Respect of Persons
RESPECT OF PERSONS
The judges of the Hebrews were directed to give sentence strictly according to truth and justice, without regard to the comparative wealth, influence or other advantage of one party over the other, Lev 19:15 Deu 16:17 Pro 24:23 . Thus God judges, not according to outward appearance or station, but according to the heart, Mal 10:34 1Ch 2:6-11 . Thus ought men to estimate and treat their fellow men; and to court the favor of the rich and influential is sharply censured in Scripture, Pro 28:21 Jam 2:1-9 Jud 1:16 .
Fuente: American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
Respect Of Persons
The abstract noun occurs in the NT four times. In three of these instances (Rom 2:11, Eph 6:9, Col 3:25) it is used with reference to God, in the fourth (Jam 2:1) with reference to man. The cognate verb occurs once only in the NT in Jam 2:9. The masculine form occurs only once in Act 10:34 and the negative adverb only once in 1Pe 1:17. The compound is a late Hellenistic formation, appearing only in the NT and in ecclesiastical literature.
Before the formation of the compound, and along with it, the constituent elements were used together as separate words. The expression is used in the Septuagint to translate , to accept the face, i.e. to receive kindly or look favourably upon any one (cf. Lev 19:15). Originally the expression was a neutral one, involving no idea of improper partiality. When, however, it becomes a distinctive expression, as, e.g., in Gal 2:6 ( ), it takes a worse sense. Lightfoot (in loc.) suggests that this is owing to the secondary meaning of , mask, so that signifies to regard the external circumstances of a man-his rank, wealth, etc.-as opposed to his real intrinsic character. The phrase occurs again in the NT in Luk 20:21. It also occurs in the Didache iv. 3: , . Alternative expressions with a similar meaning are (Mat 22:16, Mar 12:14) and (Jud 1:16).
The NT instances of the compound word fall into three main groups. Act 10:34, 1Pe 1:17, and Rom 2:11 constitute the first of these. In Act 10:34 St. Peter, addressing the assembled household of Cornelius, says, . On this assertion of Gods character, as free from partiality to one nation above other nations, the Apostle bases his repudiation of the exclusive covenant of Israel. In Rom 2:11 St. Paul asserts the same view with the similar phrase . The expression in 1Pe 1:17 describing God as involves the same assertion, but it also involves a warning (with a possible reference to Deu 10:17) that, under the New Covenant as under the Old, God would show no favour to those whose deeds made them unworthy of it.
The two passages Eph 6:9 and Col 3:25 form the second group. Both are concerned with the mutual relations of masters and slaves. In Eph 6:9 masters are counselled as to the right treatment of their slaves, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no respect of persons () with him. In Col 3:25 the word occurs in the counsels addressed to the slaves. The passage is interesting as showing that , though usually exercised in favour of rank and power, might occasionally be employed on the opposite side (cf. Lev 19:15). The slave might assume that because mans would usually be on the masters side, there would be a corresponding of God on the slaves side. St. Pauls warning in this passage corrects any such mistaken impression.
The third group of passages consists of the two in St. James, the noun in Jam 2:1 and the corresponding verb in Jam 2:9. In the general context it is partiality in favour of the wealthy, well-dressed member of the Christian assembly that is condemned. In Jam 2:1 the noun is used in the plural, , with probable reference to the many ways in which partiality may display itself.
In the sub-apostolic writings occurs only in Polycarp, ad Phil. vi. 1. Elders are warned that they should be compassionate and merciful, , , . The negative adverb occurs in 1 Clem. i. 3 ( ) and in Ep. Barn. iv. 12 ( ).
Literature.-Sanday-Headlam, International Critical Commentary , Romans5, Edinburgh, 1902, p. 58; J. B. Lightfoot, Galatians 5, London, 1876, p. 108, Colossians and Philemon, new ed., do., 1879, p. 230; J. B. Major, James 3, do., 1910, p. 78.
Dawson Walker.
Fuente: Dictionary of the Apostolic Church
Respect Of Persons
(, Rom 2:11; Eph 6:9; Col 3:25; Jam 2:1; a later Greek word, found only in the New Test., and modelled after the use of with ), partiality for individuals. God appointed that the judges should pronounce sentence without respect of persons (Lev 19:15; Deu 16:17; Deu 16:19). That they should consider neither the poor nor the rich, the weak nor the powerful, but should attend only to truth and justice. God has no respect of persons. The Jews complimented our Saviour that he told the truth, without respect of persons, without fear (Mat 22:16; Isa 32:1-16). Jude (Isa 32:16), instead of the phrase to have respect of persons, has to admire persons.
Our English term respect seems to imply some kind of deference or submission to a party; but this is not always the proper meaning to be annexed to it in Scripture. When we read (Exo 2:25) God had respect to the children of Israel, it can only express his compas. sion and sympathy for them; when God had respect to the offering of Abel (Gen 4:4), it imports to accept favorably, to notice with satisfaction. (Comp. 1Ki 8:28; Num 16:15.)
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Respect of Persons
re-spekt: The phrase , nasa’ phanm, means literally, lift up the face, and, among other translations, is rendered indifferently accept or respect the person in the King James Version (contrast Pro 18:5 and Pro 24:23). As applied to a (prostrate) suppliant, the phrase means receive him with favor, and is so used in 1Sa 25:35; Mal 1:8, Mal 1:9 (compare Gen 19:21, etc.). By a shift in force the phrase came to mean accept the person instead of the cause or show partiality (Job 13:8, Job 13:10 the American Standard Revised Version), and is so used commonly. A literal translation into Greek gave , lambano prosopon (Sirach 35:13 (32:16); Luk 20:21; Gal 2:6), with the noun , prosopolempsa, face-taking (Rom 2:11; Eph 6:9; Col 3:25; Jam 2:1), rendered uniformly respect of persons in English Versions of the Bible. A noun , prosopolemptes, respecter of persons, and a verb , prosopolempteo, are found Act 10:34; Jam 2:9. God’s judgment rests solely on the character of the man and will be influenced by no worldly (Eph 6:9) or national (Rom 2:11) considerations. See also ACCEPT.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Respect of Persons
General references
Pro 24:23; Pro 28:21; Jas 2:1-9
God does not have
Deu 10:17; 2Ch 19:7; Job 31:13-15; Job 34:19; Act 10:34; Act 15:9; Rom 2:11-12; Rom 10:12; Eph 6:8-9; Col 3:25; 1Pe 1:17 God, Judge, and His Justice; Justice