576
THIGH
THRONE
part of the original composition and due to the author's defective l<no\vle(lge of Josephus. Depend- ence upon .Josephus has been arfjued most fully by M. Krenkel (Jusi-pUus vnd Lwris, Leipzig,', 1894, pp. 162-174) and 1'. \y. Schniiedel (art. ' Theudas ' in EBi). .losephus, it will be remembered, after referring to Theudas's fate, goes on to remark tliat soon afterwards the sons of Jud.as of Galilee were put to death. The author of Acts, so the argu- ment ruiis, had vaguely remembered, or carelessly noted, tlie succession 'Theudas . . . Judas,' with- out precisely observing that Josephus was speak- ing in tills connexion not of the fate of the well- known Jud.as but of that of the sons of Judas. This oversight, accordingly, resulted in the anachronism of Ac 5^.
Literature.— All the important commentariea on Acts dis- cuss tlie present subject. See also, in addition to tre.itises already referred to, H. Holtzmann, 'Lucas und Josephus' in ZWT x-vi. (1873) 85-93 and xx. [1877] 535-549; T. Keim, Aus dein Urchristentum, Ziirich, 1878, i. 18-21 ; J. Belser, ' Lukas und Josephus,' in Thi'jiL Quartalsuhri'ft, Ixxviii. [189t)) 1-78 (esp. pp. 61-71); W. M. Ramsay, Was Christ bom at Belhlehemi, London, 1898, pp. 252-200 ; E. Schiirer, GJVi.* (Leipzig, 1901] 666 (and literature cited in note 6). g. J. CaSE.
THIGH.— 'Thigh' (mw6s) is found in the NT only in Rev lO"", 'on his garment and on his thigh a n.ame written.' Tliere is considerable doubt as to the interpretation (see HDB, s.v. 'Thigh'), but the general view is that the second phrase limits the first, i.e. the name was written upon the outer g.arment where it falls over the thigh ; or it may have been that the inscription was partly on the garment and partly on the thigh (or what covered it). It was customary to attach a legend of some sort to statues, equestrian and other, and to place this in a prominent position. See refer- ences in H. Alford, Greek Testament, iv.' [London, 1875] 728, and in H. B. Swete, T/ie Apocalypse of St. John', London, 1907, p. 255. In contrast to v.'^ this name is not cryptic.
W. Cruickshank.
THISTLES.-See Thorns.
THONGS.— The word tr. ' thongs ' (pi. of l/idi) in Ac 22=^ (AV and RV) refers to the leather straps with which a captive or criminal was tied in a leaning posture to an inclined post, preparatory to flogging. In carrying out the order of the chiliarch that St. Paul should be examined by torture, the centurion directed his subordinates to bind him in this fashion, tlie ' thongs ' being the instruments used to effect their purpose. In RVm the term is taken to signify the leather strands or lashes of the scourge (horrihile flaqellum) with which the torture was inflicted. The ' thongs ' are tlius regarded as a synonym for whip (jado-ri?) in v.'*. It is doubtful, however, whether the word i^idi in the plural is ever used in this sense. Grimm admits that it may bear either signiflcation, but in the present instance prefers the latter.
W. S. Montgomery.
THORN IN THE FLESH.— See Paul.
THORNS, THISTLES (S.Kavea., rpl^oXo^, <tk6\o>P). — Ap.art from the Gospels, tliorns or thistles are alluded to only twice in the NT. In He 6* fira^Sa, 'thorn,' and rpl/SoXos, 'brier,' occur together. The writer exhorts his readers to be steadf.ast in the faith, and reminds them of the spiritual bless- ings which they have received. Just as the earth ' which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it,' and in spite of that ' bearetli thorns and briers, is rejected,' so too will those who, endowed with all blessings and graces from above, fail to bring forth the fruits of righteousness. The term for ' bearing' in tliis passage is iKtpipovaa., and in con- trast with the normal term rixT-oi/o-a in v.' indicates
something which is unnatural. It is contrary to nature for a Meld which has been duly planted with good seed, and subsequently cared for and watered, to j-ield thorns and briers. It is equally unnatural for those in whom the spirit of truth hits been iil.inteil, and who have received similar care and attention, to fall away and abandon the faith thus planted.
In 2 Co 12' the word used is (r/c6Xo^, 'stake.' St. Paul writes that he has been given a 'stake for the llesli— the messenger of Satan to bullet me, lest I should be exalted above me;isure.' St. I'anl elsewhere (Ro 6" 8'*) recognizes the need for morti- fying or crucifying the flesh, while in 1 Co 5', as here, he alludes to Satan's derived power for in- flicting pain and suffering, a power which Satan, however, is impelled to use for the accom|)lishment of man's ultimate salvation. Opinions diller as to the nature of the stake for the flesh here alluded to, but there can be no doubt that it was a bodily ailment (cf. Lightfoot, Galatians^, p. 189 f.). It may possibly have been a permanent afl'ection of his eyesight (cf. Gal 4"'), or it may have been malaria, which would perhaps ex]plain St. Paul's statement that he Krst visited (i.alatia on account of an intirmity in his flesh (Gal 4"), or it may have been a form of epilepsy.
Thorns and thistles of various kinds are found all over Palestine. They cover fallow ground, and must be burnt before the ground can be ploughed. Prickly plants are used as hedges, and they also form the regular food of camels and goats.