HONOUR
HOPE
583
hard facts, endured sufferings to which the false prophet, optimistically predicting smooth things, was an utter stranger. ' The persecutions, the apostasies, the judgments of the Church and people of the Lord saddened the spirit of the Seer and dashed his joy at the first reception of the mystery of God ' (Alford on Rev 10^"). The alternation of spiritual joy and sorrow — the fieXi, and the TriKpla of evangelism — has been the lot of every true prophet, ancient and modern. ' Laughter was in this Luther, as we said ; but tears also Avere there. Tears also were appointed him ; tears and hard toil. The basis of his life was sadness, earnest- ness' (Carlyle, Heroes and Hero-Worship, 1872, p. 131). James Strahan.
HONOUR.— In the NT two Gr. words, in various forms, are thus translated : (1) 56^a, So^d^eiv, as in the phrases 'by honour and dishonour' (2 Co 6^), and 'one member be honoured' (RVm 'glorified,' 1 Co 12-") ; the words are derived from doKelv, ' to think,' ' hold an opinion,' or ' hold in repute or honour ' ; hence the noun has the significance of 'good-repute,' 'honour,' 'glory'; (2) tlixti, nfiav, rifiios (from the root rleiv, ' to pay a price' and then 'to pay honour'), rifiri is the most frequent word for ' honour ' in the NT. Primarily it means the price wiiich is paid or received for something, as in the plirase 'the price of blood' (Mt 27^ also Ac 4^ 5- 19'^). The metaphorical sense, indicating something of price, worth, or value, naturally follows, like 'dignity,' 'veneration,' 'honour,' and ' ornament,' as in the expression ' a vessel for honour ' (Ko 9-^), ' in honour preferring one another' (Ro 12^°), 'honour to whom honour' (Ro 13''). The verb TifjLav is used in the sense of valuing, as ' the price of him that was priced, whom certain of the children of Israel did price' (Mt 27") ; but elsewhere it has the meaning ' to venerate,' ' hold in honour,' as 'Honour thy father and mother' (Eph 6-), ' honoured us with many honours ' (Ac 28^").
The words 56|a and rtfii^ and their verbal forms are employed in the LXX to translate Tin, ii3| and ni3% The two words ' glory ' and ' honour ' appear together in descriptions of the Exaltation of Christ — 'crowned with glory and honour' (He 2'^* **, 2 P 1^''); of the bliss of the future Avorld — 'glory, honour, and immortality' (Ro 2^-^"); of Avhat the kings are to bring into the heavenly Jerusalem — ' They shall bring the glory and honour of the Gentiles [Idi^wv) into it ' (Rev 21-"). The two words are also used together in the description of the triumph of faith's trial ' that it might be found unto . . . glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ' (1 P V), and in doxologies ascribing ' praise, honour, and glory ' to Christ (Rev 5^^- ^^), and to God (1 Ti V\ Rev 4 »• " 7'-).
Three passages where Tifxri occurs require separate treatment. In 1 Ti 5", ' Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especiallj' those who labour in the word and teaching' (RV), the context plainly indicates that the 'honour' is to be taken as 'honorarium' or 'stipend.' The reason given for such treatment is expressed in the words which follow : ' For the scripture saith. Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his hire ' ( 1 Ti 518 ; cf . J. R. Dummelow, The One Volume Bible Commentary, p. 999 ; H. R. Reynolds, in Expositor, 1st ser. vol. iv. p. 47 ; see also HDB v. 441).
In 1 P 2' the phrase iifuv oZv ij rifiri tois TrtcrTevovcriv is variously translated : ' Unto you therefore which believe he is precious ' (AV) ; ' For you therefore which believe is the preciousness ' (RV) ; 'in your sight ... is the honour' (RVm). In the preceding- context reference is made to Christ as a ' precious' stone (1 P2^'"), and if tliat connexion is maintained in v.', the sense would be ' unto you who believe
Christ is all that God had declared ; you have seen Him as precious, the preciousness.' But it is possible to connect the words with the phrase immediately before them, and read them by way of amplification — ' He that believeth on Him shall not be put to shame ; unto you therefore who believe he is the honour, or ornament,' i.e. 'in- stead of shame you find the honour or ornament of your life in Christ.' Our opinion favours the latter rendering.
The other passage is in Col 2^, ovk iv rifXTJ nvl irpbs TrXrjfffjLoi'rjv ttjs crapKds, which is translated, ' not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh ' ( AV), ' not of any value (honour, RVm) against the indulgence of the flesh ' (RV). Both translations are unsatis- factory : the AV because it does not give any clear or practical meaning, and the RV because, though it gives a good sense, it gives a some- what strained force to irpds. Eadie's translation and interpretation seem to us the best : ' Which things, having indeed a show of wisdom in super- stition, humility, and corporeal austerity, not in anything of value, are for, or minister to, the gratification of the flesh.' 'The apostle means to condemn these precepts and teachings ; his censure is that they produce an effect directly the opposite to their professed design' (Com. in loco). Other commentaries on the passage may be consulted for the various interpretations which are attached to it. WH bracket the words along with the three which precede them, as indicating a doubtful text. It is possible that some word or particle has dropped out of the passage.