Lexical Summary kathékó: To be fitting, to be proper, to be suitable Original Word: καθήκω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance convenient, fit. From kata and heko; to reach to, i.e. (neuter of present active participle, figuratively as adjective) becoming -- convenient, fit. see GREEK kata see GREEK heko NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kata and hékó Definition to be proper or fitting NASB Translation proper (1), should...be allowed (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2520: καθήκωκαθήκω; (from Aeschylus, Sophocles down); 1. to come down. 2. to come to, reach to; impersonally, καθήκει, it is becoming, it is fit (cf. German zukommen), Ezekiel 21:27; οὐ καθῆκεν (Rev. καθῆκον), followed by the accusative with an infinitive, Acts 22:22 (Winers Grammar, 282 (265); Buttmann, 217 (187)); τά μή καθήκοντα, things not fitting, i. e. forbidden, shameful, Romans 1:28; 2 Macc. 6:4. Cf. ἀνήκω. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Theological Nuance Strong’s Greek 2520 conveys the idea of what is “fitting,” “proper,” or “appropriate.” In Scripture the verb is used impersonally: something either accords with God-given order or it does not. The term therefore speaks to objective moral fitness, not subjective cultural preference. It assumes an unchanging standard grounded in the character of God. Occurrences in Scripture • Acts 22:22 – When the Jerusalem crowd shouts concerning Paul, “He is not fit to live!”, they declare that Paul’s continued existence is morally out of order. Their verdict is tragically ironic: those rejecting the gospel claim moral authority while violating it. Moral Order and the Creator’s Design The verb presupposes that God has woven propriety into creation. Romans 1 shows that even apart from special revelation, people possess an innate sense of what “ought” to be. When that sense is suppressed, behavior becomes καθήκοντα (“not fitting”), displaying the downward spiral of sin. Consequences of Ignoring What Is Fitting Romans 1:29–31 catalogs social breakdown—envy, murder, strife, deceit—arising from the rejection of what is proper. Acts 22 portrays crowds ready to execute an innocent man. In both cases disregard for divine fitness yields violence and injustice. Historical Reception Early Christian writers recognized the overlap between καθήκω and the Stoic concept of καθήκον (duty), yet insisted that true duty can be known fully only through revelation in Christ. For example, Clement of Rome urged believers to “walk worthily” (1 Clement 21), echoing the same demand for fitness but rooting it in the gospel. Application for Christian Living and Ministry 1. Moral discernment: Believers evaluate actions by whether they are “fitting” to the Lord (compare Ephesians 5:3). Homiletical Insights A sermon could contrast the crowd’s cry in Acts 22 with God’s verdict on Paul’s ministry (Acts 23:11), illustrating that what people declare “unfit” may in fact be God’s chosen instrument. Similarly, Romans 1 offers a diagnostic of societies that redefine morality; the gospel alone re-orders what has become disordered. Summary Strong’s 2520 centers on God-defined propriety. Its sparse New Testament usage punctuates two vivid scenes where humanity declares or practices what is “not fitting.” Both passages warn that moral fitness cannot be severed from the knowledge of God. When the Creator is honored, life aligns with what “ought” to be; when He is rejected, chaos follows. Forms and Transliterations καθήκει καθηκεν καθήκεν καθῆκεν καθήκον καθηκοντα καθήκοντα καθήκοντας καθήλωσον katheken kathêken kathēken kathē̂ken kathekonta kathēkonta kathḗkontaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 22:22 V-IIA-3SGRK: οὐ γὰρ καθῆκεν αὐτὸν ζῇν NAS: from the earth, for he should not be allowed to live! KJV: it is not fit that he should live. INT: not indeed it is fit he to live Romans 1:28 V-PPA-ANP Strong's Greek 2520 |
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