112. atheos

Lexicon

atheos: Godless, without God

Original Word: ἄθεος
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: atheos
Pronunciation: AH-theh-os
Phonetic Spelling: (ath'-eh-os)
Definition: Godless, without God
Meaning: without god, without (the only true) God, godless.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

without God, godless

From a (as a negative particle) and theos; godless -- without God.

see GREEK a

see GREEK theos

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from alpha (as a neg. prefix) and theos
Definition
godless, ungodly
NASB Translation
without God (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 112: ἄθεος

ἄθεος, (Θεός) (from Pindar down], without God, knowing and worshipping no God, in which sense Aelian v. h. 2, 31 declares ὅτι μηδείς τῶν βαρβάρων ἄθεος; in classic authors generally slighting the gods, impious, repudiating the gods recognized by the state, in which sense certain Greek philosophers, the Jews (Josephus, contra Apion 2, 14, 4), and subsequently Christians were called ἄθεοι by the heathen (Justin, Apology 1, 13, etc.). In Ephesians 2:12 of one who neither knows nor worships the true God; so of the heathen (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:5; Galatians 4:8); Clement, οἱ τόν ὄντως ὄντα ... Alex. protr, 2:23, p. 19 Pott. ἀθεους Θεόν ἠγνοήκλασι, Philo, leg. ad Gai. § 25 αἰγυπτιακὴ ἀθεότης, Hosea 4:15 Symm. οἶκος ἀθεΐας, a house in which idols are worshipped, Ignatius ad Trall. 10 [ET] ἄθεοι τοῦτ᾿ἔστιν ἄπιστοι (of the Docetae); (others understand Ephesians, the passage cited passively deserted of God, Vulg.sine Deo; on the various meanings of the word see Meyer (or Ellicott)).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek prefix ἀ- (a-, "without") and θεός (theos, "God").

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent to ἄθεος, the concept of being "without God" can be related to several Hebrew terms that describe godlessness or estrangement from God. These include:

• בְּלִיָּעַל (beliyya'al) • Often translated as "worthless" or "wicked," this term can imply a life lived without regard for God (Strong's Hebrew 1100).
• זָר (zar) • Meaning "stranger" or "foreigner," it can denote those who are outside the covenant community (Strong's Hebrew 2114).
• רָשָׁע (rasha') • Translated as "wicked" or "ungodly," it describes those who live in opposition to God's ways (Strong's Hebrew 7563).

These Hebrew terms, while not direct translations, convey similar themes of separation from God and the absence of a covenantal relationship.

Usage: The word ἄθεος appears in the New Testament in Ephesians 2:12, where it describes the state of Gentiles before coming to faith in Christ. It is used to highlight their separation from the covenantal promises and the community of God's people.

Context: The term ἄθεος is used in Ephesians 2:12 to describe the spiritual condition of Gentiles prior to their inclusion in the body of Christ. The apostle Paul writes, "remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world" (BSB). This passage emphasizes the alienation and spiritual desolation experienced by those who are ἄθεος, highlighting their lack of access to the divine promises and the hope found in a relationship with God.

In the broader context of Ephesians 2, Paul contrasts the former state of the Gentiles with their new identity in Christ. Through the redemptive work of Jesus, those who were once far off have been brought near, reconciled to God, and made part of His household. The use of ἄθεος underscores the transformative power of the gospel, which bridges the divide between humanity and God, offering hope and inclusion to all who believe.

Theologically, ἄθεος serves as a reminder of the necessity of a relationship with God for true spiritual fulfillment. It reflects the biblical worldview that life apart from God is incomplete and ultimately hopeless. The term also challenges believers to remember their own past alienation and to extend the message of reconciliation to others who are still living without the knowledge of God.

Forms and Transliterations

αθεοι άθεοι ἄθεοι αθεσία αθεσίαν atheoi átheoi

Englishman's Concordance

Ephesians 2:12 Adj-NMP
GRK: ἔχοντες καὶ ἄθεοι ἐν τῷ
NAS: no hope and without God in the world.
KJV: hope, and without God in the world:
INT: having and without God in the

Strong's Greek 112
1 Occurrence

ἄθεοι — 1 Occ.