tian literature. For it is plain that this man's need stirred his friend to write. Behind Theophilus he probably saw many a likeminded inquirer. This catechumen's case was in some Mays typical and characteristic, and thus St. Luke was led to write his Gospel narrative, an instance of the ' first and noblest use ' of the human imagination, ' that is to say, of the jwwer of perceiving things which cannot be perceived by the senses,' viz. 'to call up the scenes and facts in which we are commanded to believe, and be present, as if in the body, at every recorded event of the history of the Kedeemer' (Ruskin, Frondes Agrestes, § 9). The writer's aim was personal, as well as modest and religious. Early Christian literature sprang from no literary ambition. Even in its historic form it was prac- tical and didactic. But in this case the writer, like Burke, who originally drew up his Reflections on the French Revolution for the benefit of a puzzled young friend, has gained a wider reach and range for his 2)en's products than perhai^s he contem- plated when he began.
The omission of the semi-formal adjective Kpa- Ti(TT€ in Ac P is not unnatural. It is needless to see anything subtle or signihcant in the change from Lk 1^. No doubt the excessive use of the term was one feature of ancient servility (Theo- jjhrastus. Char. 5). But St. Luke might well have used it twice in two volumes without any fear of incuiTing the charge of obsequiousness, and we cannot suppose he dropped the adjective lest he should be guilty of bad taste. Still less probable is the conjecture that the absence of the title in Ac 1^ denotes the conver-sion of Theophilus to Christianity since Lk 1^ had been written. For this there is no evidence whatsoever, and Ave have already seen that there Avas no necessary incon- gruity in applying such a title of honour, pagan though it was, to a felloAv-Christian.
Literature. — In addition to the articles in Bible Dictionaries S.V., and to the critical editors on Lk li-*, see the monographs on that passage already referred to, and add Blass, Philology of Gospels, pp. 7-20, with Zahn's Einleitung in das NT, § 60.
J. MOFFATT.
THIEF (/cX^TTTr/s).— Thieves are mentioned in the folloAving passages of the Gospels, besides several others Avhere RV substitutes ' robber ' as the equivalent of Xtjott^s. See Robber. 1. Mt 6'^- 2* = Lk 12^. Christ's disciples should have their treasure Avhere thieves do not break (lit. ' dig ') through and steal. Eastern houses, being com- monly of mud or sun-dried brick, are easily broken into ;■ cf. Ex 222, j^b 24i«, Ezk 125-7. 2. Mt 24^^= Lk 123**. The imexpectedness of Christ's coming is compared to that of a thief's entry. This figure seems to have greatly impressed the Apostles ; it is echoed several times in the NT (1 Th S^C), 2 P S^", Rev 3» 1615). 3. Jn W- «• w. False and self-seeking teachers — Avhether false Christs, or, more probably, Pharisees — are comjiared to thieves and robbers. 4. Jn 12^. Judas ' Avas a thief, and having the bag' (lit. 'box') 'took aAvay Avhat Avas put therein' (RV). Harold Smith.
THIRST.— The occasions on Avhich the phy.sical suffering arising from thirst is noted by the Evan- gelists are connected in every instance Avith the personal experiences of Jesus. Early in His public ministry, as He Avas journeying back from Judjea to Galilee, leaving the former country as a result of Pharisaic hostility, the Avriter of the Fourth Gospel notices that Jesus suffered the pangs of thirst, and records His request for a drink of Avater from the Samaritan Avoman as she came to draAv Avater from ' Jacob's spring ' {iniyr} rod 'la^ccijS, Jn 4''). It is remarkable that tliis author mentions this fa(;t, as Avell as the Aveariness felt by Jesus in His journey, side by side Avith the title (6 Kijpios, 4^)
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which betrays the writer's attitude towards His claims over human life and conduct.
The other instance of Jesus' suffering in this respect is also mentioned by this writer, who records His cry 'I thirst' (5L\p(b, 19^^) from the cross. And although he seems to connect the ex- pression with the fulfilment of Messianic prophecy (cf. Ps 69^^), there can be no doubt as to the reality of the feeling which prompted the utterance of the Sufferer. The intensity of His suffering is attested by the unwonted interference of one of the soldier- guards, who, out of compassion for the Crucified, attempted to allay His anguish. One result of these and such like incidents in the course of His life is to be seen in the vivid portraiture by Jesus of the great Day of final judgment. The common physical wants of struggling humanity afford opportunities of service in the sacred cause out- lined by the two great commandments of the Law (Mt 22^"^-). Nor must we omit to notice the basis upon which Jesus has placed tlie service of man by men, and the grounds upon which He distributes the final awards. To every believer in the cosmic significance of the Incarnation the use of the first person (iSixp-ijcra, etc.) by the Judge-King (Mt 25^'*) who is 'the Son of Man' (v.*'), reveals the nature and character of His sympathy with our weaknesses (avvTradTjcraL rats dcrdeveiais rifxCiv, He 4'^), and guaran- tees the truth of the assertion that ' it was necessary that he should in all things become like his brethren ' {Hx/yeiXev /card wdvTa rots d5eX(^o?s 6/j.oi- werjvat, He 2^'').