### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek term κακοποιός (kakopoiós, `{{G2555}}`) is a compound word derived from κακός (kakós, `{{G2556}}`), meaning "bad" or "evil," and ποιέω (poieō, `{{G4160}}`), meaning "to do" or "to make." Thus, its literal and foundational meaning is "one who does evil" or "an evil-doer." The semantic range extends from this general sense to a more specific designation of a "malefactor" or "criminal," particularly in judicial contexts. It denotes an active agent of wickedness, one who performs actions that are morally wrong or legally punishable. Unlike a passive state of being evil, κακοποιός emphasizes the active execution of harmful deeds.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term κακοποιός appears five times in the New Testament, primarily in the Gospel of John and the First Epistle of Peter, consistently reflecting its core meaning in contexts of accusation, judgment, and suffering.
1. **[[John 18:30]]**: In the trial of Jesus before Pilate, the Jewish authorities accuse Him, stating, "If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up to you." Here, κακοποιός is used in a strictly legal sense, implying Jesus is a criminal deserving of state punishment. The accusation is presented as a self-evident truth, justifying their demand for His condemnation.
2. **[[1 Peter 2:12]]**: Peter exhorts believers to "Have your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." In this context, Christians are falsely accused of being κακοποιός by unbelievers. The passage highlights the disparity between the slanderous accusations and the righteous conduct of believers, whose good deeds are meant to silence their detractors and bring glory to God.
3. **[[1 Peter 2:14]]**: Referring to civil authorities, Peter states they are "sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well." This verse affirms the divine mandate for government to exercise justice, distinguishing between genuine κακοποιός (those who truly do evil) who deserve punishment, and those who do good and deserve praise. It underscores the legitimate role of the state in maintaining order by addressing actual wrongdoing.
4. **[[1 Peter 3:16]]**: Again, Peter encourages believers to live with "a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ." Similar to [[1 Peter 2:12]], Christians are depicted as targets of false accusations of being κακοποιός. The emphasis is on the integrity of the believers' lives, which serves as a powerful witness against the slander.
5. **[[1 Peter 4:15]]**: Peter warns, "But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters." This verse makes a crucial distinction: suffering for Christ's sake is honorable, but suffering as a κακοποιός (i.e., for committing actual crimes like murder or theft) is shameful and brings no spiritual reward. It differentiates between righteous persecution and just punishment for one's own sin.
Across these occurrences, κακοποιός consistently denotes someone who commits actively harmful or wrongful deeds, often with legal implications. It is used both to describe genuine criminals and to highlight the false accusations leveled against Jesus and His followers.
### Related Words & Concepts
The term κακοποιός is intrinsically linked to its constituent parts: κακός (kakós, `{{G2556}}`), the adjective for "bad" or "evil," and ποιέω (poieō, `{{G4160}}`), the verb "to do" or "to make." Its direct antonym, also found in 1 Peter, is ἀγαθοποιός (agathopoios, `{{G18}}`), "good-doer," and the related verb ἀγαθοποιέω (agathopoieō, `{{G17}}`), "to do good."
Other related concepts and words include:
* ἁμαρτωλός (hamartōlos, `{{G268}}`): "sinner," a broader term for one who misses the mark or transgresses. While a κακοποιός is a sinner, not all sinners are specifically labeled κακοποιός in the sense of a criminal.
* ἀδικία (adikia, `{{G93}}`): "unrighteousness," "injustice," referring to the quality or act of wrongdoing. κακοποιός is the agent of ἀδικία.
* ἔργον πονηρόν (ergon ponēron): "evil deed" or "wicked work." κακοποιός is one who performs such works.
* Concepts of justice, law, crime, sin, accusation, and suffering are all intimately connected to the understanding of κακοποιός. The term specifically emphasizes the *active performance* of evil, distinguishing it from merely having an evil disposition or being a sinner in a general sense.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of κακοποιός is multi-faceted:
1. **Ethical Action and Responsibility**: The term underscores the biblical emphasis on human actions and their moral accountability. God is not merely concerned with inner thoughts but with the outward expression of those thoughts in deeds. Being a κακοποιός signifies active rebellion against God's moral order.
2. **Divine Justice and Civil Authority**: The use of κακοποιός in [[1 Peter 2:14]] highlights God's establishment of civil governments as instruments of His justice, designed to punish those who genuinely do evil. This aligns with the broader New Testament teaching on submission to governing authorities as God's servants ([[Romans 13:1-7]]).
3. **The Suffering of Christ**: Jesus Himself was accused as a κακοποιός ([[John 18:30]]), though He was utterly innocent. This false accusation foreshadows and legitimizes the suffering of His followers, who would likewise be slandered and persecuted for their faith, not for actual wrongdoing.
4. **Nature of Christian Suffering**: Peter's epistles use κακοποιός to draw a crucial distinction: believers are called to endure suffering for Christ's sake, which is honorable and brings glory to God ([[1 Peter 4:16]]). However, they are strictly warned against suffering *as* a κακοποιός—that is, as a consequence of their own sinful or criminal actions ([[1 Peter 4:15]]). This distinction is vital for understanding Christian discipleship and the nature of true persecution versus deserved punishment.
5. **Christian Witness and Apologetics**: The false accusations against Christians as κακοποιός ([[1 Peter 2:12]], [[1 Peter 3:16]]) provide an opportunity for their righteous conduct to shine forth. Their good deeds, when observed by their accusers, serve as a powerful testimony to the transforming power of Christ, ultimately leading to God's glorification.
### Summary
κακοποιός (kakopoiós, `{{G2555}}`) denotes an "evil-doer" or "malefactor," emphasizing the active performance of wicked or criminal deeds. Biblically, it appears in contexts of legal accusation, notably against Jesus Himself, and against believers who are falsely slandered. It also defines the legitimate target of civil authority's punitive power. Theologically, κακοποιός highlights God's concern for ethical conduct, the role of divine justice executed through human government, and the profound distinction between suffering righteously for Christ and suffering as a consequence of one's own sin. For believers, the term underscores the call to live lives of such integrity that their good deeds refute false accusations of being κακοποιός, thereby glorifying God.
TRV