μολυσμός

staining, defilement, pollution

Definition

Μολυσμός refers to a state of moral or spiritual defilement, pollution, or staining. It describes contamination that corrupts a person's purity, particularly in a religious or ethical sense. In the New Testament, it specifically denotes the impurity that comes from engaging with idolatry and sinful practices, as seen in 2 Corinthians 7:1, where believers are urged to cleanse themselves from 'every defilement of body and spirit.' The word carries a strong sense of something that taints or soils one's relationship with God.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in 2 Corinthians 7:1. Here, Paul employs it in a call to holiness, urging Christians to purify themselves from all defilement that affects both the physical and spiritual dimensions of life. The context is one of separation from pagan influences and moral compromise, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the cleansing required for godly living.

Etymology

Derived from the verb μολύνω (molynō, G3435), meaning 'to stain, defile, or soil.' It shares a root with terms related to contamination, often used in contexts of physical dirt or moral corruption. The noun form μολυσμός emphasizes the resulting state or condition of being defiled.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it highlights the biblical concept of purity and contamination in a believer's life. It underscores the need for holiness by distinguishing between clean and unclean influences, particularly in a world filled with idolatry and sin. Understanding μολυσμός enriches reading by revealing the serious call to separate from anything that spiritually stains, reinforcing doctrines of sanctification and God's call to be set apart (2 Corinthians 6:17-7:1).

In the Greco-Roman world, defilement was often associated with ritual impurity from contact with idols, immoral acts, or certain foods. For Paul's audience, familiar with pagan temples and practices, μολυσμός would evoke the idea of contamination from such environments, making the call to cleanse both body and spirit a radical separation from cultural norms.

μίασμα (miasma, G3393) — often refers to a stain or pollution, sometimes with a stronger emphasis on moral corruption or guilt. ῥύπος (rhypos, G4509) — denotes filth or dirt, typically in a more physical sense, though it can be used metaphorically for moral defilement in some contexts.

Word Details

Scripture References