Bible Dictionaries
Pure, Pureness, Purity

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

A — 1: ἁγνός

(Strong's #53 — Adjective — hagnos — hag-nos' )

"pure from defilement, not contaminated" (from the same root as hagios, "holy"), is rendered "pure" in Philippians 4:8; 1 Timothy 5:22; James 3:17; 1 John 3:3; see CHASTE.

A — 2: καθαρός

(Strong's #2513 — Adjective — katharos — kath-ar-os' )

"pure," as being cleansed, e.g., Matthew 5:8; 1 Timothy 1:5; 3:9; 2 Timothy 1:3; 2:22; Titus 1:15; Hebrews 10:22; James 1:27; 1 Peter 1:22; Revelation 15:6; 21:18; 22:1 (in some mss.). See CHASTE , Note, CLEAN , A.

Note: In 1 Peter 1:22 the AV, "with a pure heart," follows those mss. which have this adjective (RV, "from the heart").

A — 3: εἰλικρινής

(Strong's #1506 — Adjective — elikrines — i-lik-ree-nace' )

signifies "unalloyed, pure;" (a) it was used of unmixed substances; (b) in the NT it is used of moral and ethical "purity," Philippians 1:10 , "sincere;" so the RV in 2 Peter 3:1 (AV, "pure"). Some regard the etymological meaning as "tested by the sunlight" (Cremer). See CHASTE , Note, SINCERE.

Note: Wine mixed with water may be hagnos, "not being contaminated;" it is not katharos, when there is the admixture of any element even though the latter is "pure" in itself.

B — 1: ἁγνότης

(Strong's #54 — Noun Feminine — hagnotes — hag-not'-ace )

the state of being hagnos (A, No. 1), occurs in 2 Corinthians 6:6 , "pureness;" 2 Corinthians 11:3 , in the best mss., "(and the) purity," RV.

B — 2: ἁγνεία

(Strong's #47 — Noun Feminine — hagneia — hag-ni'-ah )

synonymous with No. 1, "purity," occurs in 1 Timothy 4:12; 5:2 , where it denotes the chastity which excludes all impurity of spirit, manner, or act.

Bibliography Information
Vines, W. E., M. A. Entry for 'Pure, Pureness, Purity'. Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​ved/​p/pure-pureness-purity.html. 1940.