Lexical Summary apoginomai: To be away, to be absent, to depart Original Word: ἀπογίνομαι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance deceasedPast participle of a compound of apo and ginomai; absent, i.e. Deceased (figuratively, renounced) -- being dead. see GREEK apo see GREEK ginomai HELPS Word-studies 581 apogenómenos (or apoginomai, from 575/apo, "from" and 1096 /gínomai, "become, emerge") – properly, "become from" (used only in 1 Pet 2:24). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom apo and ginomai Definition to be away, be removed from NASB Translation die (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 581: ἀπογίνομαιἀπογίνομαι: (2 aorist ἀπεγενομην); 1. to be removed from, depart. 2. to die (often so in Greek writings from Herodotus down); hence, tropically, ἀπογίνεσθαι τίνι, to die to anything: ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ἀπογενόμενοι i. e. become utterly alienated from our sins, 1 Peter 2:24 (Winers Grammar, § 52, 4, 1 d.; Buttmann, 178 (155)). Biblical occurrence and immediate context The participial form ἀπογενόμενοι appears in 1 Peter 2:24. In the Berean Standard Bible, the verse reads: “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that having died to sins, we might live to righteousness. ‘By His stripes you are healed.’” The word pictures believers as people who, through Christ’s substitutionary death, have become separated from the sphere and dominion of sin in order to enter a new realm of righteous living. Theological significance 1. Identification with Christ’s death 2. Liberation from sin’s power 3. Healing and covenant restoration Relation to wider biblical teaching • Colossians 2:20 and Colossians 3:3 describe believers as having “died with Christ” and “hidden with Christ in God,” reinforcing the once-for-all nature of the separation accomplished by apoginomai. Historical reception in the Church • Early writers such as Ignatius and Polycarp cited 1 Peter to encourage martyr-faithfulness, viewing “having died to sins” as the believer’s moral readiness to face persecution. Pastoral and ministry implications 1. Assurance of transformation Elders can ground exhortations to holy living in the objective union with Christ’s death. The imperative to live righteously flows from an accomplished fact, not a legalistic demand. 2. Counseling freedom from habitual sin Apoginomai encourages believers that persistent patterns do not have ultimate authority; Christ’s cross has already rendered sin powerless. 3. Discipleship and baptismal teaching New converts learn that baptism symbolizes the burial of the old life (Romans 6:4) and the experiential truth of 1 Peter 2:24, fostering confident pursuit of righteousness. 4. Worship and liturgy Communion services may cite 1 Peter 2:24 to celebrate both forgiveness and deliverance, uniting confession of sin with thanksgiving for emancipating grace. Summary Strong’s Greek 581, apoginomai, illuminates the believer’s decisive break with sin effected by Christ’s atonement. Though occurring only once, it encapsulates a core New Testament theme: union with the crucified Lord liberates and empowers the redeemed community to live in righteousness, fulfilling prophetic promises and shaping Christian identity, worship, and mission. |
    |