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No.19.
pp. 99, 100
STUDY. In the verse so well known and vital to most of us who read this Bible study
magazine (II Tim. 2: 15) it is important to realize that the Apostle Paul is not referring to
study books. The Greek verb spoudazo means "be zealous", "be keen" to do a thing. In
II Tim. 4: 21 it is rendered "do thy diligence to come before winter" which in modern
English means "do your utmost to come before winter" because of the difficulty of
traveling at that time of the year. We can be keen about many things, some of which are
not really important, but the keenness of II Tim. 2: 15 is absolutely vital to the believer
who earnestly desires to win the Lord's approval of his service and to stand before Him
in resurrection unashamed.
SUBURBS. This word occurs over 100 times in our A.V., but hardly has the modern
meaning of the word which is now kept to the outskirts of a city. Migrash means
"common or pasture lands".
SUCCOUR. This old word comes from the Latin through the French and means "to
run to the aid of". In Rom. 16: 1, 2, Paul commends "Phoebe, our sister, which is a
servant of the church which is at Cenchrea . . . . . that ye assist her in whatsoever business
she hath need of you, for she hath been a succourer of many and of myself also". We
know nothing of this Christian woman who was probably of some wealth and importance
and could afford to aid and give hospitality to the Apostle and others in their journeys.
Arndt and Gingrich translate, "she has been of great assistance to many, including
myself".
SUFFER. This word is often used in the A.V. as it is in modern English, meaning to
feel pain and endure hardship. But it is often used in the nearly obsolete sense of
"permit". The Lord said, "Suffer little children and forbid them not to come unto Me, for
of such is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 19: 14). This is not an injunction to tolerate
little children, but the meaning is "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder
them". All the modern versions reject the word "suffer" owing to its change of meaning
today.
SWELL, SWELLING. There is one reference in the A.V. which is not clear from
the standpoint of modern English. "The swelling of Jordan" (Jer. 12: 5; 49: 19; 50: 44)
does not refer to a swelling flood of water, but to the lush vegetation on its banks.
Jeremiah 12: 5 reads "If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee,
then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou
trusteth, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?" This is not
very understandable today. The R.S.V. here is much better, "If you have raced with men