ἀπελεύθερος (apeleutheros)
apeleutheros
freed
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun apeleutheros refers to a freedman, someone who was once a slave but has been granted freedom by their owner. This term captures a specific social status in the ancient world: the individual is no longer bound by servitude, yet their past identity as property remains part of their history. It describes a legal and social transition from bondage to liberty.
In Scripture, this word appears only once, in 1 Corinthians 7:22. Paul uses it to illustrate a spiritual principle through a familiar social reality. He writes that those who are freedmen should not be overly concerned with their status, just as slaves should not be anxious about their condition, because both exist within a new, higher reality in Christ. The term highlights the tangible experience of manumission, grounding Paul’s theological argument in the everyday life of his Corinthian readers.
The word is formed from the prefix apo, meaning "away from" or "release," and eleutheros, meaning "free." This etymology underscores the act of being set loose from a previous master. The term does not imply self-liberation but rather a gift of freedom conferred by another. In the context of 1 Corinthians, it serves as a concrete example of how external circumstances do not define one’s ultimate standing before God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word apeleutheros describes someone who has been granted freedom by their former owner. It captures a real social transition from bondage to liberty, yet it also reminds us that our past does not erase our new identity. In the ancient world, this status was common, and Paul used it to speak to his readers about something far deeper than legal standing.
When we look at 1 Corinthians 7:22, we see a beautiful paradox. A person who was once a slave is now the Lord’s free man, while one who was free becomes Christ’s bondservant. This shows that our earthly circumstances do not define our ultimate worth or standing before God. Whether you feel bound by past mistakes or limited by your current situation, your identity in Christ transcends every social label.
This truth offers a profound sense of peace. You are not defined by what you have lost or what you lack, but by who calls you beloved. Your history is part of your story, but it does not hold the final word over your life. In Him, you are truly free, and that freedom is a gift that no one can take away.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a freedman1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀπελεύθερος1×
Key Verses
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I Corinthians 7:22
For he who was called in the Lord being a bondservant is the Lord’s free man. Likewise he who was called being free is Christ’s bondservant.
This verse uses the concept of being freed to show that spiritual liberty in Christ supersedes all earthly social statuses.