the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Dictionaries
Preparation
Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament
or In the NT Epistles the word appears only in Ephesians 6:15 : ‘having shod your feet with the preparation (ἑτοιμασία) of the gospel of peace.’ The exhortation was suggested by the sandals (caligCE) of the Roman soldier. They were very heavy, thickly studded with hobnails, and strongly laced. The purpose which they served in the equipment of the Roman soldier is to be served by the ἑτοιμασία provided by the gospel of peace. The sandals gave the soldier firm footing, and fitted him for fighting or marching through any kind of country. The word has two meanings: in general, that of ‘preparation,’ ‘preparedness,’ or ‘readiness,’ and in particular, ‘firm foundation’ or ‘firm footing.’ Illustrations of the latter meaning are found in Psalms 89:14 (15) ‘Righteousness and judgement are the foundation of thy throne’ (RV_), also in Zechariah 5:11, Ezr (LXX_ 2 Es) ezr Ezra 2:68. The verb ‘to prepare’ (ἑτοιμάζειν) in the sense of ‘firmly fix’ or ‘establish’ is found in Psalms 24:2, ‘and established it upon the floods,’ also Psalms 99:4, Proverbs 3:19; Proverbs 3 :2 Samuel 5:12. In the NT it has the sense of ‘destined’ in Matthew 20:23 (‘for whom it hath been prepared of my Father’) Matthew 25:34; Matthew 25:41, 1 Corinthians 2:9, Hebrews 11:16. The common translation of ἑτοιμασία in Ephesians 6:15 is ‘preparation’ (EV_, Erasmus, Hodge, Eadie, etc.), but ‘foundation’ or ‘firm footing’ is strongly supported (Chrysostom, Bengel, Hatch). The weakness of the translation ‘preparation’ is that it does not indicate the kind of equipment which is referred to. It translates the word but not the idea. The more restricted meaning of ‘firm footing,’ with its suggestions of confidence or assurance, brings out more clearly what the gospel of peace provides. This ‘firm confidence’ is not only necessary for ‘standing’ in ‘the evil day,’ but for the general warfare of the Christian at all times.
Literature.-The principal Commentaries in loco; E. Hatch, Essays in Biblical Greek, 1889, pp. 51-55; A. F. Buscarlet, ExpT_ ix. [1897-98] 38-40, where there is also a fine illustration of the foot-gear of a Roman soldier.
John Reid.
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Hastings, James. Entry for 'Preparation'. Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hdn/p/preparation.html. 1906-1918.
