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Bible Dictionaries
Commendation
Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament
or (from Lat. com- and mando, ‘commit to’)
‘Commend’ is used In Authorized Version and Revised Version as a translation of (a) παρατίθημι, in the sense of entrusting (cf. ‘Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit,’ Luke 23:46) in Acts 14:23; Acts 20:32, in reference to the solemn committing of the heads of the churches to God. The same verb is translated ‘commit’ (to God) in 1 Peter 4:19 (‘Let them that suffer … commit their souls … to a faithful creator’); cf. Luke 12:48, 1 Timothy 1:18; 1 Timothy 6:20, 2 Timothy 1:12; 2 Timothy 1:14; 2 Timothy 2:2.
(b) παρίστημι is translated ‘commend’ in 1 Corinthians 8:8 (‘Meat commendeth us not to God’) in the sense of presenting to God; ‘non exhibebit nos Deo’ (Meyer); ‘will not bring us into God’s presence’ (Weymouth).
(c) ‘Commend’ is used to translate συνίστημι (1) in Romans 3:5, in the sense of demonstration, setting in clearer light (‘but if our unrighteousness commendeth the righteousness of God, what shall we say?’); (2) in Romans 5:8, in the sense of making proof of (‘God commendeth his own love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us’); (3) in the sense of introduction in Romans 16:1 (‘I commend unto you Phœbe our sister’). συνίστημι is the technical word for this kind of recommendation, which was equivalent to a certificate of church membership’ (Denney, Expositor’s Greek Testament , ‘Romans,’ 1900, p. 717). Greek teachers used to give ἐπιστολαὶ συστατικαί (Diog. Laert. viii. 87). The Ephesian Christians wrote such a letter for Apollos to the Church at Corinth (Acts 18:27). St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 8:16-24 gives an introduction for Titus and his companions to the Corinthian Church. In 2 Corinthians 3:1 St. Paul finely points out that no such introduction is necessary in his own case, either for or from his readers. They themselves are a letter of commendation in a double sense-they are ever written in his heart; no need for others to commend them to his interest and care; again, as his converts, they are his letter of credential to themselves and to all the world. (4) The verb, reflexively used to convey the idea of self-praise, occurs in 2 Corinthians 3:1; 2 Corinthians 5:12; 2 Corinthians 10:12; 2 Corinthians 10:18 (where the pronoun coming before the verb occupies the prominent position); (5) but in 2 Corinthians 4:2; 2 Corinthians 6:4; 2 Corinthians 7:11 (where the pronoun follows the verb) the reference is to legitimate demonstration of one’s faith and work; e.g. zeal for purity is such a commendation (2 Corinthians 7:11). An apostle’s true credentials are unwearied labour, self-sacrifice, character, and loftiness of spirit (2 Corinthians 6:4).
H. Bulcock.
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Hastings, James. Entry for 'Commendation'. Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hdn/c/commendation.html. 1906-1918.
