Understanding ἀψευδής (apseudēs) Strong’s G893: The Unfailing Truth of God Who Cannot Lie

Pronunciation Guide: ap-syoo-DACE

Basic Definition

Strong’s G893: The Greek word ἀψευδής (apseudēs) fundamentally means “not false,” “incapable of falsehood,” or “unable to lie.” It describes the quality of absolute truthfulness and complete reliability. As applied to God in Scripture, it expresses the divine attribute of absolute truthfulness—that it is impossible for God to speak falsehood or fail to fulfill His word.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of speech: Adjective
• Root components: ἀ- (a-) negative prefix + ψεύδης (pseudēs) “false, lying”
• Language origin: Classical Greek
• Primary usage: Doctrinal passages and theological statements
• Appears only once in the New Testament (Titus 1:2)
• Appears in both philosophical and religious contexts in broader Greek literature

ἀψευδής Morphology:

• ἀψευδής (nominative singular masculine/feminine) – truthful, unable to lie
• ἀψευδοῦς (genitive singular) – of the truthful one
• ἀψευδεῖ (dative singular) – to/for the truthful one
• ἀψευδῆ (accusative singular) – the truthful one
• ἀψευδεῖς (nominative plural) – truthful ones

Origin & History

The term ἀψευδής has deep roots in classical Greek philosophy and ethics. Aristotle uses this word in his “Nicomachean Ethics” when discussing the truthful person as one possessing the virtue between boastfulness and self-deprecation. For Aristotle, the ἀψευδής person was characterized by truthfulness in word and deed.

In the Septuagint (LXX), while the exact form ἀψευδής doesn’t appear frequently, related concepts are abundant. The Hebrew concept of God’s אֱמֶת (emet, “faithfulness/truth”) is often translated using Greek terms from the same word family. Philo of Alexandria, the Jewish philosopher, employs ἀψευδής when describing divine attributes, connecting Greek philosophical virtues with Jewish theological concepts about God’s trustworthiness. This bridge between Greek ethics and Jewish theology provides important background for Paul’s usage in Titus 1:2.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Incapable of falsehood – describing an inherent quality where lying is impossible
• Utterly truthful – emphasizing the positive aspect of complete honesty
• Absolutely reliable – focusing on dependability as a consequence of truthfulness
• Unfailing in word – highlighting the consistency between promise and fulfillment

ἀψευδής Translation Options:

• “Cannot lie” – emphasizes the impossibility of God speaking falsehood (most direct translation)
• “Unfailing in truth” – captures both the negative (not false) and positive (reliable) aspects
• “Utterly faithful” – connects truthfulness with covenant faithfulness, though slightly expands the meaning
• “Absolutely trustworthy” – focuses on the relational implication of God’s truthfulness
• “Who never lies” – more colloquial expression that emphasizes ongoing truthfulness

Biblical Usage

The adjective ἀψευδής appears only once in the New Testament, in Titus 1:2, where Paul refers to “the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie [ὁ ἀψευδὴς θεός], promised before time began.” This singular usage carries enormous theological weight as it directly attributes to God the absolute inability to speak falsehood. The context is significant—Paul connects God’s truthfulness to the reliability of His promises, particularly the promise of eternal life.

While the specific word ἀψευδής appears only once, the concept of God’s absolute truthfulness permeates Scripture. Related terms appear throughout the New Testament:

• “In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie [ὁ ἀψευδὴς θεός], promised before time began.” Titus 1:2

Though not using ἀψευδής specifically, these passages express the same theological concept:

• “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent.” Numbers 23:19
• “So that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation.” Hebrews 6:18
• “Let God be true but every man a liar.” Romans 3:4

Cultural Insights

In the Greco-Roman world of Paul and Titus, truthfulness was considered a philosophical virtue, but gods in Greek mythology frequently deceived humans. The pantheon of Greek deities was filled with trickster figures who used deception. Zeus, for example, would transform his appearance to seduce women, and Hermes was celebrated for his cunning and ability to deceive. Against this cultural backdrop, Paul’s description of God as ὁ ἀψευδὴς θεός (the God who cannot lie) would have been striking to Gentile readers.

For Jewish readers, the concept aligned perfectly with their understanding of יהוה (Yahweh) as the God of truth and faithfulness. The Hebrew concept of אֱמֶת (emet) conveyed not just factual accuracy but covenant faithfulness—God keeps His word because of His character. When Paul uses ἀψευδής, he’s building a theological bridge between Greek philosophical virtues and Hebrew covenantal concepts, showing how the one true God embodies the highest ideals of truthfulness in a way the pagan deities never could.

This single word challenges both the Greek philosophical understanding of divine nature and elevates the Jewish conception of covenant faithfulness to universal significance. For the original readers on Crete—an island notorious in the ancient world for dishonesty (Paul quotes the Cretan prophet Epimenides in Titus 1:12, “Cretans are always liars”)—the contrast between their cultural reputation and the absolute truthfulness of God would have been particularly pointed.

Theological Significance

The divine attribute expressed by ἀψευδής forms a cornerstone of biblical theology. God’s inability to lie isn’t merely a moral choice but an essential aspect of His nature—He cannot act contrary to His character. This attribute undergirds the reliability of all divine revelation, from creation to redemption to eschatological hope.

When Paul connects God’s inability to lie with the promise of eternal life “before time began” in Titus 1:2, he’s establishing an unbreakable chain of certainty: if God cannot lie, and He has promised eternal life, then the fulfillment of that promise is absolutely guaranteed. This creates a theological foundation for hope that transcends circumstances and emotional states. The believer’s confidence isn’t based on feelings or even visible evidence, but on the character of God who is constitutionally incapable of falsehood.

This attribute also illuminates the incarnation. When Yeshua declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), He wasn’t merely claiming to speak truth but to embody it. The Messiah is the perfect expression of the ἀψευδής nature of God—the Word made flesh who reveals the Father’s absolute truthfulness through His own person and work. In a world of relative truths and broken promises, the unwavering truthfulness of God, expressed through ἀψευδής, stands as a fixed point of absolute certainty.

Personal Application

Understanding God’s nature as ἀψευδής transforms how we approach His promises. In a world where deception is commonplace and human leaders often fail to deliver on their commitments, we have the privilege of trusting One who cannot lie. This isn’t wishful thinking but confidence anchored in divine character. When we feel doubt creeping in about God’s promises—whether about His presence, provision, or eternal purposes—we can return to this foundational truth: it is impossible for God to lie.

This attribute also challenges us to reflect God’s truthfulness in our own lives. As image-bearers of the ἀψευδὴς θεός, we are called to cultivate truthfulness in our speech and reliability in our commitments. In a culture where “my truth” has replaced “the truth,” believers stand as witnesses to absolute truth grounded in the character of God. Our truthfulness becomes not just an ethical virtue but a testimony to the God we serve—the One who is utterly incapable of falsehood and who calls us to speak truth in love.

Related Words

• ἀλήθεια (alētheia, “truth”) – refers to truth as an objective reality rather than the attribute of truthfulness. While ἀψευδής focuses on the inability to lie, ἀλήθεια represents truth itself. See G225
• πιστός (pistos, “faithful, trustworthy”) – emphasizes reliability and trustworthiness that results from truthfulness. ἀψευδής is the root cause; πιστός is often the perceived effect. See G4103
• ἀληθινός (alēthinos, “true, genuine”) – describes that which is real or genuine as opposed to what is false or counterfeit. While related to ἀψευδής, it focuses more on authenticity than on the inability to deceive. See G228
• ἀμεταμέλητος (ametamelētos, “without regret, irrevocable”) – describes something that cannot be changed or taken back, similar to how God’s truthfulness means His word stands firm. See G278
• βέβαιος (bebaios, “firm, secure, certain”) – refers to that which is established and certain, a natural outcome of God’s ἀψευδής nature. See G949

Did you Know?

• Did you know that the opposite of ἀψευδής, the word ψευδής (pseudēs, “false, lying”), gives us the modern prefix “pseudo-” that appears in English words like “pseudonym” and “pseudoscience”? This linguistic connection reminds us that falsehood often masquerades as truth—making God’s attribute of being unable to lie (ἀψευδής) all the more significant in a world filled with deception.
• Did you know that in ancient Crete, where Titus was ministering when he received Paul’s letter, there was a tomb claimed to be that of Zeus? This ridiculous claim (since Greek mythology held Zeus to be immortal) led to the Cretan reputation for dishonesty that Paul references. Against this background of cultural dishonesty and mythological gods who could lie, Paul’s declaration of God as ὁ ἀψευδὴς θεός (the God who cannot lie) would have been revolutionary.
• Did you know that Hebrew has no exact equivalent to ἀψευδής? Instead, the concept is expressed through phrases like לֹא יְכַזֵּב (lo yekazev, “He does not lie”) or descriptive statements about God’s faithfulness (אֱמוּנָה, emunah). This linguistic observation highlights how Paul was uniquely bridging Greek philosophical concepts with Hebrew theological truths to communicate God’s character in a way both Jewish and Gentile believers could grasp.

Remember This

The ἀψευδής nature of God is the unshakable foundation upon which every divine promise stands—in a universe where stars collapse and mountains crumble, His word alone remains eternally reliable because He cannot lie.