In part one we saw that the word reprobate, derived from the Greek word adokimos, refers to unbelievers and possibly to particularly evil unbelievers. We considered five verses in which adokimos is used: Rom 1:28; 1 Cor 9:27; and 2 Cor 13: 5, 6, 7.
In part two, we will consider three other verses that use the word.
2 Timothy 3:8. “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith” (KJV). Other versions translate adokimos here as “disqualified” (ESV, LEB, NET) or “worthless” (HCSB, MEV, NASB). The NIV has “rejected.” The NKJV has “disapproved.”i
Paul was talking about dangerous false teachers who, in the last days, will fall away from sound doctrine and will resist the truth. These will be “men of corrupt [or ruined, destroyed, participle from kataphtheirō] minds, disapproved concerning the faith.” While these false teachers might be unregenerate, that is not the point. Even a believer could fall away and become a false teacher. If so, that believer would be disapproved concerning the faith.
Titus 1:16. “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate” (KJV). This verse is like 2 Tim 3:8. Paul is again speaking of false teachers who are “disqualified [or disapproved] for every good work.”
Most understand Paul to be saying that these false teachers were unregenerate. While possible, the first part of verse 16, “they profess to know God, but in works they deny Him,” is clearly referring to not knowing God in their experience. The issue there is not whether they are born again or not.
Here is what I wrote in The Grace NT Commentary concerning the expression disqualified for every good work:
Adokimos and its antonym dokimos are used elsewhere in the NT of believers who are disapproved or approved by God or men (Rom 1:28; 14:18; 16:10; 1 Cor 9:27; 11:19; 2 Cor 10:18; 13:5, 6, 7; 2 Tim 2:15; 3:8; Heb 6:8; Jas 1:12). However, while disobedient believers are disapproved, so of course are all unbelievers. Thus it is not clear whether these disgusting false teachers were all unbelievers or not. However, they were repugnant and were to be opposed (“Titus,” p. 1017).
Hebrews 6:8. “But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned” (KJV). Verses 7-8 are an illustration of what the author was warning about in Heb 6:4-6. A believer who falls away from the faith is like a field that yields “thorns and briers,” is rejected (adokimos, disapproved), and “whose end is to be burned.” There is a clear allusion here to Genesis 3 and the cursing of the earth so that it yielded thorns and briers. If our lives are like that, then we earn a curse.
Though not all agree, the author is clearly talking about believers here (see vv 4-5). We will receive God’s blessings if we take in His Word (the rain) and produce a good harvest. But we will be cursed by Him if we produce a bad harvest (by not taking in His Word).
Tanner writes in The Grace NT Commentary:
To be rejected (“worthless,” NASB) need not imply loss of eternal life.ii The Apostle Paul used the Greek term (adokimos) of himself in 1 Cor 9:27 in the sense of being “disqualified” from his reward as a result of not disciplining himself. Thus, the unfruitful ground of Heb 6:8 is “rejected,” implying that the offender has not gained God’s approval and is considered unfit. He may be in store for God’s discipline and eventual loss of reward (“Hebrews,” p. 1054).
The Greek word adokimos should not be translated as reprobate in any verse.
Adokimos should be translated as disapproved, though in some contexts it might be translated as debased or rejected. Disqualified is probably not a good translation, though versions commonly use it in 1 Cor 9:27.
Adokimos is used primarily of believers, not unbelievers. Remember, Paul feared that he might be adokimos (disapproved).
The issue is disapproval, not eternal condemnation.
While the eternal destiny of believers is secure (John 3:16), we should fear that we might fall away and not be approved by Christ at the Bema.
God’s approval is often the opposite of man’s approval (2 Cor 13:5-7; compare Matt 6:1-18; Gal 1:10).
Jesus’ approval at the Bema will be expressed in words such as, “Well done, good servant” (Luke 19:17). His disapproval will be expressed in words such as, “You wicked servant” (Luke 19:22).
Keep grace in focus so that you might have the Lord’s approval at the Bema.
i Two versions translate this as “their faith is counterfeit” (CEB) and “counterfeit faith” (RSV).
ii Tanner was using understatement here. Since everlasting life cannot be lost, those words cannot imply loss of everlasting life unless one takes the hypothetical-but-impossible view.
