Lexical Summary apechomai: Abstain, refrain, keep away Original Word: ἀπέχομαι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance abstain. Middle voice (reflexively) of apecho; to hold oneself off, i.e. Refrain -- abstain. see GREEK apecho NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originmid. of apechó, q.v. Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 567: ἀπέχωἀπέχω; (imperfect ἀπειχον Matthew 14:24 Tr text WH text; present middle ἀπέχομαι); 1. transitive, a. to hold back, keep off, prevent (Homer, Iliad 1, 97 (Zenodotus); 6, 96; Plato, Crat c. 23, p. 407 b.). b. to have wholly or in full, to have received (what one had a right to expect or demand; cf. ἀποδιδόναι, ἀπολαμβάνειν (Winers De verb. comp. etc. Part iv., p. 8; Gram. 275 (258); Buttmann, 203 (176); according to Lightfoot (on Philippians 4:18) ἀπό denotes correspondence, i. e. of the contents to the capacity, of the possession to the desire, etc.)): τινα, Philemon 1:15; μισθόν, Matthew 6:2, 5, 16; παράκλησιν, Luke 6:24; πάντα, Philippians 4:18; (often so in Greek writings (cf. Lightfoot on Philippians, the passage cited)). Hence, c. ἀπέχει, impersonally, it is enough, sufficient: Mark 14:41, where the explanation is 'ye have slept now long enough'; so that Christ takes away the permission, just given to his disciples, of sleeping longer; cf. Meyer at the passage; (in the same sense in (Pseudo-)Anacreon ( 2. intransitive, to be away, absent, distant (Buttmann, 144 (126)): absolutely, Luke 15:20; ἀπό, Luke 7:6; Luke 24:13; Matt. ( 3. Middle to hold oneself off, abstain: ἀπό τίνος, from anything, Acts 15:20 (R G); 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:22 (Job 1:1; Job 2:3; Ezekiel 8:6); τίνος, Acts 15:29; 1 Timothy 4:3; 1 Peter 2:11. (So in Greek writings from Homer down.) ἀπέχομαι expresses deliberate separation: the conscious choice to keep oneself at a distance from something that would contaminate, corrupt, or distract. Rather than describing mere physical distance, the verb carries moral and spiritual overtones—self-denial for the sake of greater fidelity to God’s will. Old Testament and Intertestamental Background In the Septuagint the word group is used where Israel is ordered to “keep away” from pagan worship (for example, Exodus 19:12; Joshua 23:6–8) and where wisdom literature urges the righteous to “turn away” from evil (Proverbs 4:27). By the Second Temple era, abstention had become a hallmark of covenant faithfulness, visible in dietary laws, Nazirite vows, and avoidance of idolatry. Thus, when the apostolic church addressed Gentile converts (Acts 15:20), it stood within a long trajectory that linked abstaining with covenant identity. New Testament Theology of Abstinence Although ἀπέχομαι itself is not recorded in the extant Greek text of the New Testament, the call to “abstain” saturates apostolic instruction. The vocabulary of abstinence consistently serves four theological purposes: 1. Separation from idolatry (Acts 15:29). “Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” (1 Peter 2:11) Association with Holiness Abstinence is never an end in itself but the outworking of holiness. Paul frames it within sanctification: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality.” (1 Thessalonians 4:3) Peter presents it as warfare against the soul’s enemies, and James views it as an expression of pure religion (James 1:27). Christological Focus Jesus models perfect self-denial. His forty-day fast (Matthew 4:1–11) reveals abstinence empowered by the Spirit and anchored in Scripture. Discipleship is patterned after Him: “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24) Historical and Cultural Setting First-century believers navigated a Greco-Roman world steeped in idol feasts, sexual laxity, and blood offerings. To “abstain” marked them as counter-cultural and often invited persecution. Early Christian apologists (e.g., Justin Martyr) emphasized believers’ distinct morals—especially sexual purity and refusal to participate in civic idolatry—as proof of the gospel’s power. Doctrinal Significance 1. Regeneration: Abstinence evidences a new heart that longs for purity (1 John 3:3). Pastoral and Practical Application • Personal Discipline: Fasting, simplicity, and sexual purity cultivate undivided devotion. Warnings and Promises Scripture warns that failure to abstain leads to spiritual dullness (Hebrews 3:12–13) and moral decay (Ephesians 4:17–19). Conversely, disciplined restraint yields joy and reward: “Exercise self-control in all things. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.” (1 Corinthians 9:25) Summary ἀπέχομαι embodies the biblical call to intentional separation from anything that hinders love for God and neighbor. Rooted in the holiness of God, modeled by Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, abstinence safeguards the believer’s integrity, strengthens the church’s testimony, and anticipates the fullness of life in the coming kingdom. Englishman's Concordance ἀπερίτμητοι — 1 Occ.ἀπῆλθα — 1 Occ. ἀπῆλθαν — 3 Occ. ἀπῆλθεν — 40 Occ. ἀπῆλθον — 18 Occ. ἀπεληλύθεισαν — 1 Occ. ἀπελήλυθεν — 1 Occ. ἀπελεύσομαι — 1 Occ. ἀπελευσόμεθα — 1 Occ. ἀπελεύσονται — 1 Occ. ἀπέλθητε — 2 Occ. ἀπελθεῖν — 11 Occ. ἀπέλθω — 2 Occ. ἀπελθὼν — 16 Occ. ἀπέλθωσιν — 1 Occ. ἀπελθόντες — 9 Occ. ἀπελθόντι — 1 Occ. Ἀπελθόντων — 1 Occ. ἀπελθοῦσα — 1 Occ. ἀπελθοῦσαι — 2 Occ. |
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