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what is worthy of a “faithful” man. The
KJV
gives a meaning but is not exact as a
translation. Westcott suggests “thou makest sure (
) whatsoever thou workest” (i.e.,
it will not lose its reward). The change between
, “to do,” and
, “to work,”
must be maintained. Cf. Matt. 26:10 (
and
).
2.
(
/
, 571) is used with meanings somewhat parallel to No. 1; (a)
“untrustworthy” ( , negative, and No. 1), not worthy of confidence or belief, is said of
things “incredible,” Acts 26:8 (b) “unbelieving, distrustful,” used as a noun, “unbeliever,”
Luke 12:46; 1 Tim. 5:8 (
RV
, for
KJV
, “infidel”); in Titus 1:15 and Rev. 21:8,
“unbelieving”; “faithless” in Matt. 17:17; Mark 9:19; Luke 9:41; John 20:27. The word is
most frequent in 1 and 2 Corinthians. See
BELIEVE
,
INCREDIBLE
,
INFIDEL
,
UNBELIEVER
,
UNFAITHFUL
. (In the Sept., Prov. 17:6; 28:25; Isa. 17:10.¶).
FAITHFULNESS
Note:
This is not found in the
KJV
. The
RV
corrects the
KJV
“faith” to “faithfulness” in
Rom. 3:3; Gal. 5:22. See
FAITH
.
FALL, FALLEN, FALLING, FELL
A. Nouns.
1.
(
, 4431); “a fall” (akin to B, No. 1), is used (a) literally, of the
“overthrow of a building,” Matt. 7:27; (b) metaphorically, Luke 2:34, of the spiritual
“fall” of those in Israel who would reject Christ; the word “again” in the
KJV
of the next
clause is misleading; the “rising up” (
RV
) refers to those who would acknowledge and
receive Him, a distinct class from those to whom the “fall” applies. The “fall” would be
irretrievable, cf. (a); such a lapse as Peter’s is not in view.¶
2.
(
$1
, 3900), primarily “a false step, a blunder” (
, “aside,”
, “to fall”), then “a lapse from uprightness, a sin, a moral trespass, misdeed,” is
translated “fall” in Rom. 11:11-12, of the sin and “downfall” of Israel in their refusal to
acknowledge God’s claims and His Christ; by reason of this the offer of salvation was
made to Gentiles; cf.
, “to stumble,” in v. 11. See
FAULT
,
OFFENSE
,
SIN
,
TRESPASS
.
3.
(
&
, 646), “a defection, revolt, apostasy,” is used in the NT of
religious apostasy; in Acts 21:21, it is translated “to forsake,” lit., “thou teachest apostasy
from Moses.” In 2 Thess. 2:3 “the falling away” signifies apostasy from the faith. In
papyri documents it is used politically of rebels.¶
Note:
For “mighty fall,” Rev. 18:21,
RV
, see
VIOLENCE
.
B. Verbs.
1.
(
&
, 4098), “to fall,” is used (a) of descent, to “fall” down from, e.g.,
Matt. 10:29; 13:4; (b) of a lot, Acts 1:26; (c) of “falling” under judgment, Jas. 5:12 (cf.
Rev. 18:2,
RV
); (d) of persons in the act of prostration, to prostrate oneself, e.g., Matt.
17:6; John 18:6; Rev. 1:17; in homage and worship, e.g., Matt. 2:11; Mark 5:22; Rev.
5:14; 19:4; (e) of things, “falling” into ruin, or failing, e.g., Matt. 7:25; Luke 16:17,
RV
,
“fall,” for
KJV
, “fail”; Heb. 11:30; (f), of “falling” in judgment upon persons, as of the
sun’s heat, Rev. 7:16,
RV
, “strike,”
KJV
, “light”; of a mist and darkness, Acts 13:11 (some