55. hagnós

Lexical Summary

hagnós: Pure, chaste, holy

Original Word: ἁγνός
Part of Speech: Adverb
Transliteration: hagnós
Pronunciation: hag-NOS
Phonetic Spelling: (hag-noce')
KJV: sincerely
NASB: pure motives
Word Origin: [adverb from G53 (ἁγνός - pure)]

1. purely, i.e. honestly

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

honestly, sincerely.

Adverb from hagnos; purely, i.e. Honestly -- sincerely.

see GREEK hagnos

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 55 hagnṓs (an adverb) – sincerely, purely without inner contamination (duplicity). It only occurs in Phil 1:17. See 53 (hagnos).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from hagnos
Definition
purely, with pure motives
NASB Translation
pure motives (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 55: ἁγνῶς

ἁγνῶς, adv, purely, with sincerity: Philippians 1:16 (17).

Topical Lexicon

Overview

Strong’s Greek 55 is an adverb describing action carried out “purely,” that is, with unmixed, righteous motive. Although it appears only once in the Greek New Testament, its theological weight reaches far beyond that single verse, drawing on the Bible-wide theme of purity of heart, mind, and purpose before God.

Single New Testament Occurrence

Philippians 1:17 sets the word in stark contrast to “selfish ambition.” While Paul rejoices that Christ is proclaimed, he exposes a heart-level divide between two groups of preachers: those moved by love and those driven by rivalry. The adverb functions as a moral spotlight, showing that gospel ministry is never measured merely by outward activity but by inward intent.

Context in Philippians

Written from imprisonment in Rome, Philippians highlights joy, unity, and integrity in the gospel. Paul’s chains emboldened many believers to preach (Philippians 1:14), yet mixed motives surfaced. Verses 15-18 present a literary antithesis:

• Envy and rivalry versus goodwill
• Selfish ambition versus pure motive
• Affliction for Paul versus defense of the gospel

By choosing ἁγνῶς, Paul reminds the Philippian church that genuine ministry flows from a heart cleansed by Christ and aligned with His purposes (Philippians 1:21).

Purity in the Old Testament Background

The Septuagint frequently uses cognates of the same word-group to describe ceremonial cleanness (Exodus 30:35), moral blamelessness (Psalm 18:26), and the flawless character of divine revelation (Psalm 12:6). Thus, when Paul employs the adverb, he taps into a rich heritage where purity means freedom from mixture—whether idolatry, deception, or self-promotion.

New Testament Development of the Theme

Though Strong’s 55 occurs only in Philippians, the adjective form (ἁγνός) and related verbs extend the doctrine:

• “The wisdom from above is first pure…” (James 3:17).
• “Whatever is true… whatever is pure…” (Philippians 4:8).
• “Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1 John 3:3).

Together these texts show that purity is not abstract perfectionism but an active, Spirit-empowered disposition aimed at pleasing God.

Contrast with Selfish Ambition

The antithesis in Philippians 1:17 warns that the gospel can be proclaimed from corrupt motives. Scripture labels such ambition as earthly, unspiritual, and demonic (James 3:14-16). Pure motive, by contrast, is marked by love (1 Corinthians 13:1-3), humility (2 Corinthians 4:5), and a desire for Christ to be magnified (Philippians 1:20).

Historical Insight

Early church writers recognized the danger of impure ministry. John Chrysostom commented that some preachers sought “the glory of Paul’s bonds” rather than the glory of Christ. Yet Paul’s joy in Philippians 1:18 models confidence that God’s sovereignty can overrule human motives, ensuring His Son is proclaimed even when the messenger falters.

Ministry Implications

1. Self-examination: Spiritual leaders must regularly test motives in light of Scripture and the Spirit’s conviction (Psalm 139:23-24).
2. Accountability: Biblical community guards purity by encouraging transparency and correcting pride (Galatians 6:1-2).
3. Endurance: Knowing that God sees the heart enables believers to serve faithfully even when misunderstood or maligned (1 Thessalonians 2:3-6).
4. Joy: Like Paul, Christians can rejoice that Christ is preached, while still praying for deeper sincerity among His servants.

Devotional Reflection

Purity of motive is a gospel grace. The same Christ who cleansed lepers cleanses intentions, freeing the believer from the tyranny of self-promotion. “Create in me a clean heart, O God” (Psalm 51:10) becomes the lifelong prayer of every disciple who longs to echo Paul: “Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death” (Philippians 1:20).

Summary

Strong’s Greek 55 underscores that God values not only what we do but why we do it. Philippians 1:17 invites the church to pursue a ministry untainted by envy or rivalry, motivated solely by love for Christ and the advancement of His gospel.

Forms and Transliterations

αγνως αγνώς ἁγνῶς agnos agnōs hagnos hagnôs hagnōs hagnō̂s

Englishman's Concordance

Philippians 1:17 Adv
GRK: καταγγέλλουσιν οὐχ ἁγνῶς οἰόμενοι θλίψιν
NAS: rather than from pure motives, thinking
INT: are proclaiming not purely supposing tribulation

Strong's Greek 55
1 Occurrence

ἁγνῶς — 1 Occ.