Article October 13, 1934 Issue

Bible Notes

"The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister" (Mark 10:45)—The Greek verb "diakonein," here translated "to minister," has the primary meaning of "to wait at table," but came to be used in the more general sense of "to serve" in any capacity (cf. Souter: Greek Lexicon, p. 62). Goodspeed translates: "For the Son of man has not come to be waited on, but to wait on other people," and continues, "and to give his life to free many others;" while Weymouth (5th Edition) has: "For indeed the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve others, and to give His life as the redemption price for many."

"Faith" (Rom. 5:1)—It may be noted that, according to Thayer (Greek Lexicon, p. 514), the primary meaning of the Greek word "pistis," here translated "faith," is "conviction of the truth of anything."

"Tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope" (Rom. 5:3f.)—The Greek word "dokime" (experience) comes from the same root as the adjective "dokimos," which was regularly used to describe metals or coins which were "genuine or approved" as opposed to "alloyed or counterfeit." Thus Souter notes that "dokime" means "approvedness; hence 'character'" (Greek Lexicon: p. 68), while, in view of its derivation, we might well render it "sterling character." Goodspeed translates: "Trouble produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope;" and Weymouth: "Affliction produces endurance; endurance, ripeness of character; and ripeness of character, hope."

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