Bible Dictionaries
Honest, Honestly, Honesty

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

"good, admirable, becoming," has also the ethical meaning of what is "fair, right, honorable, of such conduct as deserves esteem;" it is translated "honest" [cp. Latin honestus (from honos, "honor")], which has the same double meaning as "honest" in the AV, namely, regarded with honor, honorable, and bringing honor, becoming; in Luke 8:15 (AV, and RV), "an honest and good (agathos) heart;" Romans 12:17; 2 Corinthians 8:21; 13:7 , RV, "honorable" (AV, "honest"), of things which are regarded with esteem; in 1 Peter 2:12 , of behavior, RV, "seemly," AV, "honest" (i.e., becoming). See GOOD.

Note: In Titus 3:14 , the RV and AV margins give what is probably the accurate meaning, "(to profess) honest occupations" (AV, "trades"); in the texts "(to maintain) good works."

"august, venerable," is rendered "honest" in Philippians 4:8 , AV (marg., "venerable"), RV, "honorable" (marg., "reverent"). Matthew Arnold suggests "nobly serious." See GRAVE.

Note: In Acts 6:3 , "men of honest (RV, 'good') report" translates the Passive Voice of martureo, lit., "having had witness borne."

corresponding to A, No. 1, is used in Hebrews 13:18 , "honestly," i.e., honorably. See PLACE , C, Note (4), WELL.

"becomingly, decently," is rendered "honestly" in Romans 13:13 , where it is set in contrast with the confusion of gentile social life, and in 1 Thessalonians 4:12 , of the manner of life of believers as a witness to "them that are without;" in 1 Corinthians 14:40 , "decently," in contrast with confusion in the churches. See DECENTLY.

denotes "gravity, dignified seriousness;" it is rendered "honesty" in the AV of 1 Timothy 2:2 , RV, "gravity." See GRAVITY.