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"refers to a pair of scales in which, when the weights on each side are equal, they bring or
draw down (axiousi) the beam to a level or horizontal position" (Parkhurst).
What a wonderful thought this is. Let us think of the balances. On the one scale all
the blessings, the riches, the glories of our calling as revealed in Eph. 1:-3:; on the other
scale the walk that should balance these blessings, these riches, these glories, the walk
that brings the beam of the balance to the horizontal, the walk that is `worthy of the
calling'. There is a sense of comparison in the word. In Rom. 8: 18 the Apostle says
that:
"the sufferings of the present time are unworthy of comparison (ouk axia) with the glory
about to be revealed in us."
The first occurrence of the word axios in the LXX is suggestive of the idea of
something `equivalent'. Abraham, when negotiating the purchase of the cave of
Machpelah, said:
"for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me" (Gen. 23: 9).
The Hebrew is given in the margin `full money', the Greek version being argurion
axion. This was `weighed in the balances' to the last shekel of the 400 as we see in
verse 16. This same sense is felt in Job 11: 6:
"God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth."
Here again the LXX uses axios. The idea of comparison is seen in Prov. 3: 15 `not
to be compared with her'. Such is the word that Paul uses at the opening of his
exhortation, "Walk worthy". Walk so that there may be a comparison between doctrine
and practice.
The word axios is an adverb, and standing alone would be translated `worthily', but
the word does not stand alone in any of its occurrences in the N.T.; it is always followed
by such an expression as `of the Lord', `of the calling', `of the gospel'. "Worthy of the
Lord" must be taken as an adverbial phrase. "As becometh saints" (Rom. 16: 2) is
literally `worthy of saints'. "After a godly sort" (III John 6) is literally `worthy of God'.
The word axios comes three times in the Prison epistles, and in each case it is associated
either with the calling, the gospel, or the Lord. We are not allowed to think merely of the
walk, not merely of walking worthily, not simply to be studying our walk as such, but
ever to think of the walk as it is related to something higher and nobler than ourselves.
In Eph. 4: 1 we have
"walk worthy of the calling".
In Phil. 1: 27
"manner of life worthy of the gospel".
In Col. 1: 10
"walk worthy of the Lord".
How it must influence us if we but remember that in the one scale of the balance is
our calling, the gospel, yea, even the Lord Himself. What a walk that must be therefore
that shall be `worthy'.