Article November 6, 1937 Issue

Bible Notes

"The Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work" (I Pet. 1:17)—Commentators point out that the Greek word which is here translated "without respect of persons" expresses, in a Hebraic fashion, the thought that in God's judgment there exists no favoritism (compare: Gore, Goudge and Guillaume: A New Commentary on Holy Scripture). Moffatt renders: "A Father who judges everyone impartially by what he has done;" and Weymouth (fifth edition) suggests: "Your Father the one who judges impartially in accordance with each man's actions;" while Goodspeed has: "If you address him as Father who judges everyone impartially by what he does, you must live reverently all the time you stay here."

"Your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers" (I Pet. 1:18)—In this verse, as on so many different occasions in the New Testament, the Greek word translated "conversation" means more exactly "way of life" or "manner of life." Consequently, Goodspeed translates: "The futile way of living in which you were brought up;" Moffatt: "The futile traditions of your past;" and Weymouth: "The futile habits of life inherited from your forefathers;" while the American Standard Version suggests: "Your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers."

"All the glory of man as the flower of grass" (I Pet. 1:24)—The writer of this epistle is here quoting from the Septuagint Version of Isaiah 40:6–8, but in the original Hebrew of these verses, as in our Authorized Version of the same passage, the reference is to "the flower of the field." The "glory" of such flowers—a glory which in Jesus' eyes surpassed that of Solomon's royal robes (Matt. 6:29)—may still be seen among the "lilies of the field," the brightly colored anemones, poppies, and tulips of the Palestinian plains.