### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek noun ἀλίσγεμα (alísgema, `{{G234}}`) is derived from the verb ἀλισγέω (alisgeō), meaning "to soil" or "to defile." Its core meaning, as indicated by its root, points to a state of being made unclean, stained, or polluted. The specific nuance conveyed by ἀλίσγεμα is that of *ceremonial defilement* or *ritual impurity*. This is not merely physical dirt, but a condition that renders a person or object unfit for sacred use or participation in holy rites, according to religious law or custom. It implies a separation from a state of purity or holiness. The English translations "defilement" and "pollution" accurately capture this sense of being rendered unholy or unacceptable in a religious context.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term ἀλίσγεμα (alísgema, `{{G234}}`) appears only once in the New Testament, in [[Acts 15:20]]. This singular occurrence is highly significant, as it is found within the decree issued by the Jerusalem Council. The context is the pivotal debate concerning the requirements for Gentile converts to Christianity. Jewish believers, accustomed to the Mosaic Law, struggled with fellowship alongside Gentiles who did not observe the same dietary and purity regulations.
In [[Acts 15:20]], James, speaking for the council, proposes a resolution: "but that we write to them to abstain from the *pollutions* of idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood." The phrase "pollutions of idols" (ἀλισγημάτων τῶν εἰδώλων) refers primarily to food that had been offered to idols. For Jews, consuming such food was a profound act of defilement, not only ceremonially but also morally, as it implied participation in idolatrous worship. While the council affirmed that Gentiles were saved by grace through faith and not by adherence to the Mosaic Law, these specific prohibitions were deemed necessary for several reasons:
1. **Facilitating Fellowship:** To enable Jewish and Gentile believers to share meals and community without causing offense to the Jewish conscience.
2. **Maintaining Moral Purity:** Idolatry often involved immoral practices, including sexual immorality, which is also listed in the decree. Abstaining from "pollutions of idols" was a clear call to separate from paganism's corrupting influence.
3. **Basic Principles of Holiness:** These prohibitions, particularly concerning blood and things strangled, resonated with ancient Noachic laws and fundamental principles of reverence for life and separation from pagan cultic practices, which were universally recognized as abhorrent.
Thus, in [[Acts 15:20]], ἀλίσγεμα signifies the contaminating effect of idolatrous practices, particularly in relation to food, which would hinder the unity and purity of the nascent Christian community.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept of defilement and pollution is pervasive throughout the Scriptures, particularly in the Old Testament, where it is central to the Levitical purity laws. While ἀλίσγεμα (alísgema, `{{G234}}`) is unique in its New Testament usage, it relates to several other Greek terms conveying similar ideas of impurity:
* ἀκαθαρσία (akatharsia, `{{G167}}`): "uncleanness" or "impurity," often with a strong moral or sexual connotation (e.g., [[Romans 1:24]], [[Ephesians 5:3]]).
* μιαίνω (miainō, `{{G3392}}`): The verb "to defile" or "to pollute," used for ceremonial defilement (e.g., [[Titus 1:15]]) and moral corruption (e.g., [[Jude 1:8]]).
* κοινόω (koinóō, `{{G2840}}`): "to make common" or "to defile," often in the context of ritual purity (e.g., [[Mark 7:15]], [[Hebrews 12:15]]).
* ῥύπος (rhupos, `{{G4509}}`): "filth" or "dirt," which can be physical or moral (e.g., [[James 1:21]]).
The concept of "pollutions of idols" connects directly to Old Testament prohibitions against idolatry and the consumption of food offered to false gods (e.g., [[Exodus 34:15]], [[Deuteronomy 12:30]]). It also ties into the broader theological theme of *holiness* and *separation* from the world's corrupting influences, a call for God's people to be distinct and consecrated to Him (e.g., [[Leviticus 11:44]], [[1 Peter 1:16]]).
### Theological Significance
The single use of ἀλίσγεμα (alísgema, `{{G234}}`) in [[Acts 15:20]] holds profound theological significance. It highlights the early church's struggle to reconcile the rich heritage of Jewish purity laws with the radical inclusivity of the Gospel for Gentiles. The decree of the Jerusalem Council, which includes abstaining from "pollutions of idols," demonstrates a practical application of Christian love and unity. While salvation is by grace through faith alone, the council recognized that certain practices, even if not salvific, could create insurmountable barriers to fellowship and cause a brother to stumble ([[Romans 14:13]], [[1 Corinthians 8:9]]).
Theologically, "pollutions of idols" underscores the enduring truth that idolatry is a profound act of disloyalty to the one true God, a spiritual defilement. Participating in its associated practices, such as eating food sacrificed to idols, was seen as a tangible expression of compromise with false gods, thus polluting one's walk with Christ. This command was not about imposing the entire Mosaic Law on Gentiles, but about establishing a baseline of ethical and relational conduct necessary for the unified witness of the church. It affirmed the need for believers to be set apart from pagan practices, maintaining a clear distinction between the worship of God and the worship of created things. It reflects a concern for both internal spiritual purity and external witness, ensuring that the church's practices did not endorse or appear to endorse idolatry.
### Summary
ἀλίσγεμα (alísgema, `{{G234}}`) signifies ceremonial defilement or pollution, specifically that which renders one unclean in a religious sense. Its sole New Testament appearance in [[Acts 15:20]] is within the context of the Jerusalem Council's decree to Gentile converts, urging them to abstain from the "pollutions of idols." This specific prohibition, alongside others, served to facilitate unity between Jewish and Gentile believers by addressing practices deeply offensive to Jewish sensibilities and morally compromising from a Christian perspective. The term encapsulates the idea of being made unclean through association with idolatrous activities. Theologically, ἀλίσγεμα underscores the importance of practical holiness, separation from paganism, and the exercise of Christian love and consideration for the conscience of fellow believers, ensuring the purity and harmonious fellowship of the early church.
TRV