Article September 21, 1935 Issue

Bible Notes

"Honest, ... of good report" (Phil. 4:8)—The primary meaning of the word "senna," here translated "honest," is "august, venerable, reverend"; then it came to have the sense of "venerated for character, honourable" (Thayer: Greek Lexicon, p. 573); while "euphema" (of good report) means literally "sounding well"; and Thayer holds that, as employed in this context, it connotes "things spoken in a kindly spirit with good will to others" (ibid., p. 263).

"Though Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil. 4:13)—The best manuscripts of the original agree in omitting the word "Christ"; and are followed by the Revised Version, Waymouth (5th edition), Moffattm and others. For example: The Twentieth Century New Testament has: "I can do everything in the strength of him who makes me strong;" and Good-speed: "I can do anything through him who gives me strength." (See also Tischendorf: Novum Testamentum Graece, and Souter: Novum Testamentum Graece.

"God doeth it, that men should fear before him" (Eccles. 3:14)—In Henrew the verb "yare'" is often used in the sense of awe or reverence, implying respect rather than terror. The above verse is translated as follows in Brown, Driver, Briggs: Hebrew Lexicon (p. 431): "God doeth it that we should stand in awe before him." Moffatt has: "God orders things, that men may stand in awe of him;" and Smith: "God has made it so that they shall be in awe before him."

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