By: Gen. Jim – 8/24/25
The Spirit spoke to us the other day in which He said, in short, “Those who want to offer excuse after excuse for not following Me will find that all of their excuses are rejected because no excuse will stand before Me & those who attempt to pacify Me with excuses are fools. Truly how can anyone think that I will accept their excuses when Jesus Christ gave His ALL for them to be redeemed.”
Life: Full of Excuses!
So true!
In today’s Bible Study I want to examine what the Bible teaches concerning the words “excuse” & “excuses”, the noun, the adjective, & the 2 verbs.
The Noun: Prophasis (Gk.) πρόφασις, a pretense, pretext (from pro, before, & phēmi, to say), is translated “excuse” in Jn. 15:22: “If I had not come & spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they had no cloke for their sin.” KJV. The KJV has “cloke” for “excuse”. The ASV reads, “have no excuse for their sin”; the NKJV has “no excuse”; the NIV has “excuse”; the RSV has “excuse”.
Why “Cloke”?
Paul uses the word “cloke” in 1 Thes. 2:5, “… nor a cloke of covetousness…” KJV; the NKJV uses the same, et al.
Cloke: (pretense) (1) Epikalumma (ἐπικάλυμμα) is a covering, a means of hiding (epi, upon, kaluptō, to cover); a pretext, an excuse for wickedness, (see 1 Pet. 2:16). In the O.T. Greek it is used in Ex. 26:14; 39:21, “coverings”; 2 Sam. 17:19; Job 19:29, “deceit”.
(2) Prophasis (πρόφασις), either from pro, before, & phainō, to cause to appear, shine, or, more probably, from pro, & phēmi, to say, is rendered “cloke” in 1 Thes. 2:5; “excuse” in Jn. 15:22 & “cloke” (as already seen); “pretense” in Mt. 23:14; Mk. 12:40; Lk. 20:47 (KJV = “shew”); Phil. 1:18; “colour” in Acts 27:30. It signifies the assuming of something so as to disguise one’s real motives.
The Adj.: Anapologētos (ἀναπολόγητος), meaning without excuse, inexcusable (a negative, euphonic, & apologeomai). Romans 1:20 has, “… so that they are without excuse,” KJV/NKJV et al. Rom. 2:1 reads: “Therefore thou art inexcusable, o man…” KJV, et al.;
The Verbs: Apologeomai (ἀπολογέομαι), lit., to speak oneself off, hence, to plead for oneself, & so, in general, to defend (as before a tribunal) (see Rom. 2:15 where the word “excusing” in used, KJV; the RSV has, “excuse”, as does others trans.). (note: in the RSV Rom. 2:15 has the words “accuse” & “excuse” almost side-by-side). This text provides a moral standard by which men judge one another: “which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, & their thoughts, the meanwhile, accusing or else excusing one another.” Rom. 2:15, KJV/AV.
In activity according to justice, mercy, temperance, & truth, they show that they great object of the law, which was to bring men from injustice, cruelty, intemperance, & falsity, is accomplished so far in them: “their conscience also bearing witness” – the faculty of the soul, where that Divine Light dwells & works, shows them that they are right; & thus they have a good testimony in their own souls of their own integrity. This is the way Prof. Adam Clarke perceives it (1814).
Paul, in 2 Cor. 12:19, uses the word “excuse”: “… think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you…?” KJV. He uses the Gk. word ἀπολογούμεθα, ἀπολογέομαι in 2 Cor. 12:19.
Paraiteomai (παραιτέομαι) is used in the sense of begging off, asking to be excused or making an excuse: “And they all with one consent began to make excuse…” – Luke 14:18, KJV. The NKJV has, “… make excuses.” Vs.18 also has, “… I ask you to have me excused,” NKJV; vs.19 same. In the first part of vs.18 the verb is used in the Middle Voice, “to make excuse” (i.e., acting in imagined self-interest); in the latter part and in vs.19 it is in the Passive Voice, “have me excused”.
The word “excuse” can be used in several ways: 1) to try to free (a person) of blame; seek to exonerate; 2) to try to minimize or pardon (a fault/crime/sin); apologize or give reasons for; 3) to consider (an offense or fault) as not important; overlook; pardon; 4) to release from an obligation, duty, promise, oath, etc.; 5) to permit to leave; 6) to serve as an explanation or justification for; justify; exculpate; absolve. (as a N.) 1) a plea in defense of or explanation for some action or behavior; apology; 2) a release from obligation, duty, etc.; 3) something that excuses; extenuating or justifying factor; 4) a pretended reason for conduct; pretext.
Are We Guilty?
At times, yes! Why do we make excuse for not giving our ALL for the Gospel? Making excuse for the “flesh” will not go very far in God’s sight. Carnality carries the SENTENCE of DEATH & DAMNATION! This is Gospel Truth. The more we make excuses for not giving our ALL, the deeper we sink in the stink of death: “Walk in the Spirit, & you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” – Gal. 5:16 – which proves that the “carnal man” must still be alive! To take DOMINION over it is to “Walk in the Spirit.
Can we fall from grace? Yep! Sure can! Paul warned the Galatians: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” – Gal. 5:1. Paul was dealing with one way the new believers could fall: to be circumcised (putting him under the Jewish law, which Jesus did away with – the new Christians were to be circumcised in heart, not in the flesh). If new believers (Gentiles) sought to be circumcised, Paul says, “You have fallen from grace,” 5:4. “In Christ neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working thru love” (vs.5).
Today’s Church (in many circles) makes excuses for their fleshly lusts/habits.
God’s Spirit told us that there are in the endless chambers of Hell those who LOST their minds to demons & are raving mad because of their wrong choices against His Spirit. The Bible proclaims over & over to resist the WAY of excuse making – “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, & make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” – Rom. 13:14, NKJV.
Provision (Gk., pronoia/ πρόνοια = care or supply), from pronoeō = by way of maintenance/circumspection for oneself, provide for self.
How many times do we make excuses for this very “do not!”? One translation reads, “make… provision for satisfying the clamors of unregenerate instincts.”
Let’s face it, excuse making allows the “flesh” to become the fierce tyrannical, lawless, force that will END one’s relationship with Jesus. There are passions/lusts in our lives that seem uncontrollable. Fasting & prayer, denial will help to weaken these forces. (one can read Augustine’s Confessions, where he describes his struggles.).
IF
If we’ve fallen down, GET UP!, REPENT! Keep moving upward & onward, remaining true to the vows/covenants you (we) have made. Don’t stay down – GET UP!… GET MOVING! Put “excuse making” under foot (in dominion). We have the power of God in us that raised Jesus from the dead – BE ALIVE! BE ALERT! BE AGGRESSIVE against excuse making.