Strong's Greek: 2717καταργέω (katargeō) -- To abolish, to nullify, to render inactive or ineffective

Lexicon

katargeō: To abolish, to nullify, to render inactive or ineffective

Original Word: καταργέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: katargeō
Pronunciation: kat-ar-GEH-o
Phonetic Spelling: (kat-ar-GEH-o)
Definition: To abolish, to nullify, to render inactive or ineffective
Meaning: Not Used

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: From κατά (kata, meaning "down" or "against") and ἀργός (argos, meaning "inactive" or "idle").

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The concept of abolishing or nullifying in the Old Testament can be related to Hebrew terms such as בָּטַל (batal, Strong's 989), meaning "to cease" or "to be idle," and פָּרַר (parar, Strong's 6565), meaning "to break" or "to annul." These terms convey similar ideas of rendering something ineffective or void, often in the context of covenants or decrees.

Usage: The verb καταργέω is used in the New Testament to describe the act of making something void or ineffective. It often conveys the idea of abolishing or nullifying a law, covenant, or power.

Context: The term καταργέω appears in various contexts within the New Testament, often in relation to the transformative work of Christ and the new covenant. It is used to describe the nullification of the old covenant and the law's power over believers, as seen in passages like 2 Corinthians 3:11, "For if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which endures!" Here, καταργέω is used to contrast the temporary nature of the old covenant with the enduring glory of the new covenant.

In Romans 6:6, Paul uses καταργέω to explain the believer's freedom from sin: "We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin." This illustrates the concept of sin's power being nullified through the crucifixion of the old self with Christ.

The term also appears in 1 Corinthians 13:10, where Paul speaks of the partial being done away with when the perfect comes: "But when the perfect comes, the partial passes away." This highlights the transition from the incomplete to the complete, emphasizing the ultimate fulfillment and perfection found in Christ.

καταργέω is a significant term in Pauline theology, underscoring the transformative impact of Christ's work in rendering the old order obsolete and establishing a new reality for believers. It reflects the shift from the law to grace, from death to life, and from the temporal to the eternal.

Links

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