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Blameless, Unblameable, Unreproveable, Without Spot

Morrish Bible Dictionary

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Various Greek words are thus translated and with other similar meanings, but the renderings in the A.V. are not uniform: thus ἄμωμος, which occurs but seven times in the N.T., is translated in six different ways. ἄμωμος (from α, neg. and μωμος, 'spot') signifies 'without spot or blemish'; and in this sense it is employed in the LXX three times, in Numbers 6:14 respecting the offerings: the animals must be without blemish. From this it came to be used in a moral sense. It occurs in Colossians 1:22 along with ἀνέγκλητος: "to present you holy and unblameable (ἄμ.) and unimpeachable (ἀν.) before him."

ἀμώμητος is a kindred word and has the same signification. It occurs but twice, namely, Philippians 2:15 and 2 Peter 3:14 : in the latter it is accompanied by ἄσπιλος, "be diligent . . . . without spot (ἄσ.) and unblameable (ἀμ.)"

ἄμεμπτος (from α, neg. and μέμφομαι, 'to blame,') signifies 'without blame.' Paul in his former life had nothing to accuse himself of as to the righteousness of the law. Philippians 3:6; Zacharias and his wife were irreproachable, Luke 1:6; the saints also should be irreproachable. Philippians 2:15; 1 Thessalonians 3:13 . Had the first covenant been 'faultless' there had been no place for a second. Hebrews 8:7 .

ἀνέγκλητος (from α, neg. and ἐγκαλέω, 'to accuse'), beside Colossians 1:22 mentioned above, occurs only in 1 Timothy 3:10; Titus 1:6,7 , where elders and deacons should be unimpeachable; and in 1 Corinthians 1:8 , where the Lord Jesus will confirm the saints unimpeachable in His own day. There will be no room for any possible accusation.

ἀνεπίληπτος (from α, neg. and ἐπίληπτος, 'blameable') occurs only in 1 Timothy 3:2; 1 Timothy 5:7 , translated 'blameless' in the A.V.; and in 1 Timothy 6:14 , 'unrebukeable.' Archbishop Trench suggests 'irreprehensible' for this word, which rendering was given in the Rheims Edition in 1 Timothy 3:2 . It implies that there is nothing that an enemy can lay hold of.