Bible Lexicons

To the use of this word in P Fay 92.19 already cited s.v. βεβαιόω we may add P Giss I. 51.10 (A.D. 202) β ̣έβαιον διὰ [παντὸς ἀπὸ πάντων πάσ ]ῃ βεβαιώσει , PSI I. 79.17 (A.D. 216–7) βεβαιώσω σοι τὴν πρᾶσιν πάσῃ β ̣εβαιω ̣σει . For πάσῃ βεβαιώσι καὶ ἀπὸ δημοσίων as denoting that the object sold is guaranteed as owing nothing to the fiscal authorities, see BGU I. 153.23 (A.D. 152). Deissmann BS, p. 104 ff., has an interesting exposition showing how the technical term εἰς βεβαίωσιν , the antithesis of εἰς ἀθέτησιν , was adopted by the LXX from legal phraseology in Leviticus 25:23, not to render לִצְמִתֻת exactly, but to give the general sense, ";the ground belongs to Yahweh—therefore it may not be sold absolutely,"; by a legally defined sale. So again in Hebrews 6:16 ";for a legal guarantee."; He cites P Par 62ii. 8 (ii/B.C.) . . . ]τοι εἰς τὴν βεβαίωσιν ὑποθήκας [ . . ., and shows that it survived even till A.D. 600. The forensic flavour of the word is noted as still discernible in Philippians 1:7—";this defence before the court will be at the same time an evictio or convictio of the Gospel."; The papyri discovered since Deissmann’s pioneer work was published support with numerous examples his thesis that the word must always be read with the technical sense in mind. It is worth noting that Vettius Valens, p. 228, has ἀγαθῶν βεβαίωσιν next to εἰσποίησιν and in close company with other legal terms, as well as more general ones. The subst βεβαιωτής is common in such conjunctions as P Amh II. 51.28 (sale of a house—B.C. 88) προπωλητὴς καὶ βεβαιωτὴ [ς ] τῶν κατὰ τὴν ὠνὴν ταύτην πάντων Πετεῆσις ὁ ἀποδόμενος , ";the negotiator and guarantor of the sale in all respects is the vendor Peteësis"; (Edd.). For the form βεβαιώτρια see Mayser Gr. p. 444.