Lexical Summary aproskopos: Blameless, without offense, not causing to stumble Original Word: ἀπρόσκοπος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance without offense. From a (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of proskopto; actively, inoffensive, i.e. Not leading into sin; passively, faultless, i.e. Not led into sin -- none (void of, without) offence. see GREEK a see GREEK proskopto NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom alpha (as a neg. prefix) and proskoptó Definition not causing to stumble, not stumbling NASB Translation blameless (2), no offense (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 677: ἀπρόσκοποςἀπρόσκοπος, ἀπρόσκοπον (προσκόπτω, which see); 1. actively, having nothing for one to strike against; not causing to stumble; a. properly: ὁδός, a smooth road, Sir. 35: (32) 21. b. metaphorically, not leading others into sin by one's mode of life: 1 Corinthians 10:32. 2. passively, a. not striking against or stumbling; metaphorically, not led into sin; blameless: Philippians 1:10 (joined with εἰλικρινεῖς). b. without offence: συνείδησις, not troubled and distressed by a consciousness of sin, Acts 24:16. (Not found in secular authors (except Sextus Empiricus, 1, 195 (p. 644, 13 Bekker)).) The term conveys a state of life and conduct in which nothing in a believer’s behavior trips up others or becomes a legitimate charge against his own conscience. It embraces both outward blamelessness—freedom from giving offense to Jews, Greeks, or the church of God—and inward integrity before the Lord. Paul employs it to describe a conscience that neither stumbles itself nor lays obstacles before another, harmonizing personal holiness with communal responsibility. Occurrences in the New Testament 1 Corinthians 10:32 – “Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God.” Philippians 1:10 – “so that you may be able to discern what is best, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.” Acts 24:16 – “So I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man.” Each context links the idea of being free of offense to a different sphere: the multicultural body of believers, the future day of Christ, and Paul’s personal courtroom defense. Together they sketch a life that is ethically consistent, eschatologically oriented, and evangelistically sensitive. Old Testament Foundations The Hebrew Scriptures often warn against placing “a stumbling block before the blind” (Leviticus 19:14) and celebrate those whose “peace” prevents stumbling (Psalm 119:165). Isaiah’s “stone of stumbling” (Isaiah 8:14) anticipates the New Testament tension between offense and faith, preparing the way for a vocabulary that prizes lives without offense. Christological Dimensions Jesus personifies the concept inversely: although many stumbled at Him (Romans 9:33), His own life was utterly without fault (1 Peter 2:22). By bearing the reproach of sinners, He frees His followers to pursue lives that do not cause others to stumble. His cross removes the deepest offense—sin against God—thus enabling believers to live “blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation” (Philippians 2:15). Apostolic Ministry and Mission For Paul, being ἀπρόσκοπος guarded the advance of the gospel. In Corinth, sensitivity to Jewish and Gentile scruples protected mission unity. Before Felix, a “clear conscience” validated the integrity of his witness. To the Philippians, blamelessness was preparation for the eschaton: discipleship aimed at the “day of Christ” must already reflect the character that will prevail then. Apostolic strategy therefore fused missional flexibility with moral steadfastness. Eschatological Outlook Philippians 1:10 ties blamelessness to final accountability. Life without offense is not merely tactical; it is preparatory for Christ’s tribunal. The church lives today in the moral light of that coming day, anticipating the verdict by embracing conduct that can already stand the test. Pastoral and Ethical Application 1. Conscience: Regular self-examination under Scripture keeps one “clear … before God and man.” Historical Reception Early Christian writers echoed Paul’s concern. The Didache warns believers not to “give cause of offense,” and Ignatius commends congregations noted for an irreproachable walk. Throughout church history, reform movements—whether monastic, Reformation, or evangelical—have revived the call to lives that are unassailable both ethically and doctrinally. Contemporary Relevance In an age of social scrutiny and moral relativism, ἀπρόσκοπος remains crucial. Believers are summoned to: • Navigate cultural diversity without compromise. Thus the word invites twenty-first-century disciples to embody the gospel with a purity that neither wavers before God nor wounds the neighbor, “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:11). Englishman's Concordance Acts 24:16 Adj-AFSGRK: αὐτὸς ἀσκῶ ἀπρόσκοπον συνείδησιν ἔχειν NAS: always a blameless conscience KJV: a conscience void of offence toward INT: I myself exercise without offense a conscience to have 1 Corinthians 10:32 Adj-NMP Philippians 1:10 Adj-NMP Strong's Greek 677 |
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