Old.
Two Greek words thus commonly translated are archaios and palaios. The former means “from the beginning” and is thus used in 2 Peter 2:5; Revelation 12:9;20. 2: it is also found in Acts 21:16, where the expression “ old disciple” does not refer to Mnason’s age, but that he had been a disciple from the beginning. Palaios means old often in the sense of “worn out” or “aged” (Matthew 9:16, 17; Mark 2:21; Hebrews 8:13).
Prayer, Request, Supplication.
These words are represented in Greek by six, three of which proseuchee, de-eesis, and enteuxis occur in 1 Timothy 2:1, the other three are aiteema, iketeeria, and euchee.
This last word is only found once in the sense of prayer (James 5:15), but twice in that of “vow” (Acts 18:18; 21:23) which is its more proper meaning. Proscuchee is prayer in general, but always to God, whereas de-eesis means not only more particular requests made to Him, but petitions in general even when asked of men; it is however only used in the New Testament in the former sense. Enteuxis, occurring only in 1 Timothy 2:1;4. 5, does not mean strictly “intercession,” but rather implies free familiar prayer such as boldly draws near to God. Aiteema means the various requests of which a prayer is composed (Philippians 4:6; 1 John 5:15), or it may not be restricted to prayer, but refer to requests in general (Luke 23:24). Iketeeria originally referred to the olive branch bound round with wool, which was held forth by a suppliant in token of his character. Hence it has come to mean a humble prayer. In the New Testament it is only used in Hebrews 5:7.
Prove, Try, Examine.
Peirazo, and dokimazo are each rendered in the New Testament in all the three ways given here: “prove” in John 6:6; Luke 14:19, “ try” in Revelation 2:2; 1 Corinthians 3:13; and “examine” in 2 Corinthians 13:5; 1 Corinthians 11:28. The difference between the two words may be roughly expressed thus; peirazo is proving to find out or bring out the evil, dokimazo to bring out the good. Peirazo is thus often Satan’s work (Matthew 4:1; 1 Corinthians 7:5 James 1:2; Revelation 2 o), but may be used of God (Hebrews 11:17), here meaning simply to make manifest what was in the person. Dokimazo however can never be used of the temptations of Satan, because he never tries with a view of finding out good. It often means not only means “proved” but “ approved” (2 Corinthians 8:8; 1 Thessalonians 2:4; 1 Timothy 3 to), just as with us “ tried” means not only “ tested” but “ trustworthy”; thus. “fireproof” means “that can withstand fire.”
(To be continued.)