Bible Dictionaries
Honest, Honestly, Honesty

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

A — 1: καλός

(Strong's #2570 — Adjective — kalos — kal-os' )

"good, admirable, becoming," has also the ethical meaning of what is "fair, right, honorable, of such conduct as deserves esteem;" it is translated "honest" [cp. Latin honestus (from honos, "honor")], which has the same double meaning as "honest" in the AV, namely, regarded with honor, honorable, and bringing honor, becoming; in Luke 8:15 (AV, and RV), "an honest and good (agathos) heart;" Romans 12:17; 2 Corinthians 8:21; 13:7 , RV, "honorable" (AV, "honest"), of things which are regarded with esteem; in 1 Peter 2:12 , of behavior, RV, "seemly," AV, "honest" (i.e., becoming). See GOOD.

Note: In Titus 3:14 , the RV and AV margins give what is probably the accurate meaning, "(to profess) honest occupations" (AV, "trades"); in the texts "(to maintain) good works."

A — 2: σεμνός

(Strong's #4586 — Adjective — semnos — sem-nos' )

"august, venerable," is rendered "honest" in Philippians 4:8 , AV (marg., "venerable"), RV, "honorable" (marg., "reverent"). Matthew Arnold suggests "nobly serious." See GRAVE.

Note: In Acts 6:3 , "men of honest (RV, 'good') report" translates the Passive Voice of martureo, lit., "having had witness borne."

B — 1: καλῶς

(Strong's #2573 — Adverb — kalos — kal-oce' )

corresponding to A, No. 1, is used in Hebrews 13:18 , "honestly," i.e., honorably. See PLACE , C, Note (4), WELL.

B — 2: εὐσχημόνως

(Strong's #2156 — Adverb — euschemonos — yoo-skhay-mon'-oce )

"becomingly, decently," is rendered "honestly" in Romans 13:13 , where it is set in contrast with the confusion of gentile social life, and in 1 Thessalonians 4:12 , of the manner of life of believers as a witness to "them that are without;" in 1 Corinthians 14:40 , "decently," in contrast with confusion in the churches. See DECENTLY.

C — 1: σεμνότης

(Strong's #4587 — Noun Feminine — semnotes — sem-not'-ace )

denotes "gravity, dignified seriousness;" it is rendered "honesty" in the AV of 1 Timothy 2:2 , RV, "gravity." See GRAVITY.

Bibliography Information
Vines, W. E., M. A. Entry for 'Honest, Honestly, Honesty'. Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​ved/​h/honest-honestly-honesty.html. 1940.