The Greek word míasma, represented by G3393, refers to moral foulness or pollution. It appears 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible. The term describes the contaminating effect of the world's moral corruption, a defilement from which one can be cleansed.
The single use of G3393 is in 2 Peter 2:20, where it is central to a warning against falling back into a former way of life. The verse describes those who have "escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." The context warns that if they become entangled and overcome by this foulness again, their final state is worse than their initial one. This highlights pollution as a spiritual danger that requires a definitive escape.
Several related words from its biblical context help clarify the meaning of G3393:
- G668 apopheúgō (to escape): This verb is directly paired with G3393 to describe the action of getting away from the world's pollutions 2 Peter 2:20. It signifies a definite flight from moral corruption.
- G2889 kósmos (world): This word identifies the source of the pollutions. The Bible speaks of the world not just as the physical earth, but as an orderly arrangement that can be a source of moral defilement from which believers are saved (John 3:16, 2 Peter 2:20).
- G1707 emplékō (to entwine, involve with): This word describes the danger of becoming trapped once more in the very pollutions one has escaped. It is used to warn against being entangled again, which leads to a worse state 2 Peter 2:20.
The theological weight of G3393 is significant, despite its single appearance. It underscores key concepts regarding salvation and sanctification.
- The World as a Source of Defilement: The term establishes the world G2889 as a system containing moral pollutions that stain an individual. This defilement is something that must be actively escaped 2 Peter 2:20.
- Knowledge of Christ as the Means of Escape: Deliverance from these pollutions is achieved "through the knowledge G1922 of the Lord G2962 and Saviour G4990 Jesus Christ" 2 Peter 2:20. This connects freedom from sin directly to a personal, experiential knowledge of Jesus.
- The Peril of Apostasy: The passage warns that to be entangled G1707 again in these pollutions after having escaped them leads to a condition that "is worse G5501 with them than the beginning" 2 Peter 2:20. This emphasizes the serious nature of turning away from the faith.
In summary, G3393 míasma provides a powerful and specific image of moral and spiritual contamination. Its sole use in Scripture serves as a stark warning, framing the world as a source of defilement and presenting the knowledge of Jesus Christ as the only means of escape. The concept illustrates the critical importance of remaining free from the spiritual pollution from which a believer has been cleansed, lest they fall into an even worse state.
TRV