the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Dictionaries
Reckon, Reckoning
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words
is properly used (a) of "numerical calculation," e.g., Luke 22:37; (b) metaphorically, "by a reckoning of characteristics or reasons, to take into account," Romans 2:26 , "shall ... be reckoned," RV (AV, "counted"), of "reckoning" uncircumcision for circumcision by God's estimate in contrast to that of the Jew regarding his own condition (ver. 3); in Romans 4:3,5,6,9,11,22-24 , of "reckoning" faith for righteousness, or "reckoning" righteousness to persons, in all of which the RV uses the verb "to reckon" instead of the AV "to count or to impute;" in Romans 4:4 the subject is treated by way of contrast between grace and debt, which latter involves the "reckoning" of a reward for works; what is owed as a debt cannot be "reckoned" as a favor, but the faith of Abraham and his spiritual children sets them outside the category of those who seek to be justified by self-effort, and, vice versa, the latter are excluded from the grace of righteousness bestowed on the sole condition of faith; so in Galatians 3:6 (RV, "was reckoned," AV, "was accounted"); since Abraham, like all the natural descendants of Adam, was a sinner, he was destitute of righteousness in the sight of God; if, then, his relationship with God was to be rectified (i.e., if he was to be justified before God), the rectification could not be brought about by works of merit on his part; in James 2:23 , RV, "reckoned," the subject is viewed from a different standpoint (see under JUSTIFICATION , B, last four paragraphs); for other instances of "reckoning" in this respect see Romans 9:8 , RV , "are reckoned" (AV, "are counted"); 2 Corinthians 5:19 , RV , "(not) reckoning (trespasses)," AV, "imputing;" (c) "to consider, calculate," translated "to reckon" in Romans 6:11; 8:36; 2 Corinthians 10:11 , RV , "let (such a one) reckon (this)," RV (AV, "thinkest"); 2 Corinthians 3:28 (AV, "we conclude"); 8:18; 2 Corinthians 11:5 (AV, "I suppose"); see ACCOUNT , A, No. 4, CONSIDER, No. 6, COUNT, No. 3, SUPPOSE: (e) "to purpose, decide," 2 Corinthians 10:2 , RV, "count" (AV, "think"); see COUNT , No. 3.
"to say, speak," also has the meaning "to gather, reckon, account," used in this sense in Hebrews 7:11 , RV, "be reckoned" (AV, "be called"). See ASK , A, No. 6.
"to take up together" (sun, "with," airo, "to take"), is used with the noun logos, "an account," signifying "to settle account," Matthew 18:23 , RV, "make a reckoning" (AV, "take account"); Matthew 18:24 , AV and RV, "to reckon" (logos being understood); Matthew 25:19 , RV, "maketh a reckoning" (AV, "reckoneth"). This phrase occurs not infrequently in the papyri in the sense of settling accounts (see Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East, 118). In the Sept. the verb occurs in its literal sense in Exodus 23:5 , "thou shalt help to raise" (lit., "raise with").
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Vines, W. E., M. A. Entry for 'Reckon, Reckoning'. Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​ved/​r/reckon-reckoning.html. 1940.