G299 ἄμωμος (ámōmos)

Blameless (299) (amomos from a = without + momos = spot, blemish in physical sense or moral sense, blot, flaw, shame or disgrace {as a moral disgrace}) is literally without spot or blemish. It was used literally of the absence of defects in sacrificial animals and figuratively of the Lamb of God as unblemished. Faultless (holy and pure). Morally blameless. Amomos as used in this verse refers to blameless in a moral sense (irreproachable) Amomos is a cultic term in the Septuagint, denoting the physical perfection of the priest or offering (see Nu 6:14 below), but may also be used for the absolute blamelessness of God (see 1Sa 22:31) Amomos is used times in the NT in the NASB (Ep 2x; Phil; Col; Heb; 1P; Jude; Rev) and is translated: above reproach, 1; blameless, 5; unblemished, 1; without blemish, 1. Ephesians 1:4 (note) just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love Ephesians 5:27 (note) that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless. Philippians 2:15 (note) that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, Colossians 1:22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach-- Hebrews 9:14 (note) how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 1 Peter 1:19 (note) but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. Jude 1:24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, Revelation 14:5 (note) And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless. Amomos is used 76 times in the Septuagint (LXX) (Exod. 29:1, 38; Lev. 1:3, 10; 3:1, 6, 9; 4:3, 14, 23, 28, 32; 5:15, 18; 6:6; 9:2f; 12:6; 14:10; 22:19, 21; 23:12, 18; Num. 6:14; 7:88; 15:24; 19:2; 28:3, 9, 11, 19, 27, 31; 29:2, 8, 13, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32, 36; 2 Sam. 22:24, 31, 33; Ps. 15:2; 18:23, 30, 32; 19:7, 13; 37:18; 64:4; 101:1, 6; 119:1, 80; Prov. 11:5, 20; 20:7; 22:11; Ezek. 28:15; 43:22f, 25; 45:18, 23; 46:4, 6, 13; Dan. 1:4) The picture of amomos reminds one of the Old Testament sacrificial animal which was required to be free of defects. Under Jewish law before an animal could be offered as a sacrifice it must be inspected and if any blemish was found it must be rejected as unfit for an offering to God. Only the best was fit to offer to God. In the Septuagint (LXX) amomos is used three times in one verse noting that the Nazarite shall present his offering to the LORD: one male lamb a year old without defect (amomos) for a burnt offering and one ewe-lamb a year old without defect (amomos) for a sin offering and one ram without defect (amomos) for a peace offering" (Nu 6:14) Barclay adds that amomos... thinks of the whole man as an offering to God. It thinks of taking every part of our life, work, pleasure, sport, home life, personal relationships, and making them all such that they can be offered to God. This word does not mean that the Christian must be respectable; it means that he must be perfect. To say that the Christian must be amomos is to banish contentment with second bests; it means that the Christian standard is nothing less than perfection. (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series. The Westminster Press or Logos) Amomos is used by Peter to describe Christ's "precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished (amomos) and spotless, the blood of Christ." (see note 1 Peter 1:19) God "chose (actually picked us out for Himself as His own) us in Him (our position) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless (amomos) before Him" (see note Ephesians 1:4). One day in eternity future Jesus will present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless (amomos)." (see note Ephesians 5:27) As A T Pierson (in "The Work of Christ") says Think of it—when the omniscient eye looks upon us at the last, He will not find anything that to His immaculate holiness can be so much as a pimple or a mole on a human face. How incredible! F W Grant (in his commentary on Ephesians) concurs adding that there will be No sign of old age about it, no defect; nothing will suit Him then but the bloom and eternity of an eternal youth, the freshness of affections which will never tire, which can know no decay. The Church will be holy and blameless then. After all that we have known of her history, it would be strange to read that, if we did not know how gloriously God maintains His triumph over sin and evil. As we work out our salvation in fear and trembling, not grumbling or disputing, we prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach (amomos) in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world." (see note Philippians 2:15) The children of God are to be free from defilement and so not chargeable with justifiable criticism even though we live in the midst of a twisted and perverted generation. By living lives above reproach and without blemish, God’s children will stand out all the more clearly against the dark background of this world. The darker the night, the brighter the light appears. We as believers cannot create light per se, but we can reflect the glory of Christ in us so that others may see Jesus in us. Like every other spiritual virtue, being blameless, faultless and above reproach is impossible in a believer’s own power. Such a practice is only possible in the power of the the unblemished and spotless Christ Himself Who is able to keep (believers) from stumbling, and to make (them) stand in the presence of His glory blameless (amomos) with great joy” (Jude 1:24). Remember too that God cannot shine through you until He works in you, so let Him have His way. 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