ἀπόδεκτος

From the study of 1 Timothy 2:3

Range of meaning

Acceptable in the strong sense: welcomed, gladly received, approved. It comes from apodechomai, "to receive warmly, welcome, accept with approval" (used of welcoming guests in Luke 8:40 and Acts 21:17).

Against the English

KJV, WEB and NASB use "acceptable," which in modern English often means "adequate, passable." BSB, NIV, ESV and NLT use "pleasing" or "pleases," which carries the warmth better.

How it drifted

English "acceptable" once meant "worthy of being accepted, welcome" (from Latin acceptabilis, the Vulgate's word here). Over time it weakened to "satisfactory, good enough."

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament it occurs only here and in 1 Tim 5:4, in almost the same formula: "this is apodekton before God" (said of children caring for their parents). The related noun apodochē appears in the letter's "trustworthy sayings": "worthy of full acceptance" (1:15; 4:9). The adjective appears in Hellenistic writers such as Plutarch. The Septuagint usually describes sacrifices and prayers that God accepts with the related word dektos (e.g., Lev 1:3–4 of offerings; Isa 56:7 LXX), so a faint echo of acceptable offerings is possible, though not certain.

From the study of 1 Timothy 5:4

Range of meaning

Acceptable, welcome, received with approval. It comes from a verb meaning to receive gladly, and is related to the Septuagint's language for offerings God accepts.

Against the English

BSB "pleasing" and NIV "pleasing to God" catch the warmth. "Acceptable" (KJV, WEB, ESV) can sound to modern ears like "merely okay," when it really means approved and welcomed.

How it drifted

Modern English "acceptable" has weakened toward "adequate"; the Greek is a positive word.

Used elsewhere in the period

It appears in the New Testament only at 1 Timothy 2:3 and 5:4, both in the formula "this is acceptable before God" (2:3 adds "good and" and "our Savior"). The related euprosdektos is used of acceptable sacrifices (Romans 15:16; 1 Peter 2:5).