Category: Blameless

The Greek term (anepilemptos) is used three times by Paul in his first letter to Timothy. In (3:2) it is translated “blameless”, and is a required qualification for the office of bishop. In (5:7) a number of instructions are to be given to widows, that they may be “blameless” before God. Finally, in (6:14) Christians are instructed to flee the love of money, and instead fight the good fight of faith, that they might be “blameless” until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing.

The word consists of the negative (a), and a root word that means “to seize.” It literally means: not to seize, or apprehend.

Consider a person who is a keeper of the law. He lives an honest life, and because of this is not in danger of being apprehended by law officers. “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same” (Romans 13:3).

This, of course, does not mean that we must be free of false accusations. Such accusations are inevitable as we live for Christ. Because we are different, we will be defamed by those who are opposed to righteousness (cf. 1 Peter 3:16).

The idea is to be a person against whom no accusation can be proven. This requires righteous living. No matter the attack, it is destined to failure because the character and reputation of the Christian is unassailable. This is a lofty, but worthy goal to seek and to meet.

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