ἀπόχρησις

using up

Definition

ἀπόχρησις refers to the act of using something up, consuming it, or wearing it out through use. In its only New Testament occurrence, it carries the negative sense of 'misuse' or 'abuse'—specifically, the improper or excessive use of something that leads to its depletion or corruption. The word describes a handling that is contrary to the intended purpose, resulting in waste or harm. In Colossians 2:22, it is used to describe human regulations about food and drink as things destined to perish with use, implying their futility and misdirected nature.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Colossians 2:22. It appears in a context where the Apostle Paul is arguing against human-made religious regulations and ascetic practices. He describes these rules—concerning touch, taste, and handling of physical things—as being based on merely human commands and teachings. The term is applied to these regulations themselves, characterizing them as things that are 'destined to perish with use' (ἅ ἐστιν πάντα εἰς φθορὰν τῇ ἀποχρήσει), highlighting their transient, corruptible, and ultimately futile nature when set against divine wisdom.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἀπό (apo, meaning 'from' or 'away') and the noun χρῆσις (chrēsis, meaning 'use' or 'employment'). The prefix ἀπό can intensify the root meaning, giving the sense of 'using up' or 'using to the full'—and by extension, 'using up completely' or even 'abusing.' The root χρῆσις is related to the verb χράομαι (chraomai, 'to use'). Thus, the compound word conveys the idea of consumption or depletion through use, which in certain contexts shades into misuse.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant because it highlights the contrast between human religious efforts and God's grace. In Colossians 2:22, Paul uses ἀπόχρησις to argue that ascetic regulations and rules-based piety are ultimately perishable and corruptible—they are 'used up' and lead nowhere. This reinforces the core New Testament doctrine that salvation and sanctification come through Christ alone, not through human ordinances. Understanding this Greek term enriches the reading of Colossians by emphasizing the futility and temporary nature of any system that replaces reliance on Christ with man-made requirements.

In the Greco-Roman world, various philosophical schools (like Stoicism) and religious groups (including some Jewish sects) promoted ascetic practices and strict regulations concerning food, drink, and physical purity as a path to wisdom or holiness. Paul's use of ἀπόχρησις directly challenges this cultural and religious mindset. The term implies that such practices are not just unnecessary but are fundamentally flawed—they are subject to decay and are a misuse of human energy, which should be directed toward Christ, in whom 'all the fullness of Deity lives in bodily form' (Colossians 2:9).

χρῆσις (chrēsis, G5540) — the neutral act of 'use' or 'employment,' without the negative connotation of depletion or abuse. καταχράομαι (katachraomai, G2710) — a verb meaning 'to use up,' 'to misuse,' or 'to take advantage of,' sharing the negative sense but emphasizing the action rather than the state or result.

Word Details

Scripture References