Fame
Fame
FAME.This term has had three meanings,rumour, reputation, and posthumous renown. The last is modern; the Elizabethan usage lies between, or may include, the other two. Bacon, who left a Fragment on the subject, and who loved to quote the mythological idea of Fame as the daughter of the angry Earth and the sister of the warring Giants, understood by the term disturbing Rumoura thing dangerous to governments. Milton, who in an early poem (Lycidas, 70 ff.) described the last infirmity of noble minds, in a late poem analyzed the temptation to seek fame or glory, and poured scorn on human judgments (Par. Reg. iii. 21151). In the Gospels the meaning is simpler. The term describes the spreading talk of the admiring multitudes. It is a thing unsought, but unrestrainable, and in no small degree disquieting to the authorities.
We are told that early in the ministry of Jesus a fame of Him went through Galilee and the surrounding country, including Syria (Mat 4:24, Luk 4:14). Special occasions were the restoration of a demoniac (Mar 1:8, Luk 4:37) and the cleansing of a leper (Luk 5:15, cf. Mar 1:45). The First Gospel uses the term also in connexion with the restoring of Jairus daughter and the giving of sight to two blind men (Mat 9:26; Mat 9:31). And, finally, this Gospel tells us that the fame of Jesus affected Herod (Mat 14:1 Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 report, cf. Mar 6:14, Luk 9:7).
An examination of the Greek text shows that in no two parallel passages is the same term used. The term of the first two Gospels (except in Mat 9:26) is (lit. hearing; Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 report), used also for rumours in the eschatological discourse (Mat 24:6, Mar 13:7). St. Luke, however, eschews this word, and in his three passages uses three others: (lit. speech; Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 fame, Luk 4:14, so Matthew 9); (lit. sound; Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 report, Luk 4:37); and (lit. discourse; Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 report, Luk 5:15). And elsewhere each Evangelist uses periphrasis. Thus we may conclude that the idea expressed by these terms was of an indefinite character. It included, in varying degrees, such elements as curiosity, attraction, wonder, faith, worship.
These passages, taken along with others that more directly express admiration or astonishment (Mat 7:28; Mat 12:23; Mat 15:31), or that relate the concourse and following of multitudes (Mar 3:7-9; Mar 6:34; Mar 6:55; Mar 10:46), show that during His whole public ministry the acts of Jesus arrested the gaze of men. Not only in Galilee, but in all the provinces of Palestine, and in cities of Syria, men talked and speculated regarding a new Figure that was in their midst. A few who cherished sacred tradition believed that the Messiah had come (Joh 1:41; Joh 1:49; Joh 7:40, Mat 16:4; Mat 21:9). Others less instructed talked wildly as if Elijah had descended, or the Baptist had risen (Mar 6:14-15, Mat 16:13-14), or some prophet of local tradition or expectation had appeared (Joh 7:40, Mat 21:11). Doubtless the multitudes that hung around Him were very mixed crowds. Vanity and selfishness mingled with their motives. They loved display. They desired a succession of palpable benefits. Some had political aims or ambitions. The majority failed to appreciate the renunciation and pure spirituality of the Teacher. And few were able to sustain the devotion of their higher moments. To Jesus it was often a relief to find a place of solitude for meditation and prayer. Yet He acknowledged the true instinct of the untutored worshipper (Mat 21:16). And it is to the honour of human nature to remember that the common people heard Him gladly (Mar 12:37), and that not the nation at large, but the constituted authorities and their toolsa suspicious officialism, a proud and jealous priesthoodrejected the true Leader and Lord of men, the Shepherd and Bishop of souls. See, further, artt. Ambition and Glory.
R. Scott.
Fuente: A Dictionary Of Christ And The Gospels
Fame
fam (, shem, , shema; , akoe, , pheme): Fame has the twofold meaning, (1) of report or rumor, (2) of renown or reputation (in the Old Testament it is not always easy to distinguish the two senses). Fame, shema, fame, rumor, reports (Num 14:15; Job 28:22, the Revised Version (British and American) rumor) probably means report; but in 1Ki 10:1; 2Ch 9:1; Isa 66:19, it is most probably renown, or reputation; shemuah (1Ki 10:7; 2Ch 9:6) may have either meaning; shoma (Jos 6:27; Jos 9:9; Est 9:4) seems to mean fame in the sense of reputation; but in Jer 6:24 (as the American Standard Revised Version) report; shem, name, has the sense of reputation (1Ki 4:31; 1Ch 14:17; 1Ch 22:5; Zep 3:19, the Revised Version (British and American) name); kol, voice, is report (Gen 45:16, the American Standard Revised Version report). In the New Testament akoe, hearing, is report, so the Revised Version (British and American) (Mat 4:24; Mat 14:1; Mar 1:28); pheme, word, rumor, is report, fame in this sense (Mat 9:26; Luk 4:14); echos, a sound, noise (Luk 4:37, the Revised Version (British and American) rumor), and logos, word (Luk 5:15, the Revised Version (British and American) report) have the same meaning; diaphemzo, to say throughout, to report publicly (Mat 9:31, they … spread abroad his fame), seems to imply fame in the sense of reputation.
In 1 Macc 3:26, we have fame in the sense of reputation, His fame (onoma, the Revised Version (British and American) name) came near even to the king; so 3:41, heard the fame of them.
ERV has fame for report (shema), Jer 50:43.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Fame
originally denoted “a Divine voice, an oracle;” hence, “a saying or report” (akin to phemi, “to say,” from a root meaning “to shine, to be clear;” hence, Lat., fama, Eng., “fame”), is rendered “fame” in Mat 9:26; Luk 4:14.
Notes: (1) In Luk 5:15, RV, logos, “a word, report, account,” is translated “report,” for AV, “fame.” See REPORT. (2) Akoe, “a hearing,” is translated “report” in the RV of Mat 4:24; Mat 14:1; Mar 1:28, for AV, “fame.” See EAR, No. 3. HEARING. (3) Echos, “a noise, report, sound,” is translated “rumor,” in the RV of Luk 4:37, for AV, “fame;” “sound” in Act 2:2; Heb 12:19. See RUMOR, SOUND.
signifies “to spread abroad a matter,” Mat 28:15, RV; Mar 1:45, RV (from dia, “throughout,” and phemi, “to say”); hence, “to spread abroad one’s fame,” Mat 9:31. All the passages under this heading relate to the testimony concerning Christ in the days of His flesh.