Laid up (aroxemévnv). Lit., lazd away, as the pound in the napkin, Luke xix. 20. With the derivative sense of reserved or awaiting, as the crown, 2 Tim. iv. 8. In Heb. ix. 27, it is rendered appointed (unto men to die), where, however, the sense is the same: death awaits men as something lard up. Rev., in margin, laid up for. Compare treasure in heaven, Matt. vi. 20; xix. 21; Luke xii. 34. ‘“ Deposited, reserved, put by in store out of the reach of all enemies and sorrows ” (Bishop Wilson).
Ye heard before (mponxovcate). Only here in the New Testament, not in Septuagint, and not frequent in classical Greek. It is variously explained as denoting either an unde- fined period in the past, or as contrasting the earlier Christian teaching with the later heresies, or as related to Paul’s letter (before I wrote), or as related to the fulfilment of the hope (ye have had the hope pre-announced). It occurs several times in Herodotus in this last sense, as ii. 5, of one who has heard of Egypt without seeing it: v., 86, of the Aeginetans who had learned beforehand what the Athenians intended. Compare viii. 79; vi. 16. Xenophon uses it of a horse, which signifies by pricking up its ears what it hears beforehand. In the sense of mere priority of time without the idea of anticipation, Plato: “ Hear me once more, though you have heard me say the same before ” (** Laws,” vii., 797). I incline to the more general ref- erence, ye heard in the past. The sense of hearing before the
464 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. (Cu. 1.
fulfilment of the hope would seem rather to require the perfect tense, since the hope still remained unfulfilled.
The word of the truth of the Gospel. The truth is the contents of the word, and the Gospel defines the character of the truth.
6. Which is come unto you (rod wapdvtos eis buds). Lit., which is present unto you. Has come and is present. Com- pare Luke xi. 7, “ave with me zo bed.”
In all the world. Hyperbolical. Compare Rom. i. 8; 1 Thess. i. 8; Acts xvii. 6. Possibly with a suggestion of the universal character of the Gospel as contrasted with the local and special character of false Gospels. Compare ver. 23.
And bringeth forth fruit («at gore xaprropopovpevov). Lit., and 7s bearing fruit. The text varies. The best texts omit and. Some join éore 7s with the previous clause, as tz ts in all the world, and take bearing fruit as a parallel participle. So Rev. Others, better, join ¢s with the participle, ‘“‘even as it ds bearing fruit.” This would emphasize the continuous fruitful- ness of the Gospel. The middle voice of the verb, of which this is the sole instance, marks the fruitfulness of the Gospel by its own inherent power. Compare the active voice in ver. 10, and see Mark iv. 28, “the earth bringeth forth fruit adrouarn of herself, self-acting. For a similar use of the middle, see show, Eph. ii. 7; worketh, Gal. v. 6.
Increasing (av£avouevnv). Not found in Tex. Ree., nor in A. V., but added in later and better texts, and in Rev. ‘Not like those plants which exhaust themselves in bearing fruit. The external growth keeps pace with the reproductive energy ” (Lightfoot). “It makes wood as well” (Maclaren).
7. Fellow-servant. Used by Paul only here and ch. iv. 7.
Minister (dcdxovos). See on Matt. xx. 26; Mark ix. 35.
For you (u7ép vudv). Read judy us, as Rev., on our be- half: as Paul’s representative.
8. Declared (dy\@cas). Or made manifest. See on 1 Cor. alle
Cu. I.} THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS. 465
In the Spirit. Connect with your Jove. Compare Gal. v. 22.
9. We also. Marking the reciprocal feeling of Paul and Timothy with that of the Colossians.