Lexical Summary achreioó: To make useless, to render unprofitable Original Word: ἀχρειόω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance become unprofitable, render uselessFrom achreios; to render useless, i.e. Spoil -- become unprofitable. see GREEK achreios HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 889 axreióō (from 888 /axreíos, "without profit") – properly, to become useless (without utility), like when something turns "sour" and unprofitable (used only in Ro 3:12). See 890 (axrēstos). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom achreios Definition to make useless NASB Translation become useless (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 889: ἀχρειόωἀχρειόω, ἀχρειω: 1 aorist passive ἠχρειωθην; (ἀχρεῖος, which see); to make useless, render unserviceable: of character, Romans 3:12 (from Psalm 13:3 Topical Lexicon Concept of Spiritual UselessnessThe verb ἀχρειόω expresses a transition from purpose to purposelessness, from serviceability before God to moral and spiritual bankruptcy. It does not merely describe inactivity but the tragic loss of created intent. Humanity, designed for fellowship and fruitful obedience, becomes, through sin, as refuse—incapable of producing the righteous fruit God seeks (compare John 15:6). Old Testament Background Paul’s wording in Romans 3:12 echoes the Septuagint of Psalm 14:3 and Psalm 53:3, where the same verb portrays Israel’s collective departure from covenant faithfulness. The psalmist laments, “All have turned away, together they have become useless” (LXX). Centuries before Paul, Scripture already diagnosed universal depravity, establishing that moral decline is not a New Testament discovery but a persistent theme in redemptive history. New Testament Usage Romans 3:12 stands as the sole New Testament occurrence, yet its strategic placement within Paul’s sweeping indictment of Jew and Gentile makes it pivotal. By stringing together Old Testament citations (Romans 3:10-18), Paul argues that every mouth is stopped and “the whole world accountable to God” (Romans 3:19). Ἠχρεώθησαν functions as a climax: sin not only accuses; it corrodes usefulness, rendering humanity incapable of producing any deed meriting divine approval. Theological Significance 1. Total inability: The verb underscores that fallen humanity lacks the capacity to effect its own rescue (Romans 3:20). Christological Resolution Where sin renders people useless, Christ makes them “a people for His own possession, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14). Union with Christ reverses ἀχρειόω; believers are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life” (Ephesians 2:10). The worthless are transformed into vessels of honor (2 Timothy 2:21). Pastoral and Ministry Application • Gospel proclamation should begin with Scripture’s assessment of human inability, driving hearers to the sufficiency of Christ. Historical Reflection Reformers cited Romans 3 to confront a works-based righteousness. Likewise, revivals have often begun with preaching that exposes sin’s devaluation of human effort, preparing hearts to prize Christ’s imputed righteousness. Eschatological Perspective The worthless servant of Matthew 25:30, though described with a different term, illustrates the end of persistent unprofitableness: outer darkness. Conversely, those redeemed from uselessness will “rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them” (Revelation 14:13). Present usefulness in Christ anticipates eternal reward. Summary Strong’s Greek 889 reveals the stark reality that sin renders humanity spiritually unserviceable. Yet in the same context Scripture unveils the righteousness of God that restores purpose. The word thus magnifies both the gravity of the fall and the glory of redemption, calling every generation to find its usefulness renewed in the saving work of Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations αχρειώσετε ηχρειώθησαν ηχρεωθησαν ἠχρεώθησαν echreothesan echreṓthesan ēchreōthēsan ēchreṓthēsanLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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