Brief Overview of ἀρεσκεία (G699: areskeia)

1. Brief Overview:

Transliteration: areskeia

Root Words:

• ἀρεσκεία (areskeia): Derived from ἀρέσκω (areskō), which means “to please” or “to be agreeable.”

Primary Meanings:

• Pleasing Behavior: The term refers to the quality or act of being pleasing or agreeable, often in the context of adapting one’s behavior to please others.
• Compliance or Adaptability: It also signifies the act of conforming to the preferences or expectations of others, often at the expense of one’s own principles.

2. Detailed Description:

BDAG: BDAG describes ἀρεσκεία as a disposition or behavior aimed at pleasing others, particularly in the context of social interactions or compliance. It highlights the concept of adapting to meet others’ expectations to maintain favor or acceptance.

Thayer’s: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon defines ἀρεσκεία as the quality of being pleasing or agreeable to others. It reflects the idea of conforming to others’ desires or requirements.

Vines: Vines’ Expository Dictionary describes ἀρεσκεία as the act of pleasing others or accommodating oneself to others’ desires, emphasizing its role in social and personal interactions.

LSJ: The LSJ Lexicon notes that ἀρεσκεία refers to the quality of being agreeable or pleasing, with a focus on the social implications of adapting to others’ preferences.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Strong’s defines ἀρεσκεία as “pleasing” or “compliance,” indicating its use in describing behavior aimed at meeting others’ expectations.

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Bible Verses:

• Galatians 1:10 (KJV): “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”
• This verse contrasts pleasing men with being a servant of Christ, reflecting the potential conflict between personal integrity and social conformity.

3. Usage in Classic Greek Literature:

In classic Greek literature, ἀρεσκεία appears in contexts related to social behavior and expectations:

• Aristotle: Uses the concept of ἀρεσκεία to discuss the ethics of pleasing others and the role of adaptability in achieving social harmony.
• Plato: Mentions the idea of adapting one’s behavior to please others in discussions about social and political ethics.
• Demosthenes: Refers to ἀρεσκεία in the context of political oratory, where pleasing the audience is a key aspect of effective speech.

4. Summary:

The term ἀρεσκεία (G699: areskeia) refers to the quality or act of being pleasing or agreeable to others. BDAG and other lexicons describe it as involving compliance or adaptability to meet others’ expectations. The term is used in the New Testament to highlight the tension between pleasing men and remaining faithful to Christ’s teachings. Classic Greek literature further explores ἀρεσκεία in the context of social interactions and ethics, emphasizing the role of adaptability in maintaining social favor.