Article April 17, 1937 Issue

Bible Notes

"Him that hath called us to glory and virtue" (II Pet. 1:3)—The chief early manuscripts suggest a slightly different rendering, which could be literally translated: "Him that hath called us by (or 'to') his own glory and virtue." When the Greek term "arete" (here rendered "virtue") is used of persons, it refers to any excellence, but especially "virtue or goodness," while Dr. Thayer notes that when used of the Deity "it denotes his power" (Greek Lexicon: p. 73). Weymouth (5th Edition) renders: "Him who called us by His own glory and perfection," and Moffatt suggests: "called us to his own glory and excellence."

"Temperance . . . patience . . . godliness" (II Pet. 1:6)—"Temperance" (the Greek "egkrateia") is literally "self-control" (Thayer: op. cit., p. 166); "patience" (Greek, "hupomone") is more exactly "steadfastness, constancy, endurance" (ibid., p. 644); while an alternative rendering of "godliness" ("eusebeia") would be "piety" (ibid., p. 262). Consequently, Goodspeed renders: "Self-control . . . steadfastness . . . piety;" though Wemouth prefers: "Self-control . . . endurance . . . godliness."

"If these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful" (II Pet. 1:8)—The Greek word "argous," here translated "barren," is more literally "inactive, idle, lazy" (Thayer: op. cit., p. 72; and Abbott-Smith: Greek Lexicon, p. 57). Weymouth and Goodspeed render it "idle"; while Moffatt has: "As these qualities exist and increase with you, they render you active and fruitful."

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