Importunity
Importunity
() IN PRAYER, an important element of success (Luk 11:8), as evincing earnestness, a faith that takes no denial, and especially a perseverance that continues to intercede until the request is granted (compare Luk 18:1; 1Th 5:17); SEE PRAYER.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Importunity
IMPORTUNITY.The only passage in the Authorized and Revised Versions where this word is found is Luk 11:9 Because of his importunity he will arise and give him as many as he needeth. This rendering dates from Tindale (1526). Wyclif (1380) has his contynuel axynge. Good modern translations are persistency (Weymouth), persistence [Twentieth Century NT). Murrays New English Dict. gives the definition troublesome pertinacity in solicitation; as early as 1460 the word has this meaning, Through ymportunite off thair suyttes. In the companion parable, Coverdale (1535) uses the cognate adjective, Luk 18:5 yet seynge this weddowe is so importune vpon me, I will delyner her. The original meaning of importune was inopportune, untimely; in Sir 32:4 display not thy wisdom out of season, Coverdale has at an importunyte. Intermediate stages in the growth of the later signification of the word from this root idea are marked by the now obsolete meanings troublesome and urgent.
Importunity (Luk 11:8) is the translation of the Gr. , which signifies the absence of shamelessness. In Biblical Greek it occurs only in Sir 25:22, and is rendered impudence. The Lat. importunitas, unfitness, is found with the stronger meaning insolence (Cic. de Sen. iii. 7), and is therefore a more accurate translation of than its English equivalent. But persistent asking soon becomes insolent asking. The word contains, as Trapp says, a metaphor from beggars, that will not be said Nay, but are impudently importunate (Com. in loc.). Cowper uses the word (Task, iv. 414) in an instructive context:
Knaves liberal of their aid
To clamrous importunity in rags.
To bring out the striking contrast which our Lords parable suggests, it is necessary to show that persistence in asking becomes those who know that prayer is never troublesome to God, and never out of season. He who will not he said Nay, and he alone, has learnt the secret of prevailing prayer. Wright notes (Synopsis of the Gospels in Greek, p. 243) that St. Luke three times uses bad men to represent God, or to be examples to us: (1) here, (2) the unjust steward, (3) the unjust judge.
J. G. Tasker.
Fuente: A Dictionary Of Christ And The Gospels
Importunity
IMPORTUNITY.The Greek word so translated in Luk 11:8 is literally shamelessness. It is translated impudence in Sir 25:22. These are its only occurrences in the Bible. It is probable, however, that it had lost some of its original force, and that importunity is a fair rendering. The Eng. word signified originally difficulty of access (in-portus), hence persistence. It is now practically obsolete, and persistence might have been introduced into the RV [Note: Revised Version.] .
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Importunity
im-por-tuni-ti: Occurs only in Luk 11:8, where it is the rendering of , anadeia (Westcott-Hort, , anaida). This Greek word implies an element of impudent insistence rising to the point of shamelessness which the English word importunity fails to express, thus weakening the argument of the parable, which is that if by shameless insistence a favor may be won, even from one unwilling and ungracious, still more surely will God answer the earnest prayer of His people. God’s willingness to give exceeds our ability to ask. The parable teaches by way of contrast, not by parallel.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Importunity
See Prayer
Prayer
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Importunity
denotes “shamelessness, importunity” (a, negative, n, euphonic, and aidos, “shame, modesty”), and is used in the Lord’s illustration concerning the need of earnestness and perseverance in prayer, Luk 11:8. If shameless persistence can obtain a boon from a neighbor, then certainly earnest prayer will receive our Father’s answer.