Greek word · G72

ἀγωγή

agōgē

self-conduct

From ἄγω, 'to lead.' Basic senses: 'a leading, a carrying away'; then 'training, upbringing' (the famous Spartan education was called the agōgē); and most commonly in Hellenistic Greek 'way of life, conduct, the way one carries oneself.'

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀγωγή, -ῆς, ἡ

(ἄγω), [in LXX: Esther 2:20 10:3, 2Ma.4:16 6:8 11:24, 3Ma.4:10 * ;]

1. a carrying away.

2. a leading, guiding; metaphorically, training; hence, from the expression ἀ. τοῦ βίου, absol., conduct, way of life: 2 Timothy 3:10 (Cremer, 61; MM, VGT, see word).

† (AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 2 Timothy 3:10

Range of meaning

From ἄγω, 'to lead.' Basic senses: 'a leading, a carrying away'; then 'training, upbringing' (the famous Spartan education was called the agōgē); and most commonly in Hellenistic Greek 'way of life, conduct, the way one carries oneself.'

Against the English

'Conduct' (BSB, WEB, ESV, NASB) and 'manner of life' (KJV, YLT) are both accurate. 'Way of life' (NIV) catches the sense of a whole pattern rather than single acts.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Esther 2:20 (LXX), Esther did not change her agōgē, her way of life. In 2 Maccabees 4:16, Jews who admired Greek agōgai (ways of living) became their enemies' imitators. 3 Maccabees 4:10 uses it in the sense of 'being led away.' It is common in papyri and moral philosophers for a person's settled conduct.

Where it appears

2 Timothy · 1

  1. 2 Timothy 3:10 ἀγωγῇ, conduct,

    You, however, have observed my teaching, my conduct, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my perseverance,

    Here: How Paul actually carried himself day to day. Found only here in the New Testament. Coming right after 'teaching,' it ties what he said to how he lived.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.