The Greek adjective anōphelēs means useless, unprofitable, or without benefit. Appearing only twice in the New Testament (Titus 3:9 and Hebrews 7:18), it identifies things that do not advance the gospel, spiritual growth, or salvation — and should therefore be avoided or set aside.
Anōphelēs is formed from a- (without) + ophelimon (profitable/beneficial). In Titus 3:9, Paul commands Titus to 'avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.' The pastoral concern is that theological energy can be diverted into speculative debates that produce no fruit of holiness or mission. Hebrews 7:18 uses the word in a sharper theological claim: 'The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (anōphelēs)' — referring to the Mosaic law's inability to bring perfection. The law was not evil; it was good in its purpose (Romans 7:12), but it was powerless to justify or fully transform. This does not license antinomianism but points to what the law could not accomplish that Christ has now accomplished. Anōphelēs is a word of discernment: not everything that looks religious is profitable.