Lexical Summary panourgos: Crafty, cunning, shrewd Original Word: πανοῦργος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance crafty. From pas and ergon; all-working, i.e. Adroit (shrewd) -- crafty. see GREEK pas see GREEK ergon HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 3835 panoúrgos – properly, a person doing anything to get their way ("anything it takes"). 3935 /paríēmi ("crafty-fellow") is used only in 2 Cor 12:16 where it describes a scoundrel (an unscrupulous person) who will do any evil to "succeed." See 3834 (panourgia). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom pas and ergon Definition ready to do anything, crafty, skillful NASB Translation crafty (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3835: πανοῦργοςπανοῦργος, πανοῦργον (πᾶς and ἘΠΤΩ equivalent to ἐργάζομαι; on the accent, see κακοῦργος), the Sept. for עָרוּם; skillful, clever, i. e.: 1. in a good sense, fit to undertake and accomplish anything, dexterous; wise, sagacious, skillful (Aristotle, Polybius, Plutarch, others; the Sept. Proverbs 13:1; Proverbs 28:2). But far more frequent. 2. in a bad sense, crafty, cunning, knavish, treacherous, deceitful, (Tragg., Aristophanes, Plato, Plutarch, others; the Sept.; Sir. 6:32 (31) (but here in a good sense); The adjective πανοῦργος appears once in the Greek New Testament, at 2 Corinthians 12:16. Paul, defending his integrity, quotes the charge leveled against him: “Be that as it may, I did not burden you. Yet crafty as I am, I caught you with deceit” (Berean Standard Bible). The apostle turns the accusation of “craftiness” back on his critics, exposing the irony that those who deemed him manipulative were themselves measuring ministry by worldly standards. Paul’s rhetorical move underscores his fatherly concern for the Corinthian believers (2 Corinthians 12:14–15) and highlights the tension between genuine apostolic self-sacrifice and the self-promotion of false teachers (2 Corinthians 11:13–15). Broader Biblical Portrait of Craftiness 1. Old Testament foundations 2. New Testament parallels Contrast between Cunning and Godly Wisdom Scripture distinguishes two kinds of subtlety: Thus πανοῦργος in 2 Corinthians 12:16 carries an ironic edge. Paul’s opponents label him “cunning,” yet the context proves his transparent motives: he refused financial support to avoid placing any obstacle before the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:12). True apostolic wisdom seeks the good of others, not personal gain. Historical and Cultural Background In classical Greek literature πανοῦργος described a person “ready for any deed,” often with an amoral flavor—prized in sophistic rhetoric, suspect in moral philosophy. Hellenistic cities such as Corinth valued persuasive eloquence, and traveling orators commonly exploited audiences for money. Against this backdrop Paul’s refusal to accept payment while in Corinth (Acts 18:3; 2 Corinthians 11:7-9) invited slander: if he declined patronage, he must be hiding ulterior motives. The apostle exposes the cultural blind spot—measuring worth by fees charged—by working with his own hands and receiving support from Macedonian churches instead. Theological Themes 1. Integrity of ministry Paul’s argument reveals that integrity is measured not by public perception but by faithfulness to the gospel and the judgment of God (2 Corinthians 10:18). 2. Spiritual warfare Accusations of craftiness mirror Satan’s oldest tactic: questioning the character of God’s servants to undermine trust in the message (Revelation 12:10). 3. Stewardship of resources Refusing to “burden” converts exemplifies the principle that leaders may forgo legitimate rights for the edification of the body (2 Thessalonians 3:8-9). Implications for Pastoral Practice • Transparency: Open financial practices and clear motives silence charges of manipulation. Related Biblical Concepts and Texts Genesis 3:1 – prototype of deceptive craftiness Matthew 10:16 – shrewd innocence commended Luke 20:23 – Jesus exposes the craft of hypocrites Acts 20:19-21, 30 – warning against crafty distorters Ephesians 4:14 – maturing believers guarded from πανουργία 2 Corinthians 4:2 – renouncing “secret and shameful ways” Summary Strong’s Greek 3835 highlights the tension between worldly cunning and godly wisdom. Paul’s single use of πανοῦργος in 2 Corinthians 12:16 unmasks false evaluations of ministry while modeling self-denying integrity. The term warns modern believers to test motives, embrace transparent service, and resist every form of deceit, upholding the purity of the gospel message. |
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