Article August 27, 1938 Issue

Bible Notes

"But I say unto you" (Matt. 5:44)—Normally in the Greek of the New Testament period the personal pronoun "I" is simply implied when use is made of the first person singular of the verb; but in cases of special emphasis the additional word "ego" is found, as in this verse, suggesting clearly that the "I" is to be stressed. It is evident that the Master is emphasizing the contrast between his interpretation of the Old Testament law and the way in which his audience had formerly heard or understood it.

"The blindness of their heart" (Eph. 4:18)—The term "porosis," which is here translated "blindness," had the original meaning of "the covering with a thick skin or callous" (poros), and came to be used in the sense of mental dullness, obtuseness, stubbornness, or obduracy (cf. Thayer: Greek Lexicon, p. 559; and Abbott-Smith: Greek Lexicon). In consequence we find that Moffatt has: "their dulness of heart;" Weymouth (5th Edition): "the insensibility of their moral nature;" Goodspeed: "their obstinacy of heart;" and the Riverside New Testament: "the hardness of their hearts."

"Is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts" (Eph. 4:22)—More literally: "is becoming corrupt because of the lusts of deceit." Weymouth suggests: "is doomed to perish as befits its misleading impulses;" and Good speed: "is going to ruin through its deceptive passions;" while Moffatt renders: "crumbles to ruin under the passions of moral deceit."

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