Lexical Summary akribeia: Exactness, precision, strictness Original Word: ἀκρίβεια Strong's Exhaustive Concordance exactness, precisionFrom the same as akribestatos; exactness -- perfect manner. see GREEK akribestatos HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 195 akríbeia – exactness. See 199 (akribōs). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom akribés Definition exactness NASB Translation strictly (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 195: ἀκρίβειαἀκρίβεια, (είας, ἡ (ἀκριβής), exactness, exactest care: Acts 22:3 (κατά ἀκρίβειαν τοῦ νόμου in accordance fwith the strictness of the Mosaic law (cf. Isoc. areop., p. 147 e.)). (From Thucydides down.) Topical Lexicon Termἀκρίβεια (Strong’s Greek 195) – represented in English by such words as “strictness,” “exact detail,” or “precise conformity.” Strict Adherence to Tradition In first-century Judaism, exact conformity to the ancestral law was a celebrated virtue. Rabbinic training focused on memorization, careful citation of oral rulings, and punctilious observance of ceremonial details. ἀκρίβεια captures this studious rigor. It depicts not casual piety but painstaking obedience—a religious discipline that scrutinizes every clause and regulation to ensure nothing is overlooked. Paul’s Testimony in Acts 22:3 The sole New Testament occurrence appears when Paul addresses the hostile crowd on the temple steps: “I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel and instructed in the exact details of the law of our fathers” (Acts 22:3). Here ἀκρίβεια underlines Paul’s former identity as a model Pharisee, a man who not only loved the Mosaic statutes but insisted on their most meticulous application. His statement functions apologetically—he cannot be accused of ignorance—and evangelistically, preparing listeners to see the transforming power of the risen Christ in one who once embodied the strictest legalism. Relationship to Pharisaic Zeal Luke pairs ἀκρίβεια with “zealous for God” in the same verse, echoing Paul’s later self-description: “as to the Law, a Pharisee… as to righteousness in the Law, faultless” (Philippians 3:5-6). The term therefore stands at the intersection of sincere devotion and potential spiritual blindness. The Pharisaic movement exalted ἀκρίβεια; yet in focusing on minutiae it often missed the prophetic heart of mercy, justice, and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23). Contrast with Gospel Freedom When Paul recounts his conversion, ἀκρίβεια becomes the backdrop against which grace shines. Strictness could not cleanse his conscience; Christ could. Thus “the exact detail of the law” yields to “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:8). The Council’s decision in Acts 15 similarly distinguishes between legal precision and the unmerited yoke-lifting of the gospel (Acts 15:10-11). Historical Background Gamaliel, grandson of the famous Hillel, led the Sanhedrin during a formative era. His academy emphasized lawful precision while advocating measured interaction with the broader Greco-Roman world. Students memorized entire tractates of oral law and debated fine points of purity, Sabbath boundaries, and tithing. Paul’s mention of ἀκρίβεια signals that he received the highest credential Judaism could bestow. Implications for Biblical Interpretation Scripture itself commends careful handling (2 Timothy 2:15) even as it warns against quarrels over words. ἀκρίβεια encourages diligence but never self-righteousness. Interpreters should replicate its passion for accuracy while submitting every insight to the lordship of Christ and the unity of the canonical witness. Pastoral Application 1. Teach with precision, avoiding both careless generalization and legalistic rigidity. Devotional Reflection Paul’s narrative invites personal examination: Does my commitment to precise doctrine foster humility and love, or pride and exclusion? Rightly channeled, ἀκρίβεια becomes a servant of reverent worship—adorning the gospel with clarity, not eclipsing it with pedantry. Summary ἀκρίβεια appears once in the New Testament yet opens a window on the rigor of Pharisaic scholarship, the credibility of Paul’s testimony, and the liberating contrast between law-bound precision and Christ-centered grace. Exactness in the service of truth is commendable; exactness as an end in itself becomes a spiritual cul-de-sac. The gospel redeems ἀκρίβεια, transforming meticulous students of the law into precise ambassadors of grace. Forms and Transliterations ακριβειαν ακρίβειαν ἀκρίβειαν akribeian akríbeianLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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