πρόφασις

πρόφασις — próphasis

πρόφασις, προφασεως, ἡ (προφαίνω, i. e. properly, 'to cause to shine before' (or 'forth'; but many derive πρόφασις directly from προφημι)), from Homer down;

a. a pretext (alleged reason, pretended cause): τῆς πλεονεξίας, such as covetousness is accustomed to use, 1Th 2:5 ((A. V. cloak of covetousness) the meaning being, that he had never misused his apostolic office in order to disguise or to hide avaricious designs); πρόφασιν ἔχειν (a phrase frequent in Greek authors, cf. Passow, under the word πρόφασις 1 b. vol. ii., p. 1251b; (Liddell and Scott, under the word, I. 3 e.)) περί τῆς ἁμαρτίας, Joh 15:22 (A. V. marginal reading R. V. excuse).

b. show: προφάσει ὡς κτλ. (A. V.) under color as though they would etc. Act 27:30; προφάσει (A. V. for a pretence), in pretence, ostensibly: Matthew 23:14-13Rec.; Mar 12:40; Luk 20:47; Php 1:18.