πρᾶξις

an action, deeds, function

Definition

The Greek word πρᾶξις (praxis) primarily means 'a doing' or 'action,' often referring to concrete deeds or practices. In the plural, it denotes specific 'deeds' or 'acts,' as seen when people confess their 'evil deeds' (Acts 19:18). It can also mean 'function' or 'business,' describing the specific role or activity of a part within a whole, like the differing functions of members in one body (Romans 12:4). In a moral sense, it refers to habitual practices or patterns of behavior, such as the 'deeds of the body' that must be put to death (Romans 8:13) or the 'old self with its practices' that believers are to put off (Colossians 3:9).

Biblical Usage

Πρᾶξις is used six times in the New Testament, appearing in Gospels, Acts, and Epistles. It often appears in contexts of judgment or moral evaluation, describing human actions that are subject to divine scrutiny. For example, Jesus will repay each person according to their 'deeds' (Matthew 16:27), and Joseph of Arimathea was waiting for the kingdom but had not consented to the council's 'action' (Luke 23:51). In the epistles, Paul uses it for both the function of body parts (Romans 12:4) and for sinful patterns of life that must be abandoned (Romans 8:13, Colossians 3:9). The usage in Acts 19:18 highlights public confession of specific magical practices.

Etymology

Πρᾶξις is a noun derived from the verb πράσσω (prassō, G4238), meaning 'to do, practice, or accomplish.' It belongs to a word family centered on action and practice. The term was common in Greek philosophy and everyday language, denoting practical action as opposed to mere theory (theoria). In the New Testament, it carries this sense of concrete, often habitual, doing.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it connects human action to divine judgment and sanctification. It underscores that salvation is not by 'deeds' (ergōn), but that a transformed life in Christ necessarily involves putting to death the 'deeds' (praxeis) of the sinful nature (Romans 8:13) and adopting new patterns of living. Understanding praxis enriches reading by highlighting the New Testament's focus on practical, lived-out faith and the reality that believers will be assessed for their actions (Matthew 16:27). It bridges belief and behavior.

In the Greco-Roman world, 'praxis' was a common term for customary actions, business transactions, or political/military operations. The use in Acts 19:18 directly engages with the cultural context of Ephesian magic, where 'praxeis' referred to the specific rituals and spells practitioners would confess and renounce. This cultural background gives weight to the term's meaning as established, habitual practices.

ἔργον (ergon, G2041) — A more general term for 'work' or 'deed,' often with a focus on the product or result of labor. Πρᾶξις can emphasize the action or practice itself. ποίησις (poiēsis, G4162) — The act of making or doing, sometimes overlapping but less common for habitual practices. ἀναστροφή (anastrophē, G391) — 'Manner of life' or 'conduct,' focusing more on the overall pattern of behavior rather than individual deeds.

Word Details

Scripture References