The Greek verb areskō means to please, to be pleasing to, to seek to please, to give satisfaction to. It describes the act of gaining someone's approval or acting in a way that pleases them. It has both positive and negative uses in the NT — pleasing God (positive) versus people-pleasing (negative).
Paul draws a decisive contrast: 'Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings (anthrōpois areskō), or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ' (Galatians 1:10). The one who aims to please people cannot be a servant of Christ — the masters are incompatible when their approval diverges. Yet pleasing God is the positive goal: 'We continually ask God to fill you... so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him (areskō) in every way' (Colossians 1:10). Romans 15:1-3 says Christ 'did not please himself' (ouk ēresei) — He bore the reproaches of others in love. The theology of areskō defines the axis of Christian motivation: do we live for the divine audience or the human one?