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speech of millions of people throughout the Græco–Roman world, and in the providence
of God it was under these conditions and in this world–language that the New Testament
was written.
The fruit of these researches has been provided in such volumes as the “Vocabulary
of the Greek Testament,” by J. H. Moulton and G. Milligan, the “Grammar of the New
Testament Greek” by the former and the book entitled “New Testament Documents” by
the latter, “Bible Studies” by G. A. Deissmann, “Light from the Ancient East” by A.
Deissmann, and similarly well–known works by W. M. Ramsay. References will be
found to some of these in the following pages.
The present volumes are produced especially for the help of those who do not study
Greek, though it is hoped that those who are familiar with the original will find them
useful.
The work is of an expository character, comments being given on various passages
referred to under the different headings. The doctrines of Scripture are dealt with at some
length, and notes are provided on matters historical, technical and etymological.
In cases where an English word translates a variety of Greek words the latter are
given in English form. Where there are no such variations, each word is dealt with
according to its occurrences and usage in the New Testament, reference being made to
the differences between the Authorised and Revised Versions.
The method of the Dictionary provides an exhaustive presentation of synonymous
words. Where a word in the original has a variety of English renderings, a list is given of
these at the close of the note on each word. The list provides in this way a comprehensive
study of the use of any given word in the original. In cases where a list has already been
given, only the first of these meanings is usually mentioned. There is thus a twofold
presentation, firstly, of the different Greek words for one English word, secondly, of the
different English meanings attaching to a single Greek word.
The subject–matter is also analysed under the various parts of speech. To take an
example, DILIGENCE, DILIGENT, DILIGENTLY, are associated in one heading, and
the forms in the original are divided respectively under the sections, Nouns, Verbs,
Adjectives, Adverbs. The parts of speech are not given in the same order in every case.
The order is largely dependent upon the greater prominence which a word receives in the
original. Other considerations have made a variety in this respect advisable.
In many cases the student is referred to the occurrences in the Septuagint Version,
especially where that Version presents a comparatively small number of occurrences or
contains only one instance of the use. Reference to the Apocryphal books of the Old
Testament is omitted.
The sign ¶ at the close of the treatment of a word indicates that all its occurrences in
the original are mentioned. The Dictionary thus partakes to a considerable extent of the
nature of a Concordance.
In many instances all the occurrences and usages of a word are analysed in a list,
showing the different meanings as indicated by the context in each passage of the New
Testament.
Considerable use has been made of the two Commentaries, written jointly by Mr. C.
F. Hogg of London and the present writer, upon the Epistle to the Galatians and the two
Epistles to the Thessalonians. I have also made use of Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible,
Abbott–Smith’s Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, the larger works by