ἔξω

From the study of Revelation 22:15

Range of meaning

"Outside, out" as an adverb of place; with verbs of throwing or going, "out" of a house, city, camp or community. It often marks exclusion from a bounded holy or social space.

Against the English

"Outside" (BSB, WEB, ESV, NIV) is accurate. KJV/YLT "without" is the older English for the same thing, though modern readers may misread it as "lacking".

How it drifted

KJV "without" once meant "outside" and now usually means "lacking", so "without are dogs" can confuse.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Torah, people with skin disease and those made impure by corpses live "outside the camp" (Lev 13:46; Num 5:2–4). Jesus speaks of people being "thrown out" (ἔξω) of the kingdom banquet (Matt 8:12; 22:13; Luke 13:28). In Revelation the outer court is left "outside" (11:2), and the winepress of judgment is trodden "outside the city" (14:20). Hebrews 13:12 has Jesus suffering "outside the gate".

From the study of 2 Corinthians 4:16

Range of meaning

'The outer human' and 'the inner human'. Anthrōpos is the ordinary word for a human being, not specifically male. 'Outer' and 'inner' describe the one person from two sides: the side that can be seen, is mortal and can be hurt, and the side that cannot be seen and belongs to God's new creation.

Against the English

KJV has 'outward man / inward man'. BSB and ESV have 'outer self / inner self', NASB 'outer/inner man' or 'person', and NIV turns them into adverbs, 'outwardly ... inwardly'. NLT goes further with 'our bodies ... our spirits', which brings in a body/spirit split that Paul's wording does not draw.

How it drifted

Later Christian thought, shaped by Platonism, came to read 'inner man' as the immortal soul and 'outer man' as the body that holds it. Modern self-help language adds the idea of an 'inner self' that is one's true identity.

Used elsewhere in the period

Similar language existed before Paul. Plato (Republic 9.589a) speaks of 'the man within' (ho entos anthrōpos), meaning reason. Philo of Alexandria speaks of 'the man within the man', meaning the mind. Paul uses 'inner human' again in Rom 7:22 ('I delight in God's law in my inner being') and Eph 3:16 ('strengthened ... in the inner being'). The close parallel in Col 3:9–10 sets the 'old human' against the 'new human', which is 'being renewed' (the same verb, anakainoō).

From the study of 1 Corinthians 5:13

Range of meaning

Adverb: outside, out. With the article (hoi exō) it means 'outsiders,' people who are not members of a given group.

Against the English

KJV 'them that are without' can sound to a modern ear like 'without God' or 'the poor.' BSB/NIV 'those outside' is accurate. BSB adds 'the church' in v.12, which Paul does not say but which correctly identifies the group.

How it drifted

'Without' in the sense of 'outside' is archaic English.

Used elsewhere in the period

Paul's standard term for non-believers: 1 Thessalonians 4:12 and Colossians 4:5. The contrast with hoi esō, 'those inside,' in v.12 matches Jewish usage, which separated members of the covenant people from outsiders. Similar insider/outsider language appears in the rabbinic writings and at Qumran.