### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb ekkathaírō (`{{G1571}}`) is a compound word derived from the preposition ek (`{{G1537}}`), meaning "out of" or "from," and the verb kathaírō (`{{G25}}`), meaning "to cleanse" or "to purify." The prefix ek- intensifies the action of the base verb, conveying the sense of a thorough, complete, or outward cleansing. Thus, ekkathaírō signifies "to cleanse thoroughly," "to purge out completely," or "to remove entirely by cleansing."
In its literal sense, it would denote the removal of all foreign or defiling matter. Figuratively, and more commonly in the New Testament, it refers to spiritual or moral purification. This involves the active removal of sin, corrupting influences, false teachings, or ungodly individuals from a community or from one's personal life. The emphasis is on the expulsion or separation of that which is impure, leading to a state of complete purity.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb ekkathaírō appears in two significant passages in the New Testament, each highlighting a distinct yet related aspect of purification:
1. **[[1 Corinthians 5:7]]**: "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us."
* **Context**: Paul addresses the issue of severe immorality within the Corinthian church (a man living with his stepmother) and the church's failure to deal with it. He uses the vivid metaphor of leaven, which in Jewish tradition symbolized corruption and evil, especially in the context of Passover preparations where all leaven was meticulously removed from homes.
* **Analysis**: Here, ekkathaírō is a command to the church as a corporate body. The "old leaven" represents not only the specific sin of immorality but also the broader presence of sin, pride, and ungodliness that could corrupt the entire community. The church is exhorted to actively and decisively "purge out" or remove this defiling influence, implying excommunication or disciplinary action. The goal is to restore the church to its intended state of purity, reflecting its identity as "unleavened" in Christ, whose sacrifice as the true Passover Lamb makes such purity possible. This is a call for corporate holiness and discipline.
2. **[[2 Timothy 2:21]]**: "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work."
* **Context**: Paul instructs Timothy on how to conduct himself and what to teach amidst false teachers (Hymenaeus and Philetus) who were spreading destructive doctrines. He contrasts "vessels unto dishonour" with "vessels unto honour."
* **Analysis**: In this instance, ekkathaírō is applied to the individual believer. "These" refers to the "dishonorable vessels" and the ungodly practices and false teachings associated with them (cf. vv. 16-18). The believer is called to "purge himself" from such defiling associations and influences. This is a call for personal separation, spiritual discipline, and moral purity. The result of this self-purification is transformation into a "vessel unto honour," set apart (sanctified) and useful for God's service, prepared for "every good work." This emphasizes individual responsibility for holiness and readiness for divine service.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **kathaírō (`{{G25}}`)**: The root verb, meaning to cleanse, prune, or purify. ekkathaírō intensifies this action, emphasizing thoroughness and removal.
* **katharós (`{{G2513}}`)**: The adjective, meaning clean, pure, innocent. It describes the state achieved by ekkathaírō.
* **katharismós (`{{G2511}}`)**: The noun, meaning cleansing, purification, or purgation.
* **zume (`{{G2219}}`)**: Leaven, the symbolic representation of sin and corruption that is to be purged out.
* **azumos (`{{G106}}`)**: Unleavened, describing the desired pure state of the church.
* **Sanctification (ἁγιασμός, `{{G38}}`)**: The process of being set apart for God's purposes and made holy. ekkathaírō contributes to both corporate and individual sanctification.
* **Holiness (ἁγιότης, `{{G41}}`)**: The state of being consecrated to God and separated from defilement.
* **Separation**: The concept of believers being distinct from the world and its corrupting influences.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of ekkathaírō is profound, underscoring God's unwavering demand for purity, both corporately in His church and individually in the lives of His people.
1. **God's Demand for Holiness**: The command to "purge out" reflects the character of a holy God who cannot tolerate sin in His presence. Just as Israel was to be a holy nation, so the New Testament church is called to reflect God's holiness in its corporate life and individual members.
2. **The Church's Responsibility for Purity**: In [[1 Corinthians 5:7]], ekkathaírō highlights the church's active role in maintaining its corporate integrity and witness. Sin, if left unchecked, contaminates the entire body, hindering its mission and dishonoring God. The act of purging is a necessary, albeit sometimes painful, disciplinary measure to preserve the purity of the community. This connects the church's practice to the Old Testament Passover, where the physical removal of leaven prefigured the spiritual cleansing made possible by Christ, the true Passover Lamb.
3. **Individual Accountability for Purity**: In [[2 Timothy 2:21]], the word emphasizes the believer's personal responsibility to actively distance themselves from anything that defiles. This is not a passive process but a deliberate choice to separate from error, ungodliness, and defiling associations. Such personal purification is essential for spiritual usefulness and fruitfulness in God's service. A "purged" vessel is one fit for the Master's use.
4. **Enabling Grace**: While ekkathaírō implies human action, it is always understood within the context of God's enabling grace. Christ's sacrifice ([[1 Corinthians 5:7]]) is the foundation for our ability to be pure, and the Holy Spirit empowers believers to live lives of holiness. The active purging is a response to divine grace and a commitment to live consistently with one's new identity in Christ.
### Summary
ekkathaírō (`{{G1571}}`) signifies a thorough and complete cleansing, a decisive "purging out" of defiling elements. In the New Testament, it carries significant theological weight, appearing in two crucial contexts:
1. **Corporate Purity**: The church's responsibility to actively remove sin and corrupting influences from its midst, maintaining its corporate holiness as the unleavened body of Christ ([[1 Corinthians 5:7]]).
2. **Individual Purity**: The believer's personal responsibility to cleanse themselves from defiling associations, false teachings, and ungodly practices, thereby becoming a useful vessel for God's service ([[2 Timothy 2:21]]).
This verb underscores the active and intentional nature of pursuing holiness, reflecting God's demand for purity and the means by which His people are enabled to live lives separated unto Him, both individually and corporately.
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