### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek adjective ἄκακος (ákaos), Strong's number `{{G172}}`, is a compound word derived from the privative alpha (α-), meaning "not" or "without," and κακός (kakos), meaning "bad," "evil," or "malicious" (`{{G2556}}`). Thus, its fundamental meaning is "not bad" or "without evil." This core meaning branches into two significant semantic nuances, as indicated by its base definition:
1. **Objectively Innocent/Blameless**: In this sense, ἄκακος describes someone or something that is free from moral fault, guilt, or harmful intent. It denotes purity, blamelessness, and a state of being untainted by evil. This carries a strong ethical dimension, pointing to inherent goodness or absence of corruption.
2. **Subjectively Unsuspecting/Guileless**: Here, ἄκακος refers to a lack of cunning, craftiness, or worldly sophistication. It describes someone who is naive, simple-hearted, or easily deceived because they do not anticipate malice or deceit in others. This sense highlights a positive quality of straightforwardness, though it can also imply vulnerability.
The word therefore encompasses both an active state of being morally pure and a passive state of being free from the knowledge or expectation of evil.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term ἄκακος appears twice in the New Testament, each instance illuminating a distinct facet of its semantic range:
1. **Romans 16:18**: "For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the *innocent* (τῶν ἀκάκων)."
In this context, Paul warns the Roman believers against those who cause divisions and obstacles contrary to the teaching they have received. The "innocent" (τῶν ἀκάκων) here are the unsuspecting, the guileless, or the simple-hearted believers who are vulnerable to the deceptive rhetoric of false teachers. They are ἄκακος in the subjective sense, lacking the discernment or experience to recognize malicious intent and therefore easily led astray. This passage highlights the danger that such well-meaning simplicity can pose in the face of spiritual deception.
2. **Hebrews 7:26**: "For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, *innocent* (ἄκακος), unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens."
Here, ἄκακος is used as a profound descriptor of Jesus Christ, our High Priest. In this instance, the word clearly functions in its objective sense, emphasizing Christ's absolute moral purity and blamelessness. He is "without evil," utterly free from sin, moral defect, or any taint of corruption. This attribute is presented as essential for His role as the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice and mediator. The pairing of ἄκακος with "holy" (ὅσιος), "unstained" (ἀμίαντος), and "separated from sinners" (κεχωρισμένος ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν) underscores His unique and unparalleled sinlessness, which distinguishes Him from all human priests.
### Related Words & Concepts
Understanding ἄκακος is enriched by examining its relationship to other Greek terms expressing similar or contrasting ideas:
* **Antonyms**:
* κακός (kakos) `{{G2556}}`: The direct opposite, meaning "bad," "evil," "malicious."
* πονηρός (ponēros) `{{G4190}}`: "Evil," "wicked," often implying active malice or harmfulness.
* **Synonyms/Related Terms**:
* ἀκέραιος (akeraios) `{{G185}}`: "Unmixed," "pure," "innocent," "guileless." This term is closely aligned with the "unsuspecting" sense of ἄκακος, often used in the context of being "innocent as doves" (e.g., [[Matthew 10:16]]).
* ἀμίαντος (amiantos) `{{G283}}`: "Undefiled," "unstained," "pure." Used alongside ἄκακος in [[Hebrews 7:26]] to describe Christ's purity.
* ἁγνός (hagnos) `{{G53}}`: "Pure," "holy," often referring to moral or ritual purity.
* ἀμώμητος (amōmētos) `{{G299}}`: "Blameless," "faultless," "without blemish," often used in a ceremonial or moral sense.
* ἀθῷος (athōos) `{{G121}}`: "Innocent," "guiltless," typically in a legal or judicial context, referring to one not liable to punishment.
* ἀβλαβής (ablabēs) `{{G93}}`: "Harmless," "unharmed," often implying not causing harm or not being harmed. While ἄκακος focuses on internal moral state, ἀβλαβής can refer more to external effect.
These related terms collectively paint a picture of the various facets of purity, blamelessness, and freedom from evil, with ἄκακος specifically emphasizing the absence of inherent badness or malicious intent.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of ἄκακος is profound, particularly in its application to Christ.
1. **Christological Purity**: In [[Hebrews 7:26]], ἄκακος is a vital descriptor of Jesus' character. It affirms His absolute sinlessness and moral perfection, which is indispensable for His role as the High Priest. Unlike the Levitical priests, who had to offer sacrifices for their own sins, Christ, being ἄκακος, required no such atonement. His inherent purity makes Him the perfect, unblemished sacrifice capable of atoning for the sins of humanity. This attribute underscores His unique divine nature and His fitness to mediate between God and humanity. The purity signified by ἄκακος is not merely the absence of outward transgression but an intrinsic freedom from the very nature or inclination toward evil.
2. **Ethical Implications for Believers**: While no human can claim to be ἄκακος in the absolute sense that Christ is, the use of the term in [[Romans 16:18]] carries a significant ethical implication for the Christian life. The "innocent" or "unsuspecting" believers are those who, by virtue of their lack of malice or guile, become susceptible to deception. This implicitly calls believers to cultivate spiritual discernment and wisdom (cf. [[Matthew 10:16]], where believers are called to be "wise as serpents and innocent as doves," using ἀκέραιος `{{G185}}`). The ideal is not a naive simplicity that is easily misled, but a purity of heart that is free from malice, combined with a mature understanding of spiritual realities and the schemes of evil. Believers are called to be "innocent concerning evil" ([[Romans 16:19]]) not by being ignorant but by actively rejecting and avoiding its ways.
### Summary
The Greek word ἄκακος (ákaos) `{{G172}}` fundamentally means "without evil," encompassing both objective innocence and subjective guilelessness. Its two New Testament occurrences beautifully illustrate this dual meaning: in [[Romans 16:18]], it describes believers who are "unsuspecting" and thus vulnerable to deceit; in [[Hebrews 7:26]], it profoundly defines Jesus Christ as "innocent" in the absolute sense, signifying His perfect moral purity and sinlessness, a foundational attribute for His high priestly ministry. This term thus highlights Christ's unique blamelessness and implicitly calls believers toward a discerning, pure-hearted walk, free from malicious intent and the deceptive allure of evil.
TRV