Lexical Summary allós: other, another Original Word: ἄλλος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance otherwise. Adverb from allos; differently -- otherwise. see GREEK allos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originadverb from allos Definition otherwise NASB Translation otherwise (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 247: ἄλλωςἄλλως, adverb (ἄλλος) (from Homer down), otherwise: 1 Timothy 5:25 (τά ἄλλως ἔχοντα, which are of a different sort, i. e., which are not καλά ἔργα (others which are not πρόδηλα)). Topical Lexicon Primary Sense within Apostolic Teaching Ἄλλως, appearing once in the Greek New Testament (1 Timothy 5:25), functions adverbially to mark a contrast: “in another way,” “otherwise,” “on the other hand.” Paul uses it to balance the immediately preceding statement about sins that either precede or follow a person into judgment (1 Timothy 5:24). By placing ἄλλως at the head of verse 25, he shifts attention from hidden sins to equally hidden virtues, affirming that righteousness—no less than iniquity—carries its own inescapable disclosure. Textual Setting: 1 Timothy 5:24–25 “The sins of some men are obvious, leading the way into judgment; but the sins of others do not surface until later. So also good deeds are obvious, and even the ones that are inconspicuous cannot remain hidden.” (1 Timothy 5:24–25) Here, ἄλλως introduces the second half of Paul’s parallelism. The apostle teaches Timothy to exercise patience and discernment in recognizing elders and servants of the church (cf. 1 Timothy 5:22). Hidden faults may emerge over time; in the same “other way,” latent godliness will likewise become unmistakable. The adverb signals that God’s moral order applies consistently to both vice and virtue. Doctrinal and Theological Significance 1. Divine Omniscience and Justice. Ἄλλως underscores the certainty that God exposes every moral reality. Whether evil (verse 24) or good (verse 25), nothing ultimately eludes His notice (Luke 8:17; 1 Corinthians 4:5). Historical and Pastoral Reflections • Early patristic writers, especially Chrysostom, cite 1 Timothy 5:24–25 to counsel deliberate ordination practices. The adverb ἄλλως fortifies the argument for testing candidates, knowing that both blemishes and blessings surface in due course. Connection to Old Testament Wisdom The conceptual thread behind ἄλλως parallels Proverbs 10:9 and Ecclesiastes 12:14, where secret deeds meet eventual exposure. Paul, steeped in Wisdom literature, brings that motif into pastoral praxis. The adverb succinctly conveys the “other side” of hidden realities—just as Proverbs juxtaposes the upright and the wicked. Practical Applications 1. Self-examination: believers weigh both overt and covert patterns, remembering that unrecognized sin and unnoticed righteousness will alike be revealed. Summary Though ἄλλως occurs only once, its strategic placement sharpens Paul’s call for discernment and hope. Believers rest in the certainty that every hidden matter—evil or good—will appear, “otherwise” than the present moment may suggest, under the unerring gaze of God. Forms and Transliterations αλλως άλλως ἄλλως άλματι άλμην αλμυρά αλμυρίδα allos allōs állos állōsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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