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Bible Dictionaries
Charity
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
CHARITY . The word ‘charity’ never occurs in AV [Note: Authorized Version.] in the sense of almsgiving , but always with the meaning of love . It comes from the Vulg. [Note: Vulgate.] caritas , which was frequently used to translate the Greek agapç , probably because amor had impure associations, and because dilectio (which is sometimes so used) was scarcely strong enough. Wyclif followed the Vulg. [Note: Vulgate.] , as did afterwards the Rhemish translators. Tindale and the Genevan Version preferred ‘love’; but in the Bishops’ Bible’ charity’ was again often used, and the AV [Note: Authorized Version.] followed the Bishops in this. In the RV [Note: Revised Version.] , however, ‘charity’ never occurs, the Gr. agapç being everywhere rendered ‘love.’
For Feast of Charity ( Judges 1:12 AV [Note: Authorized Version.] ) see Love Feast.
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Hastings, James. Entry for 'Charity'. Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​hdb/​c/charity.html. 1909.