Koine Greek - Practising

 

The Koine Greek Word: ποιέω (poieō)

Pronunciation: poy-EH-oh (the “oi” sounds like the “oi” in “coin”, and the stress is on the second syllable).

Meaning in the New Testament:

The verb ποιέω is one of the most common and versatile words in the Greek New Testament. It basically means “to do,” “to make,” “to practise,” or “to carry out.”

In everyday Greek it could simply mean:

     • To do something

     • To make something

     • To cause something to happen

     • To prepare or accomplish

In 1 John 3:4–9 the apostle John uses ποιέω in a very important way when he talks about sin and righteousness:

“Whoever practises sin also practises lawlessness” (1 John 3:4)

“He who practises righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous” (1 John 3:7)

John is not just talking about committing a single act of sin. He is talking about the ongoing practice or habit of sinning — living in a settled pattern of sin without repentance.

The same word is used for practising righteousness — living day by day in a way that pleases God.

Why This Matters in the 1 Timothy Study... in the Bible study on Tuesday evening, Shaun used this word to explain the difference between:

• Someone who occasionally sins but repents and asks for forgiveness (a Christian who is “practising righteousness”), and

• Someone who lives in ongoing, unrepentant sin (someone who is “practising sin” and is therefore living in rebellion against God).

The law points out our sin. But once we turn to Christ, we are called to practise righteousness — not perfectly, but genuinely — rather than continuing to practise sin.

Simple Summary: 

ποιέω (poieō) = to practise, to do repeatedly, to make a habit of something.

It carries the idea of ongoing action rather than a one-off mistake. That is why John says the person who practises sin is of the devil, while the person who practises righteousness shows they belong to God.

This little word helps us understand the difference between stumbling in sin (which all Christians do) and living comfortably in sin (which shows we have not truly turned to Christ).

Article written by Shaun Fereday, Leader @SFGH Church