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Bible Dictionaries
Conversation
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
or CONVERSATION . In EV [Note: English Version.] the word is always used in the archaic sense of ‘behaviour,’ ‘conduct.’ In the OT, AV [Note: Authorized Version.] gives it twice ( Psalms 37:14; Psalms 50:23 ), representing Heb. derek = ‘way’ (cf. RV [Note: Revised Version.] and RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] ). In the NT it is used in AV [Note: Authorized Version.] to render three sets of words. (1) The noun anastrophç = ‘behaviour’ ( Galatians 1:13 , Eph 4:22 , 1 Timothy 4:12 , Hebrews 13:7 , Jam 3:13 , 1 Peter 1:15; 1 Peter 1:18; 1Pe 2:12; 1 Peter 3:1-2; 1 Peter 3:16 , 2 Peter 2:7; 2 Peter 3:11 ), RV [Note: Revised Version.] substituting in each case ‘manner of life,’ ‘manner of living,’ ‘life,’ ‘living,’ or ‘behaviour’; the vb. anastrephesthai = ‘to behave oneself’ ( 2 Corinthians 1:12 , Ephesians 2:3 ). (2) The noun politeuma = ‘citizenship’ or ‘commonwealth’ ( Philippians 3:20 ); the vb. politeuesthai = ‘to act as a citizen’ ( Philippians 1:27 ). (3) tropos = ‘manner,’ ‘character,’ lit. ‘turning’ ( Hebrews 13:5 ). Cf. RV [Note: Revised Version.] and RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] throughout. The main point to notice is that in every case ‘conversation’ in the Bible refers not to speech merely, but to conduct .
J. C. Lambert.
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Hastings, James. Entry for 'Conversation'. Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hdb/c/conversation.html. 1909.
