SermonIndex Audio Sermons
SermonIndex - Promoting Revival to this Generation

Give To SermonIndex
Text Sermons : Greek Word Studies : Abolished (2673) katargeo

Open as PDF

Nullified (2673) (katargeo from kata = intensifies meaning + argeo = to be idle or inactive from argos = ineffective, idle, inactive from a = without + érgon = work) literally means to reduce to inactivity. The idea is to make the power or force of something ineffective and so to render powerless, reduce to inactivity. To do away with. To put out of use. To cause to be idle or useless. To render entirely idle, inoperative or ineffective. Cause something to come to an end or cause it to cease to happen. To abolish or cause not to function. To free or release from an earlier obligation or relationship. To no longer take place.

Katargeo is in the perfect tense which speaks of a permanent effect. Wuest expands the sense of the perfect tense this way...

the aforementioned promise has been rendered inoperative with the result that it is in a state of permanent inoperation

That is if those who were under the Law were those who would become the legitimate heirs of the promises made to Abraham, then this would permanently nullify faith or make faith forever of no effect. Praise God, that is not the case as Paul explains!

Vine explains that katargeo...

never means “to annihilate.” (= to destroy utterly and completely and thus cause to cease to exist) The general idea in the word is that of depriving a thing of the use for which it is intended. Thus it implies, not loss of being, but loss of well-being (Ed note: although this latter idea cannot be easily applied to many the NT occurrences which refer to inanimate things such as the Law, death, the power of sin, etc). (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson )

Katargeo is clearly a "Pauline verb" as shown by the 27 uses (15 in the passive voice) in the NASB (Luke 13:7; Rom 3:3, 31; 4:14; 6:6; 7:2, 6; 1 Cor 1:28; 2:6; 6:13; 13:8, 10f; 15:24, 26; 2 Cor 3:7, 11, 13f; Gal 3:17; 5:4, 11; Eph 2:15; 2 Thess 2:8; 2 Tim 1:10; Heb 2:14)

NAS renderings = abolished, 4; abolishing, 1; bring to an end, 1; did away, 1; do away, 1; done away, 4; fades away, 1; fading, 1; fading away, 1; nullified, 1; nullify, 4; passing away, 1; released, 2; removed, 1; render powerless, 1; severed, 1; use, 1.

Consider lingering over and pondering all the NT uses of katargeo (click the links above or study through many of the NT uses noted below) to mine the encouraging, edifying truths associated with this great "Pauline verb." You will not be disappointed.

The basic idea of katargeo is to cause something to be idle or useless, inoperative or ineffective.

Katargeo always denotes a nonphysical destruction by means of a superior force coming in to replace the force previously in effect, as e.g. light destroys darkness. (Frieberg)

Katargeo as discussed below can mean to cause the release of someone from an obligation -- think about this. All men are born in Adam and owe a wage (debt) called death (Ro 3:23-note). But if anyone by grace through faith (Eph 2:8, 2:9-note) enters the "ark" which is "in Christ" they are delivered from "the wrath to come" (1Th 1:10-note) and from eternal death because Christ has paid the price in full that releases us from our obligation to pay the debt incurred by our sin.

Someone has written that katargeo is pictured by our well known English phrases like "to pull the teeth out of," or "to declaw."

Below are many of the NT uses of Katargeo to help one understand the meaning of this verb in a variety of different contexts.

*******

Romans 3:3 (note) "What then? If some did not believe, their (the Jew's) unbelief will not nullify (katargeo) the faithfulness of God, will it?"

Comment: The fact that many people reject the Scriptures is of no effect = katargeo, for as the Psalmist testifies "Forever, O LORD, Thy word is settled in heaven." -- Psalm 119:89. God remains faithful to His covenant promises to Israel originally given to Abraham -- beginning in Genesis 12:1-3 -- and passed on to the lines of Isaac and Jacob. The OT amply testifies to God's faithfulness in the face of Israel's unfaithfulness. For example, of the generation that received the law at Mt Sinai, only two adults proved faithful, Caleb and Joshua. Nevertheless, God brought the whole nation of Israel into the land of Canaan as He had promised, though the unbelieving generation died in the wilderness.) In short, to insist that the lack of faith of those who were entrusted with God's Word hardly makes that Word of no effect (= katargeo).

*******

Romans 3:31 (note) "Do we then nullify (katargeo) the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law."

Comment: In other words Paul is saying that if one emphasizes the vital role of faith in salvation, by do doing he is not making the Law of no use = katargeo. Click here to read a summary of the 4 effects of the Law.) Paul's point is that justification by faith does not invalidate the purpose of the Law but in fact establishes it because Law was not meant to save to reveal sin.

*******

Romans 6:6 (note) knowing this, that our old self (see discussion of "old man") was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with (katargeo = make ineffective by removing its power of control) that we should no longer be slaves to sin.

Comment: Yes, Sin as a power, is made inoperative, but it is not annihilated as all believers have experienced. When we as believers make "wrong choices" (or let's call it what it is, when we sin, doing our own thing, going our own way) we can still ''recharge'' or "revive" the old master ("the Sin") that persists latent within every believer.

Before Christ gave us a new heart, "the Sin" within us ruled us, wielding a power over us which we could not resist; and which led us to commit sins. The law functioned to arouse the sinful desire, but no longer has that effect (unless we choose to put ourselves back up under a list of do's and don'ts). But now that our old self has been nailed to the cross of Christ, the power of sin and the effect of the Law over our physical bodies have been rendered inoperative (katargeo). (Ro 6:6-for more discussion notes)

*******

Romans 7:2 For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released (perfect tense = a permanent effect) from the law concerning the husband. (see note Romans 7:2)

Romans 7:6 But now we have been released (aorist tense = definite event in the past at the time of our salvation, a "done deal") from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit (In Christ we can serve the Lord, even keeping the Law, because of the indwelling Spirit's enablement and empowerment) and not in oldness of the letter (= "oldness of the Law", the keeping of the Law externally, "legalistically", through mere outward conformity without an internal change, a "new heart" provided by the Gospel which brings the New Covenant). (see note Romans 76)

Comment: So we see that the "law" that Paul refers to, that they would be familiar with and which says a woman is bound to her husband, is no longer in effect if the husband dies. The hold it once had on the wife is now nullified. Look at verse 3: "So then if, while her husband is living, she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress, though she is joined to another man." To reiterate, these verses teach that as death releases a widow from the law of marriage, so Christ's death releases believers who are united with him from the Law.

Constable adds that "It is as though God shifted the transmissions of our lives into neutral gear. Now something else drives our lives, namely the Holy Spirit. Sin and the Law no longer drive us forward, though we can engage those powers if we choose to do so and take back control of our lives from God." ( Tom Constable's Expository Notes)

*******

1Cor 2:6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away (katargeo = all the humanistic philosophy of the world's intellectuals and all those who wield power will eventually come to nothing - all of their policies, decrees, statutes, etc can never accomplish the redemption of the human race and genuine peace for which they all so desperately seek. Such peace is found only in Christ and His Cross!)

*******

1Cor 6:13-14 Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food (probably a popular saying pagans used to justify their immorality - food is pleasurable and necessary, and when the stomach says eat we eat. And so they spuriously reason, sex is pleasurable so when the body signals a need for sex, it is only natural to gratify it!) ; but God will do away with (katargeo = natural appetite belongs to our physical nature created by God but appetite belongs to our present transient state, and appetite will cease to carry out its function --katargeo-- when we die) both of them (stomach/appetite and food). Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord; and the Lord is for the body (Although the belly is necessary for food, the analogy does not hold with the body - for one thing the body is more than just a physical unit or physical frame, but houses man's entire being, being composed of literal flesh but also associated with spirit.) 14 Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power (which is a further difference between the body and the belly for the body is destined for resurrection but the belly will be rendered inoperative = katargeo. These truths should radically impact the believer's thinking in our pagan society which just like Corinth screams at everyone, including believers, "Just Do It"! Paul's logic argues for the opposite conclusion in the mind of believers "Just Don't Do It"!).

Comment: Thomas Constable has an excellent note on this verse writing that "One might conclude, and some in Corinth were evidently doing so, that since sex was also physical and temporal it was also irrelevant spiritually. However this is a false deduction. The body is part of what the Lord saved and sanctified. Therefore it is for Him, and we should use it for His glory, not for fornication. Furthermore the Lord has a noble purpose and destiny for our bodies. He is for them in that sense. The Lord will resurrect the bodies of most Christians in the future, all but those that He catches away at the Rapture (1Th 4:17-note). The resurrection of our bodies shows that God has plans for them." - Read Constable's entire note on this verse which logically and schematically lays out Paul's powerful arguments - Tom Constable's Expository Notes on the Bible Pdf Format)

*******

1Cor 13:8 Love never fails (i.e., it is eternal); but (Paul proceeds to contrasts gifts which are temporal) if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away (katargeo = become useless); if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away (katargeo = become useless).

Comment: Prophecies, tongues, and knowledge will come to an end because of the partial, temporary nature of their purpose. The Bible Knowledge Commentary adds that "Every gift is linked in some way to building up the church to maturity—some (prophecy, knowledge, tongues) functioning in the early years of the Church Age and others continuing on till the church is perfected. When that perfection is achieved, the gifts will have served their purposes and will be rendered obsolete. But this will not happen to love. (Walvoord, J. F., et al: The Bible Knowledge Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)

*******

1Cor 13:10 but when the perfect comes (referring to the eternal, glorified state of believers - although there is some debate on what "perfect" signifies - for one of the best discussions see MacArthur's commentary on 1Corinthians or the online source here), the partial will be done away. (katargeo) 11 When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think as a child, reason as a child (Paul's argument is that while we are still on earth, believers by comparison to their future state are like children are to adulthood); when I became a man, I did away with (katargeo) childish things.

*******

1Cor 15:24-28 then comes the end (this time reference is to the end of the 1000 year reign of Christ, the Millennium), when He (Christ) delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when He (Christ) has abolished (katargeo) all rule and all authority and power.

Comment: katargeo conveys the idea of making the ruling powers ineffective, by terminating them and setting them aside - specifically this refers to Satan who is unleashed for a short time at the end of the 1000 years, the Millennium, and all those who follow him - although all who enter the Millennial Kingdom are born again, not all Gentiles who are born during this 1000 years will be born again as clearly shown by Rev 20:7, 8, 9-note)

1Cor 15:25 For He (Christ) must reign (1000 years) until He (Christ) has put all His enemies under His (Christ) feet (fulfilling the promise of Genesis 3:15 for "all His enemies" includes Satan and those he seduces at the end of the 1000 years). 26 The last enemy that will be abolished (katargeo) is death (The power that death has to quiet human beings will be forever nullified). 27 For HE (God the Father) HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS (Christ's) FEET. But when He (God the Father) says, "All things are put in subjection," it is evident that He (God the Father) is excepted Who (God the Father) put all things in subjection to Him (Christ). 28 And when all things are subjected to Him (Christ), then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One (God the Father) Who subjected all things to Him (Christ), that God may be all in all. (This will occur after the Great White Throne judgment Rev 20:11-14-note and coincide with the coming of the New Heaven and New earth, Rev 21:1ff-notes).

*******

2Cor 3:7-8 But if the ministry of death (Why death? Because the Law showed man his sinfulness and gave him no power to break out of it, thus "ministering" death), in letters engraved on stones (the 10 Commandments and by extension the "Mosaic Law", the Old Covenant), came with glory (the Law was good as it had a glory), so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face (see Ex 34:29, 30), fading (katargeo = Literally "being made useless") as it was (just as the glory on Moses' face faded (the OT does not mention this fading), so too the Mosaic Law was temporary), 8 how shall the ministry of the Spirit (the Gospel which brings the promises of the New Covenant especially righteousness) fail to be even more with glory (the temporary Old Covenant, like a candle in the presence of the sun, paled and passed away -- the idea of the verb katargeo -- before the grandeur of the superior, eternal New Covenant.)?

*******

Gal 3:17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant (God's unilateral, unconditional, eternal, irrevocable, immutable promise to Abraham first given in Genesis 12:1, 2, 3) previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise (katargeo = The coming of the Mosaic Law did not render the promise to Abraham ineffective or useless) (see Covenant: Abrahamic versus Mosaic).

Comment: the complete fulfillment of the promise to Abraham awaits the salvation of those in Israel who believe at the end of the Great Tribulation and beginning of the Millennium, during which all the promises, including the geographic promises about the boundaries of Israel will be perfectly fulfilled, for as Joshua stated to Israel in Joshua 23:14 "not one word of all the good words which the LORD your God spoke concerning you has failed"!

*******

Gal 5:4 You have been severed (katargeo) from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

Comment: The KJV is more literal "Christ is become of no effect unto you". Paul is not teaching that one can lose their salvation. He is simply stating that if one relies on the impossible ground of justification by Law (which no one can keep perfectly), that person in effect, makes Christ's finished work of grace on the Cross of no effect. Having refused this small gate and narrow road [Mt 7:13, 14-notes], this person has fallen away from the highway named "by grace through faith" in Christ, Who is the only way, the only truth and the only life, that leads to justification.

*******

Galatians 5:11 But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted (Paul is saying that if were to preach circumcision, he would not be persecuted because he would be preaching works based righteousness which would in effect set aside the whole purpose of the Cross of Christ, making it useless = katargeo)? Then the stumbling block of the cross (The Cross offends because it says a man can do nothing to earn salvation but can be saved only by faith - this offends the pride of the Jews and their legalistic, works based righteousness and all "natural" -- unregenerate -- Gentiles) has been abolished. (katargeo - Paul is saying that Judaism in effect nullified the efficacious work of the Cross for those who continue to practice).

*******

Ephesians 2:15 (note) by abolishing (katargeo) in His flesh the enmity (that smoldered between Jew and Gentile and also between God and man), which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances (all the ceremonial laws, feasts, and sacrifices which uniquely separated Jews from Gentiles), that in Himself He might make the two (Jew and Gentile) into one new (kainos = new qualitatively, something completely new, unlike what it was before) man (Christian), thus establishing peace (root of peace is to bind or join together what is divided, thus setting at one).

Comment: Paul's point is that the Law made distinctions between Jews and the rest of pagan society which erected impossible barriers which are now made of no effect = katargeo.

*******

2Thessalonians 2:8 And then that lawless one (the Antichrist) will be revealed (he will arrive on the scene of world history at the beginning of the 7 year period prophesied in Daniel 9:27 --see chart on Daniel's Seventieth Week --, orchestrating a covenant of "peace" with Israel, which is broken after 3.5 years, at which time he will be revealed to the entire world for who he really is as he takes his seat in the Temple and proclaims he is God, which sets in motion the last 3.5 year period Jesus called the "Great Tribulation" in Mt 24:15, 21. See also Da 9:24, 25, 26, 27-notes) whom the Lord (Jesus Christ, the King of kings, read Rev 19:11-21-notes, Daniel 7:11) will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end (katargeo) by the appearance (epiphaneia = shining forth - English "epiphany") of His coming."

*******

2Timothy 1:10 (Paul records the effect of Jesus death, burial and resurrection in second Timothy writing...) "but now has been revealed by the appearing (epiphaneia = shining forth - English "epiphany") of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished (katargeo) death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (see note 2 Timothy 1:10)

Comment: abolished does not mean annihilation but to make of no effect and reduce to powerlessness because of Christ's death and resurrection. And so because of Christ's sacrifice, physical death loses its power or effectiveness over believers because for a believer death is the doorway marking our entrance into the presence of our Lord & our Savior Jesus Christ.

Vine adds that" katargeo or "abolished” literally means to reduce to inactivity. By His death and resurrection He actually and potentially for all His people robbed death of its sting and rendered its activity nugatory. “By dying, death He slew.” As regards death, whether of the body or spiritual death, the Lord Himself said, “He that believeth on Me, though he die, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth on Me shall never die” (Jn 11:26). For the believer physical death is but the entrance upon a condition in which the spirit enjoys an activity far superior to that experienced here, a life entirely free from all effects of sin. This will be extended to his whole being, when the Lord comes to the air to receive the saints to Himself, death in all its forms having been robbed of its power by Him when He accomplished that for which He became incarnate." - Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson )

*******

One of most encouraging uses of "rendering powerless" is the final NT occurrence found in the book of Hebrews which describes the effect of Christ's finished work on the devil's nefarious works...

Hebrews 2:14 "Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same (He Who was and is always fully God became fully Man), that through (the instrument of) death (His finished work on the Cross, His burial and His triumphant resurrection = the message of the Gospel) He might render powerless (katargeo) him who had the power of death, that is, the devil (The devil has "the power of death" in the sense that through his lie, he tempted Adam to bring sin into the world, and therefore, death into the world -- Ro 5:12-note Though he would seek to impose physical death on the whole human race if he could, he can only bring about a particular death when God allows it for some greater purpose)." (He 2:14-note)

Comment: Christ's death and resurrection robbed death of its sting and rendered its activity of no effect (= katargeo). “By dying, death He slew.” Now, for the believer physical death is but a doorway into the presence of our Lord. (Php 1:21-note), cf 2Cor 5:8 "absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord")

*******

In summary, back to our comments on Romans 4:14, we see that Paul is teaching that the promise of God is annulled or made useless/inoperative (katargeo) because one would be making a promise contingent upon an impossible condition (i.e., no one can keep the law perfectly) which would nullify the promise.

Ray Stedman illustrates this principle...

"Now let me help you to understand that: If there is anyone here who is quite athletic, I would like you to do something to demonstrate this for us. I want you to stand here before the pulpit and jump up and touch the ceiling. If you do that, I promise I will give you a thousand dollars. I might have to borrow it, but I will give it to you. Are there any volunteers? I'll even let you stand on the platform. No volunteers? Why? Because, you say to me, "Look, your promise is worthless! You are asking something that no one can do. No one can jump up and touch the ceiling by their natural strength. Your promise is worthless." Even though I sincerely mean it, it has no value to you because you cannot do it." (Read full sermon The Faith of our Father)


Romans 4:15 for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation. (NASB: Lockman)
Greek: o gar nomos orgen katergazetai; (3SPMI) ou de ouk estin (3SPAI) nomos, oude parabasis
Amplified: For the Law results in [divine] wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression [of it either]. (Amplified Bible - Lockman)
NLT: But the law brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!) (NLT - Tyndale House)
Phillips: For we have already noted that the Law can produce no promise, only the threat of wrath to come. And, indeed if there were no Law the question of sin would not arise (Phillips: Touchstone)
Wuest: For the law results in divine wrath. Now, where there is not law, neither is there transgression. (Eerdmans)
Young's Literal: for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, neither is there violation.

FOR THE LAW BRINGS ABOUT WRATH : o gar nomos orgen katergazetai (3SPMI): (Ro 1:17; 2:5,6; 3:19,20; 5:13,20,21; 7:7, 8, 9, 10,11; Nu 32:14; Dt 29:20-28; 2Ki 22:13; Jer 4:8; Lam 2:22; Ezek 7:19; Zeph 1:18; Jn 3:36; 15:22; Acts 17:30,31; 1Cor 15:56; 2Cor 3:7, 8, 9; Gal 3:10,19; Eph 5:6; Col 3:6; 1Jn 3:4; Rev 6:16,17; 19:15)

The Law brings about wrath - How so? The law exposes man’s sinfulness (Ro 7:7, 8, 9, 10, 11; Ga 3:19, 24). The Law serves to stimulate sin (Ro 7:9). The Law brings about wrath because disobedience to it. It condemns those who fail to keep its commandments perfectly and continuously. And since none can do that, all who are under the law are condemned to death.

Brings about (2716) (katergazomai from katá = intensifier + ergázomai = work) or works out fully, accomplishes, or finishes. The idea is the law continually (present tense) works to bring about the fulfillment of wrath. The law performs this task successfully and thoroughly, achieving the end (wrath). , carry to conclusion, or carry out a task until it finished.





©2002-2024 SermonIndex.net
Promoting Revival to this Generation.
Privacy Policy