Lexical Summary atimos: Dishonored, without honor, despised Original Word: ἄτιμος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance despised, without honor, less honorable. From a (as a negative particle) and time; (negatively) unhonoured or (positively) dishonoured -- despised, without honour, less honourable (comparative degree). see GREEK a see GREEK time HELPS Word-studies 820 átimos – (and adjective, derived from 1 /A "without" and 5092 /timḗ, "attributed honor") – properly, unrecognized, i.e. not honored (valued); (figuratively) dishonored, describing someone (something) as reproachful (without dignity) – the opposite of attributing (acknowledging) worth (see the root 5092 /timḗ). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom alpha (as a neg. prefix) and timé Definition without honor, dishonored NASB Translation less (1), less honorable (1), without honor (3). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 820: ἄτιμοςἄτιμος, ἄτιμον (τιμή); from Homer down; without honor, unhonored, dishonored: Matthew 13:57; Mark 6:4; 1 Corinthians 4:10 (opposed to ἔνδοξος); base, of less esteem: 1 Corinthians 12:23 (here the neuter plural of the comparitive, ἀτιμότερα (Rec.elz ἀτιμωτερα)). Topical Lexicon Overview The term conveys the state of being deprived of honor, respect, or esteem. Scripture uses it to show the contrast between worldly appraisal and divine valuation, inviting believers to re-examine how they measure worth. Scriptural Occurrences • Matthew 13:57—The villagers of Nazareth are “offended” at Jesus and declare Him ἄτιμος, illustrating how familiarity can blind people to the glory in their midst. Cultural Background of Honor and Shame First-century Mediterranean societies evaluated persons primarily by public honor. To be labeled ἄτιμος meant exclusion from the social esteem that governed civic, familial, and religious life. Into this matrix the gospel introduces a radical recalibration: honor derives from God’s assessment rather than human acclaim. Christ as the Rejected Prophet Matthew and Mark record the same episode to underscore that Jesus, the rightful heir to all honor (Psalm 8; Philippians 2:9-11), willingly accepts human dishonor. His rejection fulfills Isaiah’s portrait of the suffering Servant—“despised and rejected by men” (Isaiah 53:3). The Nazareth scene anticipates the cross, where ultimate shame becomes the avenue for ultimate glory. Apostolic Embrace of Dishonor Paul applies the word to himself in 1 Corinthians 4:10. Far from seeking to rehabilitate his reputation, he turns dishonor into a badge of fidelity to Christ. By contrasting the apostles’ ἄτιμος state with the Corinthians’ self-confident status, Paul exposes the ease with which believers can baptize worldly honor codes and calls the church back to cruciform values. Hidden Members of the Body In 1 Corinthians 12:23 the so-called “less honorable” members receive extraordinary care. Paul uses human physiology—respectful covering of unpresentable parts—to reinforce ecclesial ethics: the Spirit distributes gifts so that no member can claim superiority. Where society marginalizes, the church must magnify, recognizing that God often invests the least visible with strategic significance. Continuity with Old Testament Themes Old Testament law and wisdom literature repeatedly guard the dignity of the vulnerable (Leviticus 19:32; Proverbs 14:31). By elevating the ἄτιμος, the New Testament continues this trajectory, showing that the Lord “raises the poor from the dust” (1 Samuel 2:8) and “has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise” (1 Corinthians 1:27). Historical Usage in Early Church Patristic writers testify that believers identified closely with the apostles’ dishonor. The Epistle to Diognetus commends Christians who are “dishonored yet glorified.” Martyr acts depict sufferers who considered earthly shame a foretaste of heavenly honor. The vocabulary of ἄτιμος thus became integral to the church’s self-understanding in a hostile world. Theological Significance 1. Christology: Jesus’ acceptance of dishonor is essential to His redemptive work; He redeems the shame of fallen humanity. Pastoral and Discipleship Applications • Encourage believers who suffer contempt for righteousness that they share in a long line of prophets, apostles, and the Lord Himself. Questions for Reflection 1. Where might I be seeking human honor at the expense of faithfulness to Christ? Homiletical Hooks • “Honored by God, Dishonored by Men”—exposition of 1 Corinthians 4:10. The thread running through every occurrence is clear: God assigns honor by His sovereign grace, often in direct contradiction to human appraisals. To align with His valuation is to embrace the way of the cross, confident that “those who honor Me I will honor” (1 Samuel 2:30). Forms and Transliterations ατιμοι άτιμοι ἄτιμοι άτιμον ατιμος άτιμος ἄτιμος ατιμοτερα ατιμότερα ἀτιμότερα ατίμων atimoi átimoi atimos átimos atimotera atimóteraLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 13:57 Adj-NMSGRK: ἔστιν προφήτης ἄτιμος εἰ μὴ NAS: to them, A prophet is not without honor except KJV: is not without honour, save in INT: is a prophet without Honor if not Mark 6:4 Adj-NMS 1 Corinthians 4:10 Adj-NMP 1 Corinthians 12:23 Adj-ANP-C Strong's Greek 820 |
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