ἀναξίως

From the study of 1 Corinthians 11:27

Range of meaning

An adverb meaning 'in a way not fitting, unbecoming, out of keeping with' some standard. It is formed from ἀ- ('not') and ἄξιος, whose root picture is a scale balancing: something 'of equal weight', and so 'fitting' or 'appropriate'. As an adverb it describes how an action is done, not the moral standing of the person doing it.

Against the English

KJV 'unworthily' and modern 'in an unworthy manner' are both accurate. But modern readers easily hear 'unworthily' as 'while being an unworthy person'. That is a statement about status, which the Greek adverb does not make. The WEB's 'in a way unworthy of the Lord' brings out the 'fitting the standard' idea.

How it drifted

In English, 'worthy' and 'unworthy' became mostly words about a person's value or moral deserving, as in 'I am not worthy.' Devotional use of the KJV line, and the practice of examining one's conscience before communion, moved the focus from how a person eats to whether the person is fit to eat.

Used elsewhere in the period

The adverb is rare. In the NT it is found only here (and in some manuscripts of verse 29). 2 Maccabees 14:42 uses it of Razis, who chose death rather than be outraged 'in a way unworthy of his own noble birth'. Paul often uses the positive adverb ἀξίως for conduct that fits a standard: 'walk worthily of the Lord' (Col 1:10), 'worthily of the gospel' (Phil 1:27), 'worthily of God' (1 Thess 2:12), 'in a way worthy of the saints' (Rom 16:2). In none of these is the person 'worthy' in the sense of deserving; the conduct either fits the standard or does not.

From the study of 1 Corinthians 11:29

Range of meaning

An adverb meaning "in a manner not fitting, not worthy of." It describes how something is done, measured against what the thing deserves. It does not rate the worth of the person doing it.

Against the English

"Unworthily" (KJV, YLT), "in an unworthy way" (WEB). In the critical text it appears in verse 27 but not in verse 29.

How it drifted

The English adverb "unworthily" is easily heard as "while being unworthy." Many devout people have stayed away from the table because they felt sinful. The Greek adverb modifies the verbs "eat" and "drink."

Used elsewhere in the period

2 Maccabees 14:42: Razis chooses to die nobly rather than be insulted "in a manner unworthy of (anaxiōs) his own noble birth." Here, as elsewhere, the word means conduct unfitting to a standard.