Article October 24, 1936 Issue

Bible Notes

"They think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot" (I Pet. 4:4)—The rare Greek word translated "excess" means literally "outpouring" (Souter: Greek Lexicon, p. 21) or "the confluence of waters"—"then the cistern, sink, or cesspool into which waters have flowed" (Plumptre: Commentary on First Peter, p. 141); while the word rendered "riot" suggests by its derivation a state from which salvation is well-nigh impossible. Moffatt renders: "It astonishes them that you will not plunge with them still into the same flood of profligacy;" and Goodspeed: "They are amazed that you no longer join them in plunging into the flood of dissipation."

"Be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer" (I Pet. 4:7)—It may be observed that Aristotle and other early Greek writers pointed out that the verb here rendered "be sober" implied "the harmony of affections and desires with reason." Moffatt has: "Steady then, keep cool and pray;" and Weymouth: "Therefore be sober-minded and temperate, that you may give yourselves to prayer."

"The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way" (Prov. 11:5)—The Hebrew verb here translated "direct" can also mean "to make straight, level or even" (cf. Feyerabend: Hebrew Dictionary, p. 138). Consequently, Dr. Delitzsch renders: "The righteousness of the blameless smootheth his way" (Commentary on Proverbs, Vol. I, p. 232); and Moffatt has: "The path of a right-minded man is cleared by his own goodness;" while Smith prefers: "The honest man's path is kept straight by his righteousness."

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