Bible Dictionaries
Holiness, Sanctification

Morrish Bible Dictionary

The word ἁγιασμός is translated in the A.V. both 'sanctification' and 'holiness;' but there is another word, ἁγιωσύνη, always translated 'holiness,' and it is well to see the distinction between them.

Both words may be traced to ἅγιος, 'holy,' but ἁγιωσύνη is holiness in its nature and quality. It occurs but three times: "the Spirit of holiness" in Romans 1:4; the Christian should be "perfecting holiness in the fear of God," 2 Corinthians 7:1; and Paul prayed for the Thessalonian saints that their hearts might be established "unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints." 1 Thessalonians 3:13 .

ἁγιασμόςis more the result and activity of sanctification that produces holiness. It occurs in Romans 6:19,22; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Thessalonians 4:3,4,7; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:2 .

ἁγιότης, a kindred word to the above, also signifies 'holiness' in its essence, perhaps in the most absolute way, ἁγιωσύνηhaving a kind of middle place between ἁγιότηςand ἁγιασμός. It occurs only in Hebrews 12:10 , unless it should be read in 2 Corinthians 1:12 , 'holiness' instead of 'simplicity,' as adopted by several Editors and the R.V. It is His holiness, the holiness of God Himself in its own nature, of which believers are to be partakers — the end of all His gracious discipline.

Bibliography Information
Morrish, George. Entry for 'Holiness, Sanctification'. Morrish Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​mbd/6/6-holiness-sanctification.html. 1897.