Useless (692) (argos from a = without + érgon = work) literally means without work, without labor, doing nothing, as one not working the ground and so living without labor. As employed in the New Testament, argos always describes something inoperative or unserviceable. Argos describes that which is not working, ineffective, barren, yielding no return or worthless, not accomplishing anything. Argos was used to describe money that was yielding no interest or of a field lying fallow. Argos conveys several ideas depending on the context - (1) unemployed - without anything to do (Mt 20:3,6, 1Ti 5:13); (2) being unwilling to work, wanting nothing to do, shunning the labor which one ought to perform - idle, neglectful or lazy (as used in Titus 1:12) and (3) unproductive - useless, unprofitable or worthless (Jas 2:20, 2Pe 1:8-note; Mt 12:36). Argos is used 7 times in the NT (see uses below) and is translated in the NASB as: careless, 1; idle, 4; lazy, 1; useless, 2. KJV translates it as: barren, 1; idle, 6; slow, 1. Argos is found once in the Septuagint (LXX) (1 Ki 6:7) Matthew 12:36 "And I say to you, that every careless (literally "not working", barren, unproductive) word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment. (Comment: Re-read this verse and think about the implications of what comes out of our mouths. Are our words "working" - ergon - words, words that are productive and which edify? "Not working" words include those that are flippant, irresponsible, hypocritical or in any way inappropriate. cf Eph 4:29) Matthew 20:3 "And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place; Matthew 20:6 "And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing; and he said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day long?' 1 Timothy 5:13 And at the same time they (younger widows) also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention. James 2:20 (see below also) But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless (unprofitable, worthless - carries the idea of fruitlessness - see parallel thought in Mt 7:19-note)? (Comment: What does a fruitless life demonstrate?) Titus 1:12-note One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." Argos can pertain to being without anything to do, unemployed or idle. In this sense it does not necessarily connote laziness but merely points up the fact that they were unemployed at the time. For example in Jesus' parable of the vineyard He related how the landowner went to hire laborers "And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place." (Mt 20:3). Argos is not a picture of one who is unavoidably unemployed but of one who avoids labor for which he or she should assume responsibility ("we are His workmanship" Eph 2:10-note). James (Jas 2:20) uses argos to describe a faith that fails to show itself in works. Jesus warned that “Every tree that does not bear good fruit, is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Mt 7:19-note). A fruitless life is proof that one does not belong to God and is unacceptable to God, because this life does not have His divine life within. Faith apart from works is head belief, and therefore dead belief. Argos is like money gaining no interest and fertile land yielding no crops. Argos describes that which does not fulfill its purpose. In a spiritual sense argos means "to produce no good for God." With the virtues mentioned above increasing in one’s life (see notes 2 Peter 1:5; 1:6; 1:7), a Christian will not be useless or effective. Peter's point is that in contrast to being barren, inactive, indolent, and useless, if these virtues are increasing in one’s life, this Christian's life will not be useless or ineffective. Paul in a parallel passage writes "So then, while we have opportunity (see in depth study of this word kairos), let us do good (not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage; see study of good deeds) to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith (the first test of our love for God is our love for His other children, our brothers and sisters in Christ)." (Gal 6:10) MacArthur gives an example to illustrate "useless" "People have said to me, "I have a friend who received Christ and came to church and Bible study for awhile. But now he never comes. He just doesn't seem interested. I can't figure out if he's a Christian or not." I have had the same problem. There was a man who used to come to Grace Church and teach in the children's department. But he has not darkened our door for many years. People have asked me if he's a believer. To be perfectly honest, I haven't the faintest idea because he is indistinguishable from an unbeliever. He is argos-- dead and barren." We probably all know someone like this. How eternally tragic to be a believer blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, possessing every accoutrement necessary for life and godliness, including access to all of God's precious and magnificent promises, and most significantly to be a sharer in God's divine nature...and yet despite all these spiritual advantages, to still be utterly useless to God, spiritually bankrupt so to speak! Can you imagine what that day will be like for these saints when they "appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (2Cor 5:10) and "each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." (1Cor 3:13, 14, 15) MacDonald adds these thoughts on the "useless" life: "Only the life lived in fellowship with God can be truly effective. The guidance of the Holy Spirit eliminates barren activity and insures maximum efficiency. Otherwise, we are shadow-boxing, or sewing without thread." In this section, it is clear that Peter's desire is that believers "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2Pe 3:18-note) as expressed in this little poem by Eliza Hewitt More about Jesus would I know, More of his grace to others show; More of his saving fullness see, More of his love who died for me. NOR UNFRUITFUL: oude akarpous kathistesin (3SPAI): (Mt 13:22; Jn 15:2;Jn 15:6; Titus 3:14) "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/2_peter_18-14.htm#Useless