379. anapologétos

Lexical Summary

anapologétos: Without excuse, inexcusable

Original Word: ἀναπολόγητος
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: anapologétos
Pronunciation: ah-nah-po-LOH-gay-tos
Phonetic Spelling: (an-ap-ol-og'-ay-tos)
KJV: without an excuse, inexcusable
NASB: no excuse, without excuse
Word Origin: [from G1 (α - Alpha) (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of G626 (ἀπολογέομαι - Make defense)]

1. unjustifiable, indefensible, inexcusable

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

without an excuse, inexcusable.

From a (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of apologeomai; indefensible -- without an excuse, inexcusable.

see GREEK a

see GREEK apologeomai

HELPS Word-studies

379 anapológētos (an adjective, derived from 1 /A "not" and 626 /apologéomai, "to argue a case") – properly, without rationale, lacking any justified defense (argument) – hence inexcusable because without any genuine foundation.

379 /anapológētos ("without rationale or convincing argument") refers to what is utterly inadmissible, i.e. impossible to accept (without solid logic). 379 (anapológētos) then refers to something that completely lacks merit.

[379 (anapológētos) comes from "alpha privative" (a/"not") and apologeomai ("to defend, excuse"). It "occurs in documents from the second century before Christ. Frequently it describes the hopelessness of trying to defend a case in court, while lacking an adequate defense. The term is not used in the Septuagint" (CBL).]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from alpha (as a neg. prefix) and apologeomai
Definition
without excuse
NASB Translation
no excuse (1), without excuse (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 379: ἀναπολόγητος

ἀναπολόγητος, ἀναπολογητον, without defense or excuse, Romans 1:20; also that cannot be defended, inexcusable, Romans 2:1. (Polybius, Dionysius Halicarnassus, Antiquities 7, 46; Plutarch, Brut. 46, others.)

Topical Lexicon

Meaning and Nuance

Strong’s Greek 379 expresses the state of standing before God with no possible defense. It pictures the sinner rendered speechless, unable to mount the tiniest justification when confronted with divine holiness. The term is negative of the familiar word for a “defense” (apologia), underscoring absolute culpability.

Scriptural Occurrences

Romans 1:20 and Romans 2:1 form a seamless argument. In Romans 1:20 Paul establishes universal accountability: “so that men are without excuse”. Romans 2:1 applies the same verdict to the morally self-confident: “Therefore you are without excuse, O man, everyone who judges.” Together they proclaim that both pagan idolaters and ethical critics share the same indefensible guilt.

Contextual Progression in Romans

1. Creation Revelation (Romans 1:18-20): The witness of nature is so clear that refusal to honor the Creator leaves humanity inexcusable.
2. Moral Judgment (Romans 2:1-3): The critic who condemns others proves personal knowledge of right and wrong, yet fails to meet that standard, and is therefore equally without defense.
3. Culmination (Romans 3:19): “Every mouth may be silenced”—Paul’s climax echoes the idea of 379, moving from “without excuse” to total silence before the Law.

Theological Implications

• General Revelation: The created order bears testimony sufficient to establish guilt.
• Universality of Sin: Neither ignorance nor moral comparison can shield anyone from God’s verdict.
• Final Judgment: The Last Day will not be a debate but a sentencing; no argument will stand.
• Necessity of the Gospel: The inexcusable state intensifies the urgency of justification by faith in Jesus Christ.

Relation to Apologetics

The word-group contrast (defense versus no defense) illumines Christian apologetics. Believers give an “apologia” (1 Peter 3:15) not to excuse themselves but to proclaim Christ to those presently “without excuse.” The church’s defense of the faith answers objections; unbelief has none before God.

Historical Reception

Early Christian writers—Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Augustine—appealed to Romans 1:20 in confrontations with paganism, arguing that idolatry persisted despite manifest evidence of the Creator. The Reformers cited Romans 2:1 against self-righteous religion, stressing sola fide.

Pastoral Applications

• Humility: Awareness that apart from grace every person is indefensible fosters compassion, not condemnation.
• Evangelism: Presenting both the evidence of creation and the demands of conscience prepares hearers for the only sufficient plea—Christ’s atoning work.
• Self-Examination: Church members must resist the moralist’s trap, turning the spotlight first upon their own hearts.

Missionary Motivation

If the nations stand “without excuse,” withholding the gospel is unthinkable. The church crosses cultures so that tongues presently speechless in judgment may instead confess, “Jesus Christ is Lord.”

Systematic Connections

Doctrine of Revelation, Hamartiology (Sin), Soteriology (Grace), and Eschatology (Judgment) intersect here. 379 reminds theology that human need is absolute; salvation must be entirely of God.

Practical Exhortation

Let every reader remember: silence under judgment is certain apart from Christ. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us” (1 John 1:9). The only escape from being ἀναπολόγητος is the Advocate who never fails.

Forms and Transliterations

αναπολογητος αναπολόγητος ἀναπολόγητος αναπολογητους αναπολογήτους ἀναπολογήτους αναπόστρεπτος ανεπτερωμένη ανεπτέρωσάν anapologetos anapologētos anapológetos anapológētos anapologetous anapologētous anapologḗtous

Englishman's Concordance

Romans 1:20 Adj-AMP
GRK: εἶναι αὐτοὺς ἀναπολογήτους
NAS: so that they are without excuse.
KJV: that they are without excuse:
INT: to be them without excuse

Romans 2:1 Adj-NMS
GRK: Διὸ ἀναπολόγητος εἶ ὦ
NAS: you have no excuse, everyone
KJV: Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man,
INT: Therefore inexcusable you are O

Strong's Greek 379
2 Occurrences

ἀναπολόγητος — 1 Occ.
ἀναπολογήτους — 1 Occ.