Lexical Summary euprosdektos: Acceptable, well-pleasing Original Word: εὐπρόσδεκτος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance acceptable. From eu and a derivative of prosdechomai; well-received, i.e. Approved, favorable -- acceptable(-ted). see GREEK eu see GREEK prosdechomai NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom eu and prosdechomai Definition acceptable NASB Translation acceptable (5). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2144: εὐπρόσδεκτοςεὐπρόσδεκτος, ἐυπροσδεκτον (εὖ and προσδέχομαι), well-received, accepted, acceptable: Romans 15:16; 2 Corinthians 6:2; 2 Corinthians 8:12; τίνι, Romans 15:31; 1 Peter 2:5. (Plutarch, praecept. rei publ. ger. c. 4, 17, p. 801 c.; ecclesiastical writings.) Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s 2144 depicts the condition of being delightfully received by God or people. Each New Testament occurrence presents a tapestry of priestly, salvific, ethical, and eschatological themes that coalesce around the believer’s standing “in Christ” and the resulting fruit of ministry that God welcomes. Old Testament Antecedents of Divine Acceptability The Septuagint frequently pairs the cognate idea with sacrificial language (for example, Leviticus 1:3; Psalm 19:14), underscoring that what is offered must correspond to God’s revealed standards of holiness. The prophetic oracle Paul cites in 2 Corinthians 6:2 (“In the time of favor I heard you…”) is drawn from Isaiah 49:8, where Israel’s Servant guarantees restoration. Thus, the New Testament writers inherit a covenantal framework in which what God deems acceptable arises from His grace yet demands conformity to His will. Pauline Usage and Theology 1. Romans 15:16 – A Priestly Offering of the Nations “so that the Gentiles might become an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit”. Paul casts his apostolic labor in liturgical terms: the nations themselves are the sacrifice. The adjective magnifies the Spirit’s sanctifying agency—no offering is welcome unless God Himself prepares it. Evangelism, therefore, is not mere persuasion but sacrificial mediation that culminates in worship. 2. Romans 15:31 – Intercession for Ministry Reception “that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there”. The Jerusalem gift was susceptible to ethnic and theological tensions. Paul prays that the collection be warmly received, revealing how unity in the body authenticates gospel generosity. 3. 2 Corinthians 6:2 – The Urgency of the Favorable Moment “Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!”. Here the word anchors an eschatological “now.” The messianic age has dawned; postponing response to grace is perilous. Acceptability is temporal as well as qualitative: it is offered within God’s appointed window. 4. 2 Corinthians 8:12 – Principles for Grace-Giving “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has”. The verse liberates believers from legalistic metrics. God receives offerings in proportion to capacity, elevating motive over magnitude and reflecting the gospel economy of grace. Petrine Insight – The New Covenant Priesthood “offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). Peter transfers Temple categories to the church, where every believer serves as priest. Acceptability is mediated “through Jesus Christ,” affirming His unique sufficiency while empowering communal worship that includes praise (Hebrews 13:15), service, and mutual love. Christ as the Ground of Acceptability Across the corpus, the qualifier of every acceptable act is union with the crucified and risen Lord. His once-for-all sacrifice fulfills the righteous requirements typified in Levitical worship, rendering subsequent sacrifices spiritual extensions rather than atoning supplements. Historical and Ministry Significance • Worship Integrity – Liturgical forms, whether ancient incense or modern music, must be Spirit-sanctified to be welcomed by God. Eschatological Perspective The final judgment will publicly ratify what God has already deemed acceptable in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:9-10). Faithful works, though imperfect, will be revealed as pleasing because they were energized by the Spirit and offered through the Son. Conclusion Strong’s 2144 gathers sacrificial, relational, and temporal threads into a single motif: God gladly receives whatever He Himself initiates and Christ perfects. Believers, therefore, pursue holiness, generosity, and mission not to gain divine favor but to express the favor already bestowed, confident that their Spirit-wrought offerings will be “acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Forms and Transliterations ευπροσδεκτος ευπρόσδεκτος εὐπρόσδεκτος ευπροσδεκτους ευπροσδέκτους εὐπροσδέκτους euprosdektos euprósdektos euprosdektous euprosdéktousLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Romans 15:16 Adj-NFSGRK: τῶν ἐθνῶν εὐπρόσδεκτος ἡγιασμένη ἐν NAS: may become acceptable, sanctified KJV: might be acceptable, being sanctified INT: of the Gentiles acceptable sanctified by [the] Romans 15:31 Adj-NFS 2 Corinthians 6:2 Adj-NMS 2 Corinthians 8:12 Adj-NMS 1 Peter 2:5 Adj-AFP Strong's Greek 2144 |
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