Lexical Summary euschémosuné: Decency, propriety, respectability Original Word: εὐσχημοσύνη Strong's Exhaustive Concordance comeliness. From euschemon; decorousness -- comeliness. see GREEK euschemon NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom euschémón Definition comeliness NASB Translation presentable (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2157: εὐσχημοσύνηεὐσχημοσύνη, ἐυσχημοσυνης, ἡ (εὐσχήμων, which see), charm or elegance of figure, external beauty, decorum, modesty, seemliness (Xenophon, Plato, Polybius, Diodorus, Plutarch); of external charm, comeliness: 1 Corinthians 12:23. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Conceptual Scope Strong’s Greek 2157 conveys the idea of attractive propriety—an outward and inward “good form” that commends itself to others. The term speaks to the fitting dignity or modesty that marks people and practices shaped by the character of God. It moves beyond mere manners to the moral beauty that adorns holy living. Biblical Context: 1 Corinthians 12:23 Paul employs the noun once in the New Testament when describing the interdependence of Christ’s body: “and the parts that we consider less honorable, we treat with greater honor. And our unpresentable parts are treated with special modesty” (1 Corinthians 12:23). Here “special modesty” (Strong’s 2157) refers to the careful respect the church must show to members who appear weak or unseemly. Rather than tolerating social hierarchies imported from the surrounding culture, believers clothe these brothers and sisters with deliberate esteem so that “there may be no division in the body, but that its members should have mutual concern for one another” (1 Corinthians 12:25). Theology of Modesty and Honor in the Body of Christ 1. Reflecting God’s design. Just as the Creator fashioned the human body with parts that require covering for dignity, He also orders His spiritual body so that every member receives appropriate honor. Modesty, therefore, is not shame but the God-given means of protecting value. Historical and Cultural Setting Greco-Roman life revolved around status signals—dress codes, banquet seating, and public recognition. Honor was a limited commodity zealously guarded by the privileged. By calling the church to bestow “greater honor” and “special modesty” on its humbler members, Paul replaces competitive honor-seeking with sacrificial honor-giving. Such inversion would have been startling to first-century hearers and served as a living apologetic for the gospel’s transformative power. Related Vocabulary and Scriptural Parallels Though Strong’s 2157 appears only once, its cognates illuminate the same theme: Together these verses trace a biblical pattern: honor and decency are fused with courage (Joseph of Arimathea), perseverance under persecution (Acts 13:50), evangelistic influence (Acts 17:12), undistracted devotion (1 Corinthians 7:35), moral purity (Romans 13:13), and credible witness in daily work (1 Thessalonians 4:12). Practical Ministry Significance • Pastoral care: Congregations should identify and elevate members who are overlooked because of poverty, disability, age, or social standing. Assigning meaningful service roles and celebrating their contributions enacts Paul’s instruction. Conclusion Strong’s 2157 captures a distinctive Christian ethic: modesty that dignifies. Rooted in the gospel, it calls believers to adorn the faith with actions that grant heightened honor to those the world discounts, thereby manifesting the beauty of Christ’s unified body before a watching world. Forms and Transliterations ευσχημοσυνην ευσχημοσύνην εὐσχημοσύνην euschemosunen euschēmosunēn euschemosynen euschemosýnen euschēmosynēn euschēmosýnēnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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