moulton and Milligan document its absence in papyri, suggesting it may be a Christian neologism. This combination of insights reveals a term specifically crafted to address a serious threat to early church unity and doctrinal purity.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
2 Corinthians 11:26: “In journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren [ψευδαδέλφοις];”

Additional References:
Galatians 2:4

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

The term ψευδάδελφος serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing spiritual battle within Christian communities. It highlights the need for discernment while maintaining genuine Christian love. The good news of King Jesus shines brighter against this backdrop – while false brothers may infiltrate earthly fellowships, the true Church remains secure in the Messiah’s perfect knowledge and protection. This word challenges us to maintain pure doctrine while extending grace, knowing that our Lord perfectly distinguishes true from false profession.

D – Did You Know?

• The term ψευδάδελφος appears only twice in the New Testament but influenced church policy on membership examination for centuries
• Early church fathers frequently used this term when warning against Gnostic infiltrators
• The concept influenced the development of church discipline practices that continue today

Strong’s G5569: A compound word combining “pseudo” (false) and “adelphos” (brother), referring to pretend Christians who infiltrate the church with harmful intentions, particularly prevalent in early church conflicts over doctrine and practice.

Part of speech: Masculine Noun

Tags: false brothers, deception, church infiltrators, false believers, church protection, discernment, doctrine, fellowship, church membership, spiritual warfare​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​