εἰλικρίν-εια G1505
sincerity, purity of motive; unmixed genuineness without pretense or ulterior purpose
The noun εἰλικρίνεια derives from εἰλικρινής (possibly from ἡλή 'sunlight' + κρίνω 'judge'—what stands up to sunlight's scrutiny), meaning purity, sincerity, unmixedness. It denotes transparency of motive, absence of deceit, and integrity that welcomes examination. In Paul's usage it describes both proper celebration of Christian festivals and authentic apostolic ministry—conduct pure enough to bear divine scrutiny, unmixed with selfish agendas or duplicity.
Senses
1. sense 1 — First Corinthians 5:8 commands: 'Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth'—Passover imagery applied to Christian living. In 2 Corinthians 1:12 Paul defends his integrity: 'our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity.' Second Corinthians 2:17 contrasts peddlers of God's word with those who 'speak in Christ...as from God and in the presence of God'—with pure motives. The Spanish (sinceridad) and French (sincérité) capture the sincerity aspect, while German (Aufrichtigkeit) emphasizes uprightness. The metaphor of sunlight-tested purity suggests motives so clear they can withstand God's examining light. 3×
AR["إخلاصٍ", "الإِخْلاصِ"]·ben["আন্তরিকতায়", "আন্তরিকতার", "আন্তরিকতার,"]·DE["Aufrichtigkeit"]·EN["of-sincerity", "sincerity"]·FR["sincérité"]·heb["טֹהַר", "תֹּם"]·HI["सच्चाई", "सच्चाई-की"]·ID["ketulusan"]·IT["sincerita"]·jav["kasucian", "katemenan", "katemenan,"]·KO["순수함-의", "순수함으로", "진실함"]·PT["de-sinceridade", "sinceridade"]·RU["искренности", "чистоте", "чистоты"]·ES["de-sinceridad", "sinceridad"]·SW["uaminifu", "uaminifu,", "ya-unyofu"]·TR["içtenlikle", "samimiyet", "samimiyetten"]·urd["صفائی", "صفائی-کی"]
Related Senses
H2896a 1. good (quality or moral) (305×)H7563 1. wicked person (259×)H7451c 1. moral evil or wickedness (234×)H5771 1. iniquity, sin, wrongdoing (222×)H6662 1. righteous person (substantive) (195×)G0266 1. sin, failure, transgression (173×)H2403b 1. sin, transgression (170×)H2617a 1. Covenant faithfulness, steadfast love (167×)H2398 1. Qal: to sin, commit sin (165×)H6666 1. righteousness, moral uprightness (145×)G5485 1. grace, divine favor (141×)H7451a 1. morally evil, wicked (129×)H2403b 2. sin-offering, sacrifice for sin (120×)G2570 1. good, right, excellent (98×)H6588 1. transgression, offense against God (88×)G0018 1. good (moral quality) (85×)H2896b 1. good, what is good (85×)H7451b 1. evil, wickedness (moral) (83×)H7451a 2. evil, harm, calamity (80×)G1342 1. righteous, upright (of persons) (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
εἰλικρίν-εια [ρῐ], ἡ, unmixedness, purity, opposed to μίξις, Refs 4th c.BC+; in bad sense, unrelievedness, κακοῦ Refs 1st c.BC+ __II sincerity, uprightness, NT+3rd c.AD+