Understanding ἀποφεύγω (apopheugō) Strong’s G668: The Divine Power to Escape and Break Free from Corruption’s Grip

Pronunciation Guide: ah-po-fyoo’-go

Basic Definition

Strong’s G668: ἀποφεύγω describes the complete and decisive escape from something harmful or corrupting, emphasizing both the act of fleeing and the successful attainment of safety. It carries the sense of breaking free from bondage or constraint through divine enablement. The word implies not just physical escape but moral and spiritual deliverance from corruption’s influence.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Verb
• Compound word from ἀπό (away from) + φεύγω (to flee)
• Primary usage in teaching and exhortation passages
• Appears in active and middle voice forms
• Classical Greek origin with continued usage in Koine

ἀποφεύγω Morphology:

• ἀποφεύγω (present active indicative) – I escape/flee from
• ἀποφυγόντες (aorist active participle nominative plural masculine) – having escaped
• ἀποφυγόντας (aorist active participle accusative plural masculine) – those who have escaped
• ἀποφεύγειν (present active infinitive) – to escape

Origin & History

The compound verb ἀποφεύγω emerged in classical Greek literature as a vivid term for definitive escape. Xenophon employed it in his “Anabasis” to describe soldiers successfully evading pursuit by enemy forces. The prefix ἀπό intensifies the base verb φεύγω, emphasizing complete separation from danger.

In the Septuagint, while the simple verb φεύγω appears frequently, ἀποφεύγω is notably rare, suggesting its specialized use for emphasizing decisive spiritual victory. The early church fathers, particularly Clement of Alexandria in his “Protrepticus,” used it to describe the Christian’s escape from pagan influences and the corrupting power of sin.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Complete escape from moral or spiritual danger
• Breaking free from corrupting influences
• Successful flight to safety
• Decisive separation from harmful elements

ἀποφεύγω Translation Options:

• “to escape completely” – emphasizes the thoroughness of the escape
• “to flee decisively” – highlights the deliberate action of separation
• “to break free from” – captures the sense of liberation from bondage
• “to escape effectively” – stresses the successful outcome of the flight

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, ἀποφεύγω appears exclusively in 2 Peter, where it plays a crucial role in describing the believer’s liberation from worldly corruption through the power of divine grace. The word emphasizes both God’s enabling power and human responsibility in the process of spiritual transformation.

The context particularly emphasizes escape from moral corruption and false teaching, highlighting the complete nature of the deliverance available through the Messiah Jesus.

• “[having escaped] the corruption that is in the world by lust” [ἀποφυγόντες] 2 Peter 1:4
• “they [escape] from those who live in error” [ἀποφυγόντες] 2 Peter 2:18
• “after they have [escaped] the defilements of the world” [ἀποφυγόντας] 2 Peter 2:20

Cultural Insights

In the ancient world, the concept of escape was often associated with slaves breaking free from bondage or prisoners fleeing confinement. This cultural background enriches our understanding of ἀποφεύγω in its spiritual application. The word would have evoked powerful images for first-century readers familiar with the practice of manumission, where slaves were legally freed from their masters.

The Jewish audience would have particularly connected this concept with the Exodus narrative, where יהוה (Yahweh) enabled the Israelites to escape from Egyptian bondage. This historical parallel adds depth to Peter’s use of ἀποφεύγω in describing spiritual liberation.

Theological Significance

The use of ἀποφεύγω in 2 Peter reveals a profound theological truth about the nature of spiritual transformation. It demonstrates that through the Messiah’s divine power, believers can experience complete liberation from the corrupting influences of the world. This escape is not merely theoretical but represents a real and decisive break with sin’s power.

The word appears in contexts emphasizing both divine provision and human responsibility, showing that while God provides the power for escape, we must actively appropriate this provision through faith and obedience. This synergy between divine enablement and human response reflects the covenant relationship God establishes with His people.

Personal Application

Understanding ἀποφεύγω challenges us to examine our response to God’s provision for escape from corruption. Are we actively utilizing the divine power available to us through His promises? The word calls us to decisive action – not a gradual drift away from worldly influences, but a definitive break with whatever hinders our spiritual growth.

This understanding should encourage believers facing seemingly insurmountable temptations or destructive patterns. Through the Messiah’s power, complete escape is possible – not by human strength alone, but through the supernatural enabling of the Holy Spirit.

Related Words

• φεύγω (pheugō) – basic verb meaning “to flee” – emphasizes the action of flight without the certainty of escape See G5343
• ἐκφεύγω (ekpheugō) – to flee out from – focuses on the point of departure See G1628
• διαφεύγω (diapheugō) – to flee through – emphasizes the process of escape See G1309
• καταφεύγω (katapheugō) – to flee for refuge – stresses finding safety See G2703

Did you Know?

• The prefix ἀπό in ἀποφεύγω is the same prefix used in ἀπολύτρωσις (redemption), suggesting a similar theme of complete liberation from bondage.
• In modern Greek, ἀποφεύγω is still used today, particularly in legal contexts to describe avoiding liability or escaping legal consequences, maintaining its sense of complete evasion.
• The word appears at crucial points in 2 Peter’s argument about false teachers, serving as a theological bookmark that connects the positive provision of escape through divine power (1:4) with warnings about those who abuse this truth (2:18-20).

Remember This

ἀποφεύγω represents not just escape, but divinely empowered liberation that enables believers to break free completely from corruption’s grip through the Messiah’s transformative power.