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Shame (2)

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

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((1) αἰσχύνη, vbs. αἰσχύνεσθαι, ἐπαισχύνεσθαι, καταισχύνεσθαι; (2) ἐντροπή, ἐντρέπειν; (3) αἰδώς)

(1) The dread of outward shame, αἰσχύνη, as opposed to δόξα, ‘glory,’ not only restrains men from base actions, but sometimes deters them from the noblest and best deeds. In the Apostolic Age it was scarcely possible to be a Christian without facing ignominy. As Christ could not save the world without despising the shame of the Cross (Hebrews 12:2), so every Christian had to bear a cross of shame. He needed fortitude not to be ashamed of the gospel (Romans 1:16), of his hope (Romans 5:5), of his faith (Romans 9:33, Romans 10:11), of his trials (Philippians 1:20), of his suffering as a Christian (1 Peter 4:16). Timothy was exhorted not to be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord, or of St. Paul his prisoner (2 Timothy 1:8), and Onesiphorus was praised for not being ashamed of St. Paul’s chain (2 Timothy 1:16). Those who were not ashamed of Christ had their reward in the assurance that He was not ashamed to call them His brethren (Hebrews 2:11), that God was not ashamed to be called their God (Hebrews 11:16), and that they would not be ashamed before Christ at His second coming (1 John 2:28). True Christians renounced the hidden things of shame (τὰ κρυπτὰ τῆς αἰσχύνης, 2 Corinthians 4:2), and inconsistent Christians were warned that the shame of their nakedness would be exposed (Revelation 3:18), while hypocrites continued to foam out their own shameful deeds (αἱ αἰσχύναι, Judges 1:13).

(2) ἐντρέπειν τινα is lit. ^{[Note: literally, literature.]} ‘to turn a man upon himself,’ and so to shame him. In 1 Cor., which reflects the writer’s quickly changing feelings and attitudes, St. Paul tells his readers that he does not write to shame them (οὐκ ἐντρέπων ὑμᾶς, 1 Corinthians 4:14), and again that he does write to move them to shame (πρὸς ἐντροπήν, 1 Corinthians 6:5, 1 Corinthians 15:34). The Pastoral Letters teach that the disobedient Christian is to be avoided, that he may be ashamed (2 Thessalonians 3:14), and that the servant of Christ is to behave irreproachably, that his opponent may be ashamed (ἐντραπῇ, Titus 2:8).

(3) Αἰδώς (translation ‘shamefastness’ in 1 Timothy 2:9, ‘reverence’ in the inferior text of Hebrews 12:28) is a nobler word than αἰσχύνη, denoting a higher motive-a sensitive shrinking from what is either unworthy of oneself or dishonouring to God. It occurs twice in the Iliad-αἰδῶ θέσθʼ ἐνὶ θυμῷ (xv. 561), and ἴσχε γὰρ αἰδώς (ib. 657): in the first case Pope renders it by ‘honest shame,’ and in the second by ‘manly shame.’ As to ‘shamefastness,’ which is read in the Revised Version instead of ‘shamefacedness’ in the Authorized Version , see R. C. Trench, Synonyms of the NT⁸, 1876, p. 67, and article ‘Shamefacedness’ in Hasting's Dictionary of the Bible (5 vols) .

James Strahan.