προσκοπή

From the study of 2 Corinthians 6:3

Range of meaning

Literally, a striking of the foot against something, a stumble. Figuratively, an occasion for stumbling: something that gives offence in the sense of making someone trip up, take a wrong step, or turn away. BDAG gives 'an occasion for taking offense or for making a misstep'. It belongs to the same family as προσκόπτω ('to strike against, stumble') and πρόσκομμα ('stumbling block'), and to the related idea in ἀπρόσκοπος ('giving no cause for stumbling', 1 Cor 10:32).

Against the English

KJV and YLT have 'offence', WEB 'occasion of stumbling', BSB and ESV 'obstacle', NIV 'stumbling block'. In 1611 'offence' still kept its older sense of a cause of stumbling. Today 'giving no offence' sounds like 'not upsetting or insulting anyone'.

How it drifted

The English 'offend/offence' moved from 'cause to stumble or sin' (its sense in the KJV, via the Latin offendere, 'to strike against') to 'hurt someone's feelings'. The KJV wording now suggests a social politeness Paul is not talking about.

Used elsewhere in the period

Rare. The New Testament uses it only here. In Hellenistic Greek it appears in writers such as Polybius in the sense of 'offence, cause of stumbling or annoyance'. The idea is common in Paul's letters with the related words: Rom 14:13, 20–21 (πρόσκομμα); 1 Cor 8:9 (πρόσκομμα); 1 Cor 10:32 (ἀπρόσκοποι); compare 1 Cor 9:12, 'rather than put an obstacle (ἐγκοπή) in the way of the gospel'.