Article May 7, 1938 Issue

Bible Notes

"Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed" (II Cor. 6:3)—The Greek word "proskopen," here rendered "offence," is more literally "a stumbling block"; and "diakonia" (ministry) is literally "service" (cf. Thayer: Greek Lexicon). Goodspeed suggests: "I put no obstacles in anyone's path, so that no fault may be found with my work;" and Weymouth (fifth edition) has: "We give no cause for stumbling of any sort, lest our ministry should incur discredit."

"In necessities, in distresses" (II Cor. 6:4)—The Greek word "anagkais" can mean either "necessities" or "calamities, distresses" (Thayer: op. cit., p. 36); while the word translated "distresses" in our Common Version means literally "narrowness of space" (compare our phrase, "straitened circumstances"); hence, "dire calamities," "extreme afflictions" (Thayer: op. cit., p. 587). Moffatt renders, "by troubles, by calamities;" Weymouth: "distresses, anguish"; and Goodspeed: "difficulties, hardships."

"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved" (Eph. 1:6)—Goodspeed offers the rendering: "so that we might praise the splendid blessing which he has given us through his beloved Son;" while Weymouth has: "to the praise of the splendour of His grace with which He has enriched us in the beloved One." It may be noted that the verb rendered "to make ... accepted" in our Common Version means more literally "to pursue with grace, compass with favor, to honor with blessings" (Thayer: op. cit., p. 667), and it comes from the same root as the word translated "grace."

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