ἀνέγκλητος (anegklētos)
anegklētos
irreproachable
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective anegklētos describes someone who is irreproachable or beyond accusation. Its core meaning rests on the idea of being unable to be called into a legal court for judgment. The word combines a negative prefix with a root related to bringing charges, creating the image of a person whose conduct is so clear that no valid complaint can be sustained against them.
This term appears in key passages regarding church leadership and Christian maturity, such as Paul’s instructions to Titus about elders and his letter to the Corinthians. In these contexts, it does not imply sinless perfection but rather a life of integrity that withstands scrutiny. It stands alongside synonyms like amemptos (blameless), yet carries a distinct legal flavor, emphasizing freedom from formal accusation rather than just general moral uprightness.
Translators typically render this word as "irreproachable" or "above reproach," capturing the sense of being unassailable in reputation. The sources note its use in lists of qualifications for leaders, suggesting that public trust and a clean record are essential for those serving in oversight roles within the early Christian communities.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word anegklētos paints a picture of a life that stands firm under scrutiny. It comes from a legal root meaning one who cannot be successfully summoned to court because there are no valid charges against them. For the early church, this was not about claiming sinless perfection, but about maintaining such integrity that accusations simply could not stick. It describes a reputation built on consistent, honest living.
In passages like Titus 1:7, Paul uses this term to describe overseers, highlighting that public trust is essential for those who serve in leadership. This standard applies to all believers, encouraging us to live with such transparency that our conduct withstands the test of time and observation. It invites a life where your actions align so closely with your faith that others see reliability rather than hidden flaws.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- blameless4×
- blameless,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀνεγκλήτους2×
- ἀνέγκλητος,1×
- ἀνέγκλητον1×
- ἀνέγκλητοι1×
Key Verses
-
Titus 1:7
For the overseer must be blameless, as God’s steward, not self-pleasing, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain;
This verse establishes the word as a primary qualification for overseers, linking irreproachable conduct directly to the role of being God’s steward.
-
Titus 1:6
if anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, who are not accused of loose or unruly behavior.
Here the term is paired with family stability, showing that a blameless reputation extends into private domestic life and the upbringing of children.
-
I Timothy 3:10
Let them also first be tested; then let them serve if they are blameless.
The requirement to be tested before serving underscores that this irreproachable status is verified through community observation over time, not self-declaration.