"Sychar, near to the parcel of ground the Jacob gave to his son Joseph" (John 4:5)—Genesis 33:19 informs us that Jacob acquired this ground, on which in the course of his wanderings he had "spread his tent," from "the children of Hamor, Shechem's father," paying for it the sum of "an hundred pieces of money;" and there he erected an altar (verse 20), while in Joshua 24:32 it is confirmed that "it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph."

"Keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called" (I Tim. 6:20)—A literal translation would read: "Guard the deposit, turning away from common empty discussion and oppositions of knowledge." It is interesting to note that the Greek word rendered "opposition" is "antithesis"; while "that which is committed to thy trust" represents only two Greek words, which are rendered "the deposit" (or "the security") on the authority of early Greek papyrus manuscripts (see Moulton and Milligan: Vocabulary of the Greek New Testament, pp. 483ff.). Hence Moffatt translates: "Keep the securities of the faith intact: avoid the profane jargon and contradictions of what is falsely called Knowledge.'"

"The people ... gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did" (Acts 8:6)—The Greek word "semeia," here translated "miracles," is the regular term for "signs," and is thus rendered in the Revised Version and other translations. The rendering of our common version would suggest that the people heard the miracles as well as saw them; but Weymouth's rendering implies a slightly different sense: "Crowds of people ... gave attention to what they heard from him, listening, and witnessing the signs which he wrought."

"As Peter passed throughout all quarters" (Acts 9:32)—The word "quarters" is not directly represented in the original, being added by the translators to complete their concept of the sense. Weymouth suggests: "Peter, as he went to town after town;" though Goodspeed prefers: "as Peter was traveling about among them all;" while Moffatt renders the complete verse as follows: "Peter moved here and there among them all, and it happened that in the course of his tours he came down to visit the saints who stayed at Lydda."

To be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Rom. 8:6)—The Greek term "phronema," which occurs twice in this verse, means properly "the thoughts of the mind" rather than the mind itself (Thayer: Greek Lexicon, p. 658: Souter: Greed Lexicon, p. 277). A more literal translation would be: "Material thoughts are death, but spiritual thoughts are life and peace." Goodspeed has: "To be physically minded means death, but to be spiritually minded means life and peace;" and Moffatt: "The interests of the flesh meant death, the interests of the Spirit meant life and peace;" while the Genevan Version, prepared towards the close of the sixteenth century, provides this interesting rendering: "For the wisedome of the flesh is death: but the wisedome of the Spirit is life and peace."

"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," which is here translated "virtue," is used of persons, it refers to any excellence, whather of mind or body, but especially "virtue" or "goodness," while Dr. Thayer notes that when it is used of the Deity "it denotes his power" (op. cit., p. 73). Weymouth translates: "Him who called us by His own glory and perfection;" and Moffatt suggests: "... called us to his own glory and excellence."

"And beside this, giving all diligence" (II Pet. 1:5)—The Greek phrase "auto touto," here translated "beside this," means literally "this same thing," or "this very thing," and is often idiomatically employed in the sense of "for this very purpose," or "on this very account" (Thayer: op. cit., p. 86). Hence the Revised Version and Weymouth have: "for this very cause;" and Goodspeed and Moffatt: "for this very reason."

"So an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly" (II Pet. 1:11)—The verb could be literally rendered: "shall be supplied" (Thayer: op. cit., p. 246). Moffatt has: "You will thus be richly furnished with the right of entry;" and Goodspeed: "Then you will be triumphantly admitted;" while Weymouth has: "So a triumphant admission ... shall be accorded to you."

"The prisoner of the Lord" (Eph. 4:1)—The Greek preposition "en," here rendered "of," has the primary meaning of "in," though is is used in a variety of senses. Goodspeed and Weymouth prefer to translate: "the prisoner for the Lord's sake;" while Moffatt has, "the Lord's prisoner." It is generally agreed that the epistle to the Ephesians was written during Paul's first captivity at Rome (cf. Hastings: Shorter Bible Dictionary, p. 148); thus the reference to himself as a prisoner is very natural, whether it be taken literally or metaphorically.

"I ... beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called" (Eph. 4:1)—The verb here literally rendered "walk" is constantly employed in the New Testament in the metaphorical sense of "to live, to regulate one's life; to conduct oneself" (Thayer: op. cit., p. 504). Consequently, Goodspeed renders: "I ... appeal to you to live lives worthy of the summons you have received;" and Moffatt: "I beg of you to live a life worthy of your calling;" while Weymouth suggests: "I ... entreat you to live and act as becomes those who have received the call that you have received."