### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb ἐλλογέω (ellogéō, `{{G1677}}`) is a compound word derived from the preposition ἐν (en, "in" or "on") and the noun λόγος (logos, "word," "account," "reckoning"). Its core meaning, therefore, centers on the concept of "reckoning into an account," "charging to an account," or "imputing." It carries a strong financial or legal connotation, suggesting the act of debiting or crediting an item to someone's ledger. The base definition "to reckon in, i.e. attribute" accurately captures this sense of assigning responsibility or ownership of a debt, action, or state to an individual's record. Its semantic range is narrow, precisely focusing on this act of formal attribution or accounting.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb ἐλλογέω appears only twice in the New Testament, yet each occurrence is profoundly significant in its respective context.
1. **Philemon 1:18**: "If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account."
In this passage, Paul writes to Philemon concerning Onesimus, a runaway slave who has become a believer and useful to Paul. Paul is sending Onesimus back to Philemon and intercedes on his behalf. The use of ἐλλογέω here is clearly in a financial or debt-related sense. Paul offers to personally assume any financial liability or wrongdoing Onesimus may have incurred against Philemon. He is literally saying, "put it on my bill," or "impute it to my account." This demonstrates a powerful act of vicarious responsibility and grace, where one person takes on the debt of another.
2. **Romans 5:13**: "for until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law."
Here, the context shifts from a personal financial transaction to a profound theological discussion concerning sin, law, and humanity's state before God. Paul is explaining the reign of death from Adam to Moses. He states that sin was present in the world even before the Mosaic Law was given, but "sin is not imputed when there is no law." This does not mean sin did not exist or that people were not guilty of it; rather, it suggests that sin was not formally *reckoned* or *charged* in the same legal-covenantal sense as it was once the Law was given. The Law served to define sin explicitly and brought with it the specific condemnation and curse for transgression. Thus, ἐλλογέω in this context refers to the formal, judicial reckoning of sin against an individual's account, which occurs when a specific standard (the Law) is in place to define and condemn it.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most closely related Greek term in the New Testament is λογίζομαι (logizomai, `{{G3049}}`), which also means "to reckon," "to count," "to compute," or "to impute." While ἐλλογέω explicitly conveys the idea of "reckoning *into* an account," λογίζομαι is a broader term for various forms of mental or numerical calculation and is used far more frequently, especially by Paul in his discussions of imputation (e.g., righteousness being "reckoned" or "imputed" to Abraham in Romans 4).
Other related concepts include:
* **Imputation**: The theological doctrine by which sin or righteousness is credited or debited to an individual's account. This is the primary theological concept ἐλλογέω illuminates.
* **Accountability**: The state of being held responsible for one's actions or inactions.
* **Debt**: The concept of something owed, whether financial or moral.
* **Justice**: The idea of rendering what is due, whether punishment for sin or reward for righteousness.
* **Grace**: The unmerited favor of God, particularly as seen in Paul's willingness to take on Onesimus's debt, echoing Christ's greater act of taking on humanity's sin.
### Theological Significance
Despite its rare occurrence, ἐλλογέω carries significant theological weight, particularly in Romans 5:13. It is crucial for understanding Paul's intricate argument regarding the relationship between sin, law, and grace.
1. **The Nature of Sin and Law**: In Romans 5:13, the phrase "sin is not imputed when there is no law" highlights that while sin (as a reality of rebellion against God) existed from Adam's fall, its formal, judicial reckoning as transgression against a specific, revealed standard (the Mosaic Law) was different. This distinction is vital for understanding why death reigned even before the Law and how the Law's arrival clarified the nature and culpability of sin, making it a "transgression" (Romans 5:14). It sets the stage for Paul's argument that humanity's problem is not merely isolated acts of sin but a fundamental state of sinfulness inherited from Adam, leading to death.
2. **The Doctrine of Imputation**: Although λογίζομαι is the more common verb for imputation in Romans (e.g., the imputation of righteousness in Romans 4), ἐλλογέω in Romans 5:13 provides a specific nuance to the concept of imputation related to sin. It underscores the idea of a divine "accounting" system. Just as Paul takes Onesimus's debt onto his own account, so God, in His justice, reckons sin. This concept ultimately prepares the reader for the greater imputation: Christ's righteousness imputed to believers and believers' sin imputed to Christ.
3. **Vicarious Atonement**: The use in Philemon 1:18 serves as a poignant illustration of vicarious atonement. Paul's willingness to "charge it to my account" for Onesimus's debt beautifully prefigures the ultimate act of Christ, who bore the sin of humanity and had it "imputed" to Him, satisfying the demands of divine justice on behalf of those who believe. It demonstrates the practical outworking of Christian love and sacrifice.
### Summary
The Greek word ἐλλογέω (ellogéō, `{{G1677}}`) fundamentally means "to reckon to one's account" or "to impute." Its two New Testament occurrences, though few, are highly illustrative. In Philemon 1:18, it denotes a literal financial transaction where Paul assumes Onesimus's debt, serving as a powerful, tangible example of vicarious responsibility and grace. In Romans 5:13, its usage is theological, indicating that sin, while present, was not formally "imputed" or judicially charged as transgression in the same specific way before the Mosaic Law was given. This distinction is crucial for understanding the role of the Law and the nature of sin in Pauline theology. Ultimately, ἐλλογέω contributes to the broader biblical concept of imputation, highlighting the divine accounting by which sin is reckoned and, more profoundly, by which the righteousness of Christ is credited to believers, demonstrating the profound depths of God's justice and grace.
TRV