The Important Meaning of “Prove” and “Reprobate” (Part 2)
“That ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” — Romans 12:2 (KJV)
“God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.” — Romans 1:28 (KJV)
These two words—prove and reprobate—represent not only two ends of a spiritual scale, but two pathways diverging in the heart of every believer. To understand them is to understand what God is seeking in those who follow Him—and what He sorrowfully abandons in those who turn away. Each word, in its origin and its usage, carries weight, purpose, and warning.
“Prove” – dokimazō
The Greek word translated “prove” in Romans 12:2 is dokimazō, which means to test, to examine, and to recognize something as genuine after scrutiny. This is not casual affirmation—it’s rigorous discernment that leads to spiritual confidence. Paul uses this word often to describe the responsibility of the renewed mind: to be spiritually perceptive, careful in judgment, and eager to affirm that which is good, acceptable, and perfect in God’s eyes.
“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21) is not just a call to critical thinking—it’s a call to spiritual courage. The believer must not float through life assuming anything is pleasing to God. Instead, we are to take everything—from doctrine to behavior, relationships to priorities—and place them under examination. And through a mind renewed by the Spirit and Word, we then hold fast to what passes the test.
In Galatians 6:4, Paul adds, “Let every man prove his own work…”—emphasizing that this process is personal. It’s not about comparing ourselves to others, but about carefully testing our own walk before God. A life that proves God’s will becomes a life that reflects His approval.
“Reprobate” – adokimos
On the opposite end is the word reprobate, translated from the Greek adokimos, which literally means “not approved.” The prefix “a-” turns the word into its negative form: untested, rejected, disqualified. In Romans 1:28, Paul uses it to describe a terrifying outcome—God giving people over to a reprobate mind, one that can no longer discern, respond to, or be corrected by truth.
This is not an innocent ignorance. It’s a forfeited sensitivity. A reprobate mind is one that has resisted the proving process, rejected the knowledge of God, and been released into moral and spiritual decay. It is as if the soul has failed the test and no longer even knows there was one. In 2 Corinthians 13:5, Paul warns believers to examine themselves lest they find themselves reprobate. Even in Titus 1:16, he describes those who claim to know God but, by their works, prove themselves to be “reprobate unto every good work.”
This is the tragic mirror image of dokimazō. Instead of testing and approving, the reprobate mind dodges examination, fails moral scrutiny, and becomes incapable of affirming what is good. It slips downward into darkness—away from discernment, away from God.
Why This Matters
Dear reader, this is not academic. This is the pulse of your spiritual health. Whether your mind is being renewed or resigned… whether you are testing or drifting… whether you are growing in approval or slowly fading toward rejection—these words ask you to choose.
You are not reading this by accident. The Spirit of God has called you to examine, to test, to discern. “Examine yourselves,” Paul writes—not to shame, but to awaken. Because this proving process is the safeguard of your soul. It invites the Word of God to do its work inside you—to reshape your thoughts, refine your affections, reframe your decisions.
And so, I urge you: evaluate your response to the Word within you. Are you proving it? Or resisting it? Are you embracing truth when it challenges you, or making excuses when it convicts you? Let God’s Word be proved—not ignored. Let your love for Him drive your discernment. Let your hunger for righteousness guide your judgment. Because the cost of spiritual disinterest is high. And the descent into reprobation is subtle.
Let these words be not only a mirror—but a mercy. God is willing to renew the mind, sharpen spiritual discernment, and strengthen love in action. Let your life be found approving what is excellent, proving what is eternal, and reflecting what pleases Him.
I am glad someone else is digging into this word "reprobate" or adokimos which means unapproved or tested and failed. Would you agree that when we are tempted to sin and we cave into that sin that is adokimos? and if we continue to fail we develop a pattern which in the end could condemn us. sooner or later don't we need to dokimos or began the difficult task of passing the test of sins temptations?
ReplyDeleteHi Jake,
DeleteYou're absolutely right to lean into the meaning of adokimos—unapproved, tested and failed—and how that relates to the believer’s struggle with temptation. The distinction you draw between repeated failure and eventual spiritual consequence is compelling, but it’s important to see temptation itself as part of the proving process, not the disqualifier. When a believer caves into sin, it doesn’t automatically render them adokimos—instead, it reveals an area where renewal and discipline, as shown in Part 5 of this study, must be strengthened. Paul’s use of dokimazō involves sincere testing for approval—not instant perfection, but a proven sincerity in our response to truth.
You’re correct that repeated failure without repentance can establish a downward pattern, as described in Part 6: suppression of truth, substitution with lies, and finally abandonment. That spiral, unchecked, leads to the condition of adokimos—not just moral failure, but a life that has become spiritually unfit, hardened, or non-responsive to truth. For a believer, this doesn’t mean loss of salvation or eternal condemnation—as you pointed out, we’re fully justified by faith (Romans 5:1). But it can mean becoming unprofitable to God, as in “reprobate unto every good work” (Titus 1:16), resulting in loss of reward and spiritual function (1 Corinthians 3:15, 2 Timothy 2:20–21). This echoes the sobering reality of falling from grace—not into hell, but into uselessness (for God and in the Body of Christ).
From a dispensational perspective, we understand that all our sins are forgiven judicially—past, present, and future. But that doesn’t negate the relational consequences of sin. A believer who walks in the flesh rather than the Spirit (Romans 8:5–8) is living beneath their calling and purpose. Paul’s solution throughout his epistles isn’t more performance—it’s more surrender. Galatians 5:16 urges us to “walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” The antidote to becoming adokimos is continual renewal (Romans 12:2), loving discernment (Philippians 1:10), disciplined surrender (Romans 12:1), and regular self-examination (2 Corinthians 13:5).
So yes—we must engage in dokimos, proving what is acceptable to God. And that includes resisting temptation, repenting when we fall, and allowing failure to become fuel for transformation. The grace of God doesn’t just forgive—it empowers. The presence of temptation is not the problem. Prolonged passivity is. The danger lies not in the stumble, but in failing to rise. That’s where the spiral begins—and by God’s Spirit, that’s where it can end.
Grace to you.
btw, I have written a 1000 word piece on this same subject, would you like to read it? I have to confess I am a novice writer and I didn't explain it nearly as well as you did.
ReplyDeleteSure. Welcome to send the link.
DeleteHi Jake,
ReplyDeleteTX for your comments and participation here.
I have flagged your comment for reply and will get back to it soonest. Its late and I have to get to bed. 💤
Check in for my reply soon....
God bless.