176. akatagnóstos
Lexical Summary
akatagnóstos: Blameless, beyond reproach, not condemned

Original Word: ἀκατάγνωστος
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: akatagnóstos
Pronunciation: ah-kah-tahg'-no-stos
Phonetic Spelling: (ak-at-ag'-noce-tos)
KJV: that cannot be condemned
NASB: beyond reproach
Word Origin: [from G1 (α - Alpha) (as a negative particle) and a derivative of G2607 (καταγινώσκω - condemn)]

1. unblamable

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
beyond reproach

From a (as a negative particle) and a derivative of kataginosko; unblamable -- that cannot be condemned.

see GREEK a

see GREEK kataginosko

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from alpha (as a neg. prefix) and kataginóskó
Definition
not to be condemned, beyond reproach
NASB Translation
beyond reproach (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 176: ἀκατάγνωστος

ἀκατάγνωστος, (καταγινώσκω), that cannot be condemned, not to be censured: Titus 2:8. (2 Macc. 4:47, and several times in ecclesiastical writings.)

Topical Lexicon
Overview

Strong’s Greek 176 describes speech or conduct that is immune to censure—so faultless that no legitimate accusation can stand against it. In the sole New Testament occurrence (Titus 2:8), Paul directs Titus to model such irreproachable speech, thereby securing the credibility of gospel testimony.

Context in Titus 2

Titus was ministering on Crete, an island known in the Greco-Roman world for moral laxity (Titus 1:12). Paul instructs him to “encourage and convict” through “sound doctrine” (Titus 1:9). Within that framework Paul says, “and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that is beyond reproach, so that anyone who opposes us will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us” (Titus 2:7-8). The irreproachable quality of Titus’s words serves two pastoral goals:

1. Protecting the fledgling churches from slander.
2. Silencing hostile critics by exposing the baselessness of their accusations.

Theological Significance

1. Moral Witness: Scripture consistently ties credibility to character (Proverbs 22:1; 1 Peter 2:12). The term reinforces that linkage by making integrity of speech a non-negotiable component of Christian leadership.
2. Spiritual Warfare: Paul anticipates opposition; the irreproachable quality of Titus’s speech acts as a spiritual shield (Ephesians 6:14).
3. Ecclesial Health: Sound, unassailable teaching nurtures sound, unassailable communities (Titus 2:1-10), displaying “the doctrine of God our Savior in every way” (Titus 2:10).

Historical and Cultural Background

Classical rhetoric prized persuasive eloquence; public honor or shame hinged on a speaker’s perceived integrity. A Cretan minister of the gospel who could not be impeached in either content or tone undercut the prevailing stereotype that Christians were subversive or immoral (cf. Acts 17:7-8). In that milieu, irreproachable speech did more than win arguments—it disarmed official suspicion and opened doors for evangelism.

Old Testament Foundations

The idea of faultless speech resonates with Psalms and Proverbs:
Psalm 19:14 – “May the words of my mouth... be pleasing in Your sight.”
Proverbs 10:19 – “He who restrains his lips is wise.”

Under the Mosaic Law, an unblemished sacrifice foreshadowed blamelessness; in daily life, guarded lips mirrored that sacrificial purity (Leviticus 22:20-21).

Christological Reflections

Jesus embodies the concept: “Never has anyone spoken like this man!” (John 7:46). Even his detractors failed to convict Him of wrongdoing (John 18:38). The singular use of Strong’s 176 in a pastoral instruction highlights the call for ministers to reflect the blamelessness of Christ in their proclamation.

Practical Application for Ministry

1. Homiletics: Sermons must be both doctrinally sound and ethically consistent, avoiding exaggeration, slander, or careless humor.
2. Counseling: Seasoned, gracious words (Colossians 4:6) fortify pastoral care, diffusing potential reproach.
3. Online Presence: Digital communication is public and permanent; irreproachable speech remains essential in social media discourse.
4. Apologetics: A gentle yet uncompromised defense of the faith (1 Peter 3:15-16) renders opponents “put to shame.”

Intersections with Other New Testament Teachings

James 3:2 – “Anyone who is never at fault in what he says is a perfect man.”
Philippians 2:15 – “blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation.”
1 Timothy 4:12 – “Set an example... in speech.”

Reception in Early Church History

The Didache urges believers to be “meek... not double-minded in speech,” reflecting an early application of the Titus principle. Church Fathers such as Polycarp echoed Paul’s standard, teaching that an overseer must be “beyond reproach” in word and deed.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 176 encapsulates the mandate for speech so rooted in truth and purity that no just charge can be leveled against it. In Titus’s Cretan context and in every era since, such speech vindicates the gospel, safeguards the church, and mirrors the impeccable character of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Forms and Transliterations
ακαταγνωστον ακατάγνωστον ἀκατάγνωστον akatagnoston akatagnōston akatágnoston akatágnōston
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Titus 2:8 Adj-AMS
GRK: λόγον ὑγιῆ ἀκατάγνωστον ἵνα ὁ
NAS: [in] speech which is beyond reproach, so
KJV: speech, that cannot be condemned; that
INT: speech sound not to be condemned that he who is

Strong's Greek 176
1 Occurrence


ἀκατάγνωστον — 1 Occ.

175
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