For our present purpose, however, a supreme interest attaches to the NT words which, though found in classical Greek, have acquired a new moral or theological meaning. Many words as used in the NT are exclusively Christian, and their special significance is not derived from any literary source {c.f/. dvaKe<pa\aiov/j.ai, clvt'ltvitov, avrixpi-ffTOi, dvva/ji.is (miracle), irpwrdroKos, crravpSs — 6a;, x^^P'')- But many others have gained, or at least advanced towards, their new meaning by contact with Hebrew thought. The following are among the more important, and will repay careful investiga- tion with the help of Thayer's Lexicon and the NT commentaries. The short notes here attached to each word are not intended to be in any way exhaustive of their meanings or applications, but may be helpful in suggesting lines for study. Words Avhich do not occur in classical Greek are marked with *.
Siyye\o<i. Classical meaning 'messenger.' Early
Heb. thought conceived of the ' Angel of Jahweh ' as a visible or active manifestation of Himself, Gn 22", Ex 3^, Mt po, Lk 2". But the more de- veloped angelology of later times is reflected in the NT, e.ff. the names of two great angels apjjear — Michael (Dn 10'=*- 2' I2i, Jude", Rev 12^) and Gabriel (Dn 8i« 9'^\ Lk V'>- ^s). See also Mt 18'".
017105. Class, 'sacred (to a god)' ; 'holy.' Note two special uses : (a) oi dyioL, the ideal body of consecrated jieople, Dn 7^*- ^-, 1 Es 8^'' W ; freq. in St. Paul's writings of Christians. Not in Gospp., but see Jn H^'^'^". {b) rd ciyia, the holiest part of the Tent ; in NT typical of Heaven where Christ our High Priest intercedes for us, He 9. 10.
d8cX4>d9. Class, 'brother'; 'near kinsman.' LXX and NT a member of the same privileged race, Dt W\ Ro O^. Hence in NT a fellow-Chris- tian, Mt 23* and freq. in Acts and Epistles.
al|j.a. Class. ' blood ' ; ' bloodshed ' ; always em- phasizes the fact of death. In the Jewish sacri- ficial system the blood is the life, Gn 9'', Lv 17^'- ", Dt 12-^ On the Christian use of this thought see Westcott, Add. note on 1 Jn V and on He 9^^.
aiuv. Class, 'human life-time'; 'eternity.' (a) In LXX freq. in plur., denoting the sum-total of the fixed periods (each being an aiwv) into which eternity is divisible, Ps 77 (76)^ Lk P^*. (b) The NT adopts the Rabbinic concei^tion of two ' ages,' 6 alwv ovTos (nin o'jiyn) and 6 aiuv 6 epxbfJ-evos or 6 fxiWujv (N3.T oSiyn) the age before, and after, the advent of the Messiah, Mt 22^3, Mk lO^".
avdo-xao-is. Class. ' a rising up ' (e.g. from a seat); 'a making to rise'; 'a removal.' LXX ' resurrection,' 2 Mac 7^^ 12« ; cf. Dn 122. m^ 22^3 and freq. (See ^sch. Eum. 617 f.).
dva<t>€p(d. Class. ' bring ui> ' ; ' undertake ' ; 'refer'; 'restore.' LXX freq. 'ofi'er up' (as a sacrifice) = nh]in. He 7-' '"«, 1 P '2P- -^ al.
diroKaXviTTeiv (*d7ro/cdXui/'tj). Class, 'reveal.' In LXX and NT freq. Divine revelation of things which man of himself could not know.
a'iro\vTp6o) (*-Tpu}(XLs). Class. ' release on pay- ment of ransom.' In the OT the word is applied (with little or no idea of ransom) to the action of God for His people, in delivering them (hKi or ms) from trouble or death. This, with the thought of ransom partially restored, appeared in the NT as the Christian ' redemption ' from sin. See West- cott, Hebrews, pp. 295 fl'.
d<|>€o-i5. Class. ' a setting free ' (of a captive) ; 'discharge' (from the obligations of a bond). In LXX mostly the periodical ' release ' of Hebrew slaves. But the Messianic interpretation of such passages as Is 6P (cf. Lk 4-*) was a step towards the NT meaning of 'release from the chain and the guilt of sin.' In Is 22^* d^e^i^o-erat is used in connexion with dfj-apria. See Mt 262*, Mk 1* 32», Lk 1" 33 24«.
PaiTTi^ofxai. Class, metaph. * to be soaked ' (with wine); 'to be drowned' (with questions). LXX 2 (4) K 5^^ uses the word in connexion with miraculous cleansing; Sir 34 (31)^" with cleansing from ceremonial pollution. Both are partial types of Christian baptism.
PcPaiob). Class, 'confirm' (a statement) ; 'secure' (a person in one's own interests). In LXX Ps 41 (40)" 119 (118)28 the word is used of God estab- lishing or strengthening man. Hence in NT of Jesus Christ strengthening the soul and character, 1 Co 18.
8ai(xdviov. Class. ' deity ' ; ' divinity ' ; also an inferior divine being, ' between divine and mortal ' (Plat. Symp.). It needed the OT monotheism to condemii the thought of divine beings other than Jehovah, Dt .S2i^ Ps 96 (95)^ Hence in NT ' evil spirit.' {Salixwv (Mt 8^'), which is very similar, is not found in the LXX ? Is 65"].
SidpoXos. Class, of one who accuses maliciously
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SEPTUAGINT
SEPTUAGINT
or slanderously. LXX ( = i^ or j?)^) ' an adversary,' used of a superhuman agent of evil, Job i6-7etc.^ Zee y- 2, 1 Ch 211. Hence in NT ' the devil,' used by every NT writer except St. Mark.
SiKaios, StKaiotrvvq, etc. Class, mainly 'just,' 'justice.' See Sanday-Headlam, Add. note on Ro V", 'The word diKaios and its compounds.'