Err (795) astocheo by Greek Word Studies

Gone astray (795) (astocheo from ástochos = one who misses his aim <> in turn from stóchos = aim, target <> which is from a = negative particle + stoichos (an aim) or stochos - mark) means to miss the mark, deviate from truth: swerve. To err, deviate in a figurative and spiritual sense. Literally Paul is saying these men concerning the truth, missed the mark or deviated from the truth. Astocheo does not mean to miss achieving the aim that one has set, but not to set the proper aim at which one ought to aim. It is not focusing on the right goal instead of not achieving one’s set aim. Naturally if one specializes in the proclamation of something that is not essential and central, he will inevitably neglect that which is central and important. The verb does not mean what is conceived by some as “to fall from grace.” The false teachers and their followers had clearly demonstrated by their deviation from Apostolic truth that they had left the straight path of sound doctrine. They had deviated from "The Way" an early title for the church. They had deviated from "the Way, the Truth and the Life" (John 14:6) and the result was upheaval of faith for faith comes by hearing (truth) and hearing (truth) equates with the pure milk of the Word of God. So Paul is saying here are some men who have embraced TRUTH for a while and then gone astray from that TRUTH. This emphasizes Paul's charge for us to be very "diligent...(to handle) accurately the Word of Truth" for clearly it can be mishandled with disastrous consequences. Note that astocheo is used only by Paul in the NT, the other two uses being found in the first epistle to Timothy... For some men, straying from these things (What things? verse 5 ''Instruction'' which is fruitful), have turned aside (astocheo) to fruitless (profitless for their talk produced no godliness. Shakespeare described such babble as “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” God said it was ''straw...(not) fire'' in Jer 23:28) discussion (It wasn't that they were missing what they had aimed at, for this verb indicates that their problem was they had not set the proper aim, i.e., instruction which yields spiritual fruit), 7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions. (1Timothy 1:7, 8) O Timothy, guard (see word study on phulasso = aorist imperative) what has been entrusted (placed beside you as a deposit consigned to Timothy for faithful keeping and faith teaching to faithful men who would be able to teach others also) to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge"--21 which some have professed (announced with certainty, asserted respecting themselves) and thus gone astray (astocheo) from "the faith (pistis). Grace be with you. (1Timothy 6:20, 21)

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Err (795) astocheo

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