AGE. — The word ' age ' is a vague term, as may be seen by its doing duty as a possible translation for aiJiv (Lat. cevum, an unmeasured period of existence), for yevii. (Lat. gcneratio), and even for the more precise and exact terms xp^""^ (Lat. tcmpus), and Kai.p6s (Lat. occasio). Its strictest Greek equivalent, however, is ■rjkLKla (Lat. wtas). An examination into the significance of the term shows a remarkable parallel between its employ- ment in classical literature and in the Greek of the New Testament. 'HXixfa marks a normal develop- ment of life ; such development may be registered in the individual by years, or by physique. In classical Greek, the former is tlie usual reference of the term, and hence the most ordinary meaninj
be discovered by a comparison of these four pas-
1 S 2-° Kai ri TraiSa.fii.ov Zafiovr}\ iiroptitTO [ -f npya- 'Kvvbjj.fvov], Kal a-yadbv Kal fieri, Kvplov Kal /uto. dvffpiiwwv (LXX, B, said of Samuel).
Lk 1"° t6 5^ TraioioK 7jii|o»e Kal iKparaiovTO irvevnaTi (said of the Baptist).
Lk 2^" rb Sk iraibiov •qG^aveu Kal ^Kparatovro irXtj- povfievov <TO(pli}f Kal x^P^^ ^^o^ ^*' ^^' avrd (said of Christ).
Lk 2^" Kal '17]TOOS irpO^KOTTTeP 4v T^ (TOIpiqL Kal TjXtKltf
Kal xtip""' Tipa ^f? If"! dvOpu-n-ots (said of Christ).
A careful comparison of tliese passages appears determinative of the sense of -qXtKia in the last as 'stature,' not 'age.' What was noticeable in a measure in Samuel and in the Baptist, was supremely characteristic of the Holy Child, namely, an equal develojiment both on the physical and spiritual side. Translate it as KVni, the word is, like the poetical jJ/Ji;, the flower or pi-ime 1 and it is little more than a truism. ' Stature ' is of life. The significance, however, of iiXida as stat- | not only not superfluous, but an interesting and
ure or height, that feature of physical development which mostly attracts the eye, is quite classical ; and this sense occurs in Herodotus (iii. 16),* Plato, and Demosthenes. Turning to the New Testament, we find the same oscillation of meaning in iiMKia. In tlie Fourth Gospel the parents of the blind man for fear of excommunication evade the question of the Jews, and shift the responsibility of answering upon their son : ' Therefore said his parents. He is of age,t ask him.' In the Sermon on the Mount 'age 'J appears to be the true rendering of 7)XiK(a. A cubit would be a prodigious addition to a man's height, while a span was already a proverbial expression§ to signify the brevity of life. ' Stature ' is, of course, the only possible rendering in tl:
unexpected contribution to that group of refer- ences which lay stress on our Lord's humanity. It helps to explain His 'favour with men' with which it stands in parallel. It suggests that our Lord's personality, even His appearance, may have liad a fascination about it. Even more, it may make the student of Messianic prophecy cautious in attaching a too physical meaning to the descrip- tion of the countenance of Jehovah's Servant (Is 52'^ 53=). B. Whitefoord.
AGONY.— This word is used in Lk 22^^ to de- scribe the sorrow, sufl'ering, and struggle of Jesus in Gethsemane. The Greek word agonia (dywvla)
derived from ni/OH (d7uj'), meaning : (l)anassem-
interesting note about Zacchceus ; || and this is the bly of the people (cf. dyopa) ; (2) a place of
only place in the Gospel where, as will be seen, "
T)\i.Kla bears this meaning with an absolute cer- tainty.
The idea of periodicity, which is largely foreign to the meaning of iiKiKla in classical Greek, ajipears only once, and that doubtfully, in the New Testa
bly, especially the place in which the Greek.s assembled to celebrate solemn games ; (3) a contest of athletes, runners or charioteers. 'A-yiiv is used in a figurative sense in He 12' ' let us run with patience the race that is set before us.' The word has the general sense of struggle in 1 Th 2- 'in ment.lT The dift'erent ' ages of man ' ** and so of | much conflict ' ; Ph !*• ' having the same conflict' ; our Lord,tt are indicated by the classical formula of ! 1 Ti 6- ' the good fight of faith ' ; 2 Ti 4' ' I have time, 'years' being in the genitive case. Hence the I fought the good figlit.' It means solicitude or word yields no suggestion as to those characteristic I nnxieti/ in Col 2' ' how greatly I strive for you ' periods, or epochs in the earthly life of our Lord— ! (literally, ' how great an agon I have for you '). the infancy, childhood, manhood of Christ. Nor I The state of Jesus in Gethsemane is described in would the word deserve a place in this Dictionary | the following phrases : Mt 26" ' he began to be were it not for two passages in which it occurs or l sorrow ful ;uul sore troubled ' ; Mk 14*^ ' he began is referred to when its interest is a real one, as is ' to lie greatly amazed and sore troubled' ; Lk 22** evident by the attention paid to them by all com- 1 ' And bcingin an agony he prayed more earnestly
mentators on St. Luke's Gospel.JJ Both appear as a postscript to the narrative of the Holy Child with the doctors in the temple. It is an incident in the regular equable development of His life upon earth. This development is shown in two aspects. The Evangelist declares that Jesus increased (or advanced) in wisdom and stature, and in favour (or grace) with God and man. St. Luke's phraseology was no doubt in- fluenced by his recollection of a similar encomium passed upon the youthful Samuel,§§ and already he had found it not unsuitable to be quoted in refer- ence to the Baptist.il II