LrrERATURK. — Cojnin. oil Acts by R. J. Knowlingr {EGT, 1900), T. M. Lindsay (1S84-85), H. A. W. Meyer (Eng. tr., 1877), in Inc. ; C. von Weizsacker, Apostoiic A;ie, ii. [18!t5] 331 t. ; E. Hatch, Organization of the Early ChnUian Churches^ 1881, p. 63 f. ; J. H. A. Hart, '1 Peter.' in Eiri', 1910, in loc. ; N. J. D. White, ' 1 Timothy,' in ib., in loc. ; C. Bigg, ICC, ' St. Peter and St. Jude,' 1901, in loc. ; A. C. McGiffert, History qf Christianity in the Apostolic Age^ 1897, pp. 288, G(i3.
John Reis.
z
ZEAL, — Zeal is always in the NT the tr. of the same word, f^Xos, fT/Xur^s, and always in a good sense; the bad sen.se is (translated by 'envy.' As a desirable quality in the Christian, the word is almost peculiar to St. Paul's letters and speeches. Its contemporary use was chiefly in a bad sense ; it stood for envy, and as a proper noun it furnished the party name that covered a very pernicious patriotism (ZT/Xwrai). St. Paul converted the word, as he converted tlie quality in himself, kept its force, and rightly directed its aim. (Cf. the redemption of the word ' enthusiasm ' in the last century.)
1. Zeal of God for man.— Both OT and NT insist on the zeal of God for man, the direct opposite of the Epicurean idea. 'The zeal of the Lord of Hosts' (2 K 19*', Is 37*-) is for man's love, man's righteousness, for m.an to be sensible with himself and regard his own permanent interests (Dt 30-°), and make it possible for God to continue His abundant liberality (PsSl'*""") ; for the welfare and vigour of the Cho.sen People, the hope of man- kind ; at least a working remnant shall be pre- served. Men may appeal to the zeal by interces- sion (Is 33'^). God's 'jealousy' is love demanding love, not satisfied with toleration or occasional faithfulness. To remember God's zeal frees His ever-presence from all savour of spying (Ps 139), and His commandments from the nature of arbi- trary exactions (Dt 32'", Kzk 18^). In the NT God^s zeal for man is the motive of the Incarnation (Jn 3"), and is set forth in parables, such as the Lost Sheep and the Wicked Husb.andman. God's zeal is burning love in action through boundless sacrifice.
VOL. II. — 45
2. Zeal for God in man.^Zeal for God in man is
commanded and commended — even consuming zeal (Ps 69', approved by being quoted of the Chris- tian's zeal, Jn 2"). Language of strong reproof is addressed to the sluggard about his own character, the lukewarm in works of love, to those neither hot nor cold (Rev 3'^ 1 Co 14'-). Such faith can- not save (Ja 2'''""). Christians are to be ' a peculiar people, zealous of good works ' (Tit 2'^), ' not weary in well-doing' (Gal C), with zeal making light of hardship, like a .soldier's (2 Ti 2*). Pliinehas received a reward as ' zealous for his God ' (Nu 25"). Elijah, out of zeal for God's honour as much as fear, could not remain among a people whose daily life was blasphemous against Him. 1 Cor. is filled with practical solutions needed by Christian zeal if it was not to drive men out of the world, where the most ordinary customs had heathen significance. How far may the zealot for a higher morality and a purer religion .seem to compromise with such'; May he dine with his heathen rela- tives? marry them ? divorce them if already married ? ('an slaves continue to serve heathen masters T Also the Christian must have zeal for his own character, develop all his talents for usefulnes.s, have an ambitious morality, and not allow wealth (Mt 19'-') or even natural claims (Mt 10") to hinder consecration to tiod.
3. Perversion of zeal. — The acquisition in all languages of a bad meaning by worils originally denoting true zeal is evidence of univer.sal experi- ence that zeal is liable to dangerous perversion. This occurs through (i. ) imjiatience at God's patience, (ii.) over-devotion to an object 8ub.sidiary to the highest, (iii.) intrusion of feelings for .self.
706
ZEBULUN
ZION
From (i.) comes the depression wliicli breaks out in the opening verses of so many Psalms (cf. Ps 22 ; note the triumphant assurance and renewed zeal of its close). The despair of Elijah is replaced by the calmer zeal of Elisha, ever mindful of the invisible forces at work for good (2 K 6'°). Zeal is not the same as haste for results (Is 28"). The latter when powerless leads to depression, when powerful to persecution (2 K 10", 2 S 2V}. (ii.) The Pharisees had a zeal for God, but not accord- ing to knowledge. The over-exaltation of legal observance and of national independence led them to the a.xiom that Jesus was a foe, to be consistently opposed whatever He .said or did, and to be silenced some way or other (Jn 11""^"). Their zeal thus leads almost to blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, and to the Crucilixion. From (iii.) come spiritu.al conceit, the idea that we have ' whereof to glory ' (Ro 4^^) even toward God; the showy religionism of the Pharisees (Mt 23^); the love 'to have the pre-eminence' (3 Jn*), and .that envy which is ' the rottenness of the bones' (Pr H*"). It is also a basal motive of axiaixaTa, zealous preference for a truth, leading to the abandonment of a society in which satisfactory prominence is not given to this special object of enthusiasm.