Undefiled (283) (amiantos from a = negates what follows + miaino = to defile by staining, as with color) means without contamination, unpolluted, untainted, unstained (stainless), unsoiled, without uncleanness or impurity. The idea is free from that by which the nature of a thing is deformed or debased, or its force or vigor is impaired. In secular Greek writings amiantos was used to describe things such as unstained hands, heart, flesh or body. Aeschylus calls the sea simply "the undefiled". Amiantos is used four times in the NT (4x: 2x He;1x Js;1x 1 Pe) Our inheritance is in perfect condition, free from any spot of dirt or pollution on it. It has nothing in it that defiles. Our inheritance is pure as the driven snow and free from any effect or influence that would deform and debase it or cause it to lose its vigor or value. It cannot be cheapened in any way. It cannot disappoint us in any way. Matthew Henry adds that Sin and misery, the two grand defilements that spoil this world, and mar its beauty, have no place there. The undefiled inheritance of the Christian is in marked contrast to an earthly inheritance, all of which is corrupted and defiled (2Pe1:4 "the corruption that is in the world by lust.") Corruption cannot touch our inheritance or ever wear out its freshness, brightness, and beauty. The writer of Hebrews uses amiantos to describe Jesus, writing that it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled (amiantos - free from any moral or spiritual blemish - not even a taint of sin - Not merely ritual purity [Lv 21:10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15] but real ethical cleanness), separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens. (He 7:26-note) Sin always defiles the soul, but from every such pollution the Lord Jesus was free. And so our inheritance is undefiled even as is our great High Priest Who is now in possession of it! James says real religion is pure and undefiled (amiantos)...in the sight of our God and Father" and is shown to be genuine when we "visit orphans and widows in their distress, and... keep oneself unstained by the world. (Jas 1:27-note) The writer of Hebrews exhorts us to let the marriage bed be undefiled (amiantos); for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. (He 13:4-note) Trench aptly remarks that “it is a remarkable testimony to the reign of sin, and therefore of imperfection, of decay, of death throughout this whole fallen world, that as often as we desire to set forth the glory, purity, and perfection of that other, higher world toward which we strive, we are almost inevitably compelled to do this by the aid of negatives; by the denying to that higher order of things the leading features and characteristics of this.” (Re 21:1-note Re 22:3-note) Barnes adds that as amiantos is applied to an inheritance, it means that it will be pure. It will not have been obtained by dishonesty, nor will it be held by fraud; it will not be such as will corrupt the soul, or tempt to extravagance, sensuality, and lust, as a rich inheritance often does here; it will be such that its eternal enjoyment will never tend in any manner to defile the heart. “How many estates,” says Benson, “have been got by fraudulent and unjust methods; by poisoning, or in some other way murdering the right heir; by cheating of helpless orphans; by ruining the fatherless and widows; by oppressing their neighbors, or grinding the faces of the poor, and taking their garments or vineyards from them! But this future inheritance of the saints is stained by none of these vices; it is neither got nor detained by any of these methods; nor shall persons polluted with vice have any share in it.” Here no one can be heir to an inheritance of gold or houses without danger of soon sinking into indolence, effeminacy, or vice; there the inheritance may be enjoyed forever, and the soul continually advance in knowledge, holiness, and the active service of God." (Barnes' Notes on the Bible) "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/1_peter_13-5.htm#UNDEFILED%20AMIANTOS