* Holtzmann and Huther add 1 Pet. iv. 11; but Huther says that it is not to be limited to the official ministry of the Deacon. It may fairly be taken in the general sense of serve. So von Soden.
Cu. III] THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY. 237
its original sense of to win, acquire, without any idea of a bargain. So Bacon, Hss. iv. 14: “There is no man doth a wrong for the wrong’s sake; but therby to purchase him- selfe profit, or pleasure, or honour, or the like.” And Shake-
speare : “Then, as my gift and thine own acquisition Worthily purchased, take my daughter.’’ Temp. iv. 1, 14.
Rend. acquire or obtain for themselves.
A good degree (Sa0uov xarov). Badudes, N.T.°. Prim- arily, a step. In LXX, 1 Sam. v. 5; Sir. vi. 36, a thresh- old: 2 K. xx. 9, a degree on the dial. In ecclesiastical writers, order, grade, rank: see, for instance, Eusebius, H. 7. vii. 15. Also degree of relationship or affinity. Here the word apparently means a position of trust and influence in the church; possibly a promotion from the diaconate to the episcopate. Others (as De Wette, Ellicott, Pfleiderer) refer it to a high grade in the future life, which Holtzmann sar- castically describes as a ladder-round in heaven (eine Staffel im Himmel). John the Scholar, known as Climacus, a monk of the latter half of the sixth century, and Abbot of the Sinai Convent, wrote a mystical work entitled KA/uak& rod Tapa- deicov the Ladder of Paradise. The ladder, according to him, had thirty rounds.
Boldness (arappnciav). Primarily, free and bold speaking ; speaking out every word (wav, phua). Its dominant idea is boldness, confidence, as opposed to fear, ambiguity, or reserve. ‘The idea of pudlicity is sometimes attached to it, but as second- ary. Only here in the Pastorals: several times in Paul, as 2 Cor. iii.12; vii. 4; Philip. i. 20. The phrase odd qap- pnoia much boldness is also Pauline. An assured position and blameless reputation in the church, with a pure con- science, would assure boldness of speech and of attitude in the Christian community and elsewhere.
In faith. Connect with boldness only. It designates the boldness as distinctively Christian, founded on faith in Christ.
238 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu III.
14. Shortly (év rdyev). The adverbial phrase once in Paul, Rom. xvi. 20: only here in Pastorals. Several times in Luke and Acts, and twice in Apocalypse.*
15. | tarry long (Spadive). Only here and 2 Pet. iil. 9.
Thou oughtest to behave thyself (de? davacrpépecbar). The verb avactpépecOat only here in Pastorals. In Paul, 2 Cor. i. 12; Eph. ii. 8. The reference is not to Timothy’s conduct as the A.V. implies, but rather to the instructions which he- is to give to church members. Rend. how men ought to behave. See on conversation, 1 Pet. i. 15.
House of God (oix@ Oe00). An O.T. phrase, used of the temple. More frequently, house of the Lord (xupiov); see Ks idee viel 331. Chron. xxii. 2, 1] :ixxixe ew. Ap plied to the church only here. Paul has otxelous tis aicrews householders of the faith (Gal. vi. 10), and oixeior tod Oeod householders of God (Eph. ii. 19), signifying members of the church. Christians are called vads @eod sanctuary of God (1 Cor. iii. 16, 17; 2 Cor. vi. 16); and the apostles are otxovdnot household stewards (1 Cor. iv. 1). So of a Bishop (Tit.:i.. 7). See also Heb. iii. 6.
Church (éxcAyoia). See on 1 Th. i. 1.
Pillar and ground of the truth (orvnos Kal édpaimpa THs arnOelas). Zrvros pillar, in Paul only Gal. ii. 9. In Apoc- alypse iii. 12; x. 1. “Edpatwpa stay, prop, better than ground. N.T.° °LXX, °Class. The kindred adjective é8paios firm, stable, 1 Cor. vii. 837; xv. 58; Col. i. 23. These words are in apposition with church.¢ The idea is that the church is the pillar, and, as such, the prop or support of the truth. It