ψευδώνυμος (pseudōnumos)
pseudōnumos
falsely called
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective pseudōnumos literally means "falsely named" or "under a false name." It is formed from the Greek words for falsehood and name, describing something that bears a title it does not truly deserve. In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in 1 Timothy 6:20.
Paul uses it to describe "knowledge" (gnōsis) that opposes the true faith. He warns his young colleague Timothy to guard what has been entrusted to him against this pseudonymous knowledge. The term suggests a deceptive label applied to ideas that claim authority but lack genuine spiritual substance, serving as a caution against teachings that sound authoritative but are fundamentally misleading.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word pseudōnumos appears just once in the New Testament, in 1 Timothy 6:20. Paul uses it to describe a kind of knowledge that is falsely called wisdom. It sounds impressive and authoritative, but it lacks genuine spiritual substance. This warning reminds us to be careful about teachings that seem smart or modern but do not align with the truth we have received.
In our own lives, we encounter many voices claiming to have the final answer. Some ideas may feel compelling because they use complex language or promise quick solutions. Yet Paul encourages Timothy—and us—to hold fast to what is true. We can trust that God’s Word provides a solid foundation, even when other perspectives try to redefine reality.
Guarding the faith does not mean closing our minds. It means testing everything against Scripture. When we encounter claims that sound spiritual but contradict clear teaching, we can step back and seek clarity. This protects our hearts from confusion and keeps us rooted in what truly matters.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- falsely called1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ψευδωνύμου1×