Utterance
Utterance
The word utterance is found five times in the Authorized Version of the NT: once in Acts (Act 2:4) and four times in the writings of St. Paul (1Co 1:5, 2Co 8:7, Eph 6:19, Col 4:3). In the passage in Acts it does not represent any substantive in the original, the phrase translated as the Spirit gave them utterance being literally as the Spirit gave them to speak (). Where it occurs in St. Pauls Epistles it represents the Greek word , and in two passages (1Co 1:5, 2Co 8:7) it is used in conjunction with knowledge (). In Col 4:3 the phrase of the Authorized Version a door of utterance has been changed by the Revisers to a door for the word. The meaning to be attached to has, therefore, been changed from the power of expression possessed by the speaker to the Divine message which he is charged to deliver.
The significance of the word in the NT seems to be the power of speech rather than what is actually spoken. This power is a gift of the Holy Spirit, bestowed on certain individuals, with the implication that it has been given for some special purpose. It might therefore be fittingly applied to the prophets (cf. 1 Corinthians 14), though it is not so used in fact.
The Apostolic Fathers do not use in this sense.
R. H. Malden.
Fuente: Dictionary of the Apostolic Church
Utterance
“a word,” is translated “utterance” in 1Co 1:5; 2Co 8:7; Eph 6:19. See WORD.
Notes: (1) In Col 4:3, AV, logos is rendered “(a door) of utterance.” (2) For apophthengomai, rendered “utterance” in Act 2:4, see SPEAK, No. 5.