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| == Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible <ref name="term_53140" /> ==
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| <p> <strong> [[Officer]] </strong> . By this somewhat indefinite expression are rendered some eight or ten different Heb. and Gr. words, several of which seem to have had an equally wide application. Of the Heb. words the commonest is <em> shôtçr </em> , from a root which in [[Assyrian]] means ‘to write.’ The <em> shôtçr </em> , accordingly, was originally, it would seem, a subordinate official attached to the higher military, civil, and judicial officers of the State for secretarial purposes (see Driver’s summary of their duties in his <em> Com. on </em> Deuteronomy 1:15 ). In the narrative of the oppression of the Hebrews in Egypt, the ‘officers’ are the [[Hebrew]] subordinates of the [[Egyptian]] taskmasters (see Exodus 5:14 ); one of their duties, it may be assumed, was to keep account of the tale of bricks made by each of their compatriots. </p> <p> In Genesis 37:36 and elsewhere ‘officer’ is the tr. [Note: translate or translation.] of the usual word for ‘ <strong> eunuch </strong> ’ (wh. see), but, as [[Genesis]] 39:1 shows, the original ( <em> sârîs </em> ) must here signify, more generally, a court official. Still another word, rendered ‘officer’ in 1 Kings 4:5; 1 Kings 4:7 etc., denotes the heads of the twelve administrative districts into which [[Solomon]] divided his kingdom, corresponding some what to the ‘collectors’ in our Indian administration. </p> <p> In [[Nt]] ‘officer’ is, with one exception ( Luke 12:58 ), the tr. [Note: translate or translation.] of a Gr. word of equally wide application. In the account of our Lord’s betrayal and capture the ‘officers’ are members of the [[Temple]] police ( John 7:32 etc.), as also in the account of the imprisonment of Peter and John ( Acts 5:22; Acts 5:26; cf. Acts 4:1 ). The same word is elsewhere rendered ‘minister,’ either in the more general sense of ‘attendant’ (so Acts 13:6 [[Rv]] [Note: Revised Version.] ), or in the special sense of the ‘minister’ [[(Rv]] [Note: Revised Version.] ‘attendant’) or officer of the [[Jewish]] synagogue ( Luke 4:20 ), for whom see Synagogue. </p> <p> [[A.]] [[R.]] [[S.]] Kennedy. </p> | | Officer <ref name="term_56756" /> |
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| | <p> <b> [[Officer.]] </b> —The term ‘officer’ is used in the [[Gospels]] (and Acts) as a translation of ὑπηρέτης in the ordinary secular applications of that term ( Matthew 5:25, John 7:32; John 7:45; John 18:3; John 18:12; John 18:18; John 18:22; John 19:6, Acts 5:22; Acts 5:28). In other two cases ( Mark 14:54; Mark 14:65 || Matthew 26:58, John 18:36) the Authorized Version translation ‘servants’; the Revised Version [[Nt]] 1881, [[Ot]] 1885 in the former adhering to ‘officers’ and in the latter putting it in the margin. In most of these cases the officers are servants of the [[Jewish]] Council; in Matthew 5:25 and John 18:36 they may be regarded more generally as servants of the State. In Luke 12:58 ‘officer’ is the translation of a still humbler term, πράκτωρ, a prison official, described in (Revised Version margin) as ‘exactor’ from his duty of collecting fines. In John 4:46 (Revised Version margin) ‘king’s officer’ appears as an alternative to ‘nobleman’ for a term meaning ‘courtier.’ </p> <p> It is evident that in the 16th or 17th century ‘officer’ had a lower meaning than now.* [Note: The most frequent application of the term was not to commissioners in the army or navy, but to petty officers Of justice, as In ‘sheriff’s officer,’ ‘peace officer.’ It is this usage that is reflected in the [[Nt.]]] These ὑπηρέται belong to the rank and file. They are subordinate officials, with duties purely instrumental, virtually on a level with our policemen. As emphasized in Jn., they are the creatures of the Jews, accompanying the chief priests for the doing of their will; or they may take orders from a captain of the [[Temple]] ( Acts 5:26), or they carry into execution the sentence of a judge ( Matthew 5:25). St. Luke in his narrative of the [[Arrest]] and [[Trial]] and in Luke 12:58 avoids the term, but he uses it in Acts 5:22; Acts 5:26 as above (where, possibly, he is following a source), and four times of religious service—in Luke 4:20 of a minister of the synagogue, in Luke 1:2 and Acts 26:16 (Paul) of [[Christian]] preachers, and in Acts 13:5 of John Mark, who was, in some sense, assistant to [[Barnabas]] and Paul. So also St. Paul uses it in 1 Corinthians 4:1. In all these cases the Authorized Version renders ‘minister’; in two ( Luke 4:20, Acts 13:5) the Revised Version [[Nt]] 1881, [[Ot]] 1885, without much lucidity, substitutes ‘attendant.’ </p> <p> ὑπηρέτης, originally ‘rower,’ was used in [[Greece]] of an assistant or inferior agent in any sort of work. In particular, it was used in a military sense of attendants on heavy-armed soldiers, and also of adjutants to officers of rank. [[A]] similar indefiniteness, but always involving subordination, belongs to the [[Nt]] usage. The term ‘officer,’ owing to the secular and especially the military associations of the name, was manifestly unsuitable for the description of a Christian minister of any rank. Such terms of ancient administration as ἀπόστολος (commissioner) and ἐπίσκοπος (inspector) were received into modern languages, not by translation into an equivalent, but by a process of adoption and adaptation. But the ὑπηρέτης, whose title, like these, was extended from the secular to the sacred sphere, was too inferior in dignity and too indefinite in character for such distinction. We have indeed in ordinary usage a somewhat similar rank expressed by the term ‘office-bearer,’ and there is a special episcopal use of ‘official’; while a still humbler dignity, parallel with the secular use in Scripture, is denoted by the designation ‘church officer.’ Of such terms, and of the term ‘officer’ as representing the servants of the Sanhedrin, the interest pertains merely to the study of language. No theological or ecclesiastical idea is involved; and for practical utility or correctness the only duty of new Revisers towards this term is to eliminate it entirely from the sacred page. </p> <p> [[R.]] Scott. </p> |
| == Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words <ref name="term_78590" /> ==
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| <div> '''1: ὑπηρέτης ''' (Strong'S #5257 Noun Masculine huperetes hoop-ay-ret'-ace ) </div> <p> for the original of which see [[Minister]] , [[A,]] No. 3, is translated "officer," with the following applications, (a) to a magistrate's attendant, Matthew 5:25; (b) to officers of the synagogue, or officers or bailiffs of the Sanhedrin, Matthew 26:58; Mark 14:54,65; John 7:32,45,46; 18:3,12,18,22; 19;6; Acts 5:22,26 . See [[Minister]] , Servant. </p> <div> '''2: πράκτωρ ''' (Strong'S #4233 Noun Masculine praktor prak'-tore ) </div> <p> lit., "one who does," or "accomplishes" (akin to prasso, "to do"), was used in [[Athens]] of one who exacts payment, a collector (the word is frequently used in the papyri of a public accountant); hence, in general, a court "officer," an attendant in a court of justice (so Deissmann); the word is used in Luke 12:58 (twice). In the Sept., Isaiah 3:12 . </p>
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| == Morrish Bible Dictionary <ref name="term_67934" /> ==
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| <p> This word is used in scripture indefinitely for any one in authority, there being seven Hebrew words so translated. In the [[N.T.]] are </p> <p> 1. πράκτωρ, from 'to do or act,' it occurs only in Luke 12:58 . It is used for the officer appointed to exact the money adjudicated by the judge. </p> <p> 2. ὑπηρέτης, <i> lit. </i> 'an under-rower,' a subordinate officer, who assisted the priests and the Roman governors. Matthew 5:25; John 7:32,45,46; John 18:3-22; John 19:6; Acts 5:22,26 . It is also translated 'minister' and 'servant.' </p>
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| == Smith's Bible Dictionary <ref name="term_74218" /> ==
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| <p> '''Officer.''' It is obvious that most, if not all, of the Hebrew words rendered, "officer" are either of an indefinite character, or are synonymous terms for functionaries, known under other and more specific names, as "scribe," "eunuch" etc. The two words so rendered in the New [[Testament]] denote - </p> <p> 1. An inferior officer of a court of justice, a messenger or bailiff, like the Roman '''viator''' or '''lictor''' . Matthew 5:25; Acts 5:22. </p> <p> 2. Officers whose duty it was to register and collect fines imposed by courts of justice. Luke 12:58. </p>
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| == Webster's Dictionary <ref name="term_150043" /> ==
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| <p> '''(1):''' ''' (''' v. t.) To furnish with officers; to appoint officers over. </p> <p> '''(2):''' ''' (''' v. t.) To command as an officer; as, veterans from old regiments officered the recruits. </p> <p> '''(3):''' ''' (''' n.) One who holds an office; a person lawfully invested with an office, whether civil, military, or ecclesiastical; as, a church officer; a police officer; a staff officer. </p> <p> '''(4):''' ''' (''' n.) Specifically, a commissioned officer, in distinction from a warrant officer. </p>
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| == King James Dictionary <ref name="term_61810" /> ==
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| <p> [[Of'Ficer,]] n. [[A]] person commissioned or authorized to perform any public duty. Officers are military or ecclesiastical. There are great officers of state, and subordinate officers. Military and naval officers of the same grade usually take rank according to the dates of their commissions. Non-commissioned officers are nominated by their captains, and appointed by the commanding officers of regiments. </p> <p> [[Of'Ficer,]] To furnish with officers to appoint officers over. </p> <p> Count Pulaski raised a legionary corps, which he officered principally with foreigners. </p>
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| == Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament <ref name="term_56760" /> ==
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| <p> In the only passages in which this word occurs in the apostolic writings ( Acts 5:22; Acts 5:26), it stands for the Gr. ὑπηρέτης, and denotes an official of the [[Sanhedrin]] sent to bring the apostles before the Court. These officials appear to have been under the command of the captain of the Temple (v. 26). </p> <p> [[G.]] Wauchope Stewart. </p>
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| == Fausset's Bible Dictionary <ref name="term_36894" /> ==
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| <p> In New Testament used to translated hufretes "minister" ( Matthew 5:25), and practor "exacter" or "officer of the court," only in Luke 12:58. </p>
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| == Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature <ref name="term_53573" /> ==
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| <p> Most, if not all, of the Hebrew and Greek words so rendered in the [[A.]] [[V.]] are either of an indefinite character, or are synonymous terms for functionaries known under other and more specific names. They are the following: </p> <p> '''1.''' סָרַיס '', saris'' ( Genesis 37:36; Genesis 39:1; Genesis 40:2). The word usually designates a ''eunuch;'' and probably it ought always to be so understood. It is no valid objection to this that [[Potiphar]] had a wife, for eunuchs are not all strangers to the sexual passion, and sometimes live in matrimony ( Sirach 20:4; Mishna, Jebamoth, 8:4; Juvenal, Sat. 1:22; Terence, Eun. 4:3, 23; Chardin, Voyages, 3:397). (See [[Eunuch]]). </p> <p> '''2.''' שֹׁטֵר, ''shoter,'' part. of שָׁטִר, ''to cut, to grave,'' properly ''a writer'' (Sept. γραμματεύς )'','' and, from the use of writing in judicial administration, a ''magistrate'' or ''praecet.'' It is used of the officers who were set over the [[Israelites]] in Egypt (Exodus v. 6-19); of the officers who were appointed along with the elders to administer the public affairs of the Israelites ( Numbers 11:16; Deuteronomy 20:5; Deuteronomy 20:8-9; Deuteronomy 29:10; Deuteronomy 31:28; Joshua 1:10; Joshua 3:2; Joshua 8:33, etc.); of magistrates in the cities and towns of [[Palestine]] ( Deuteronomy 16:18; Sept. γραμματοεισαγωγεῖς; 1 Chronicles 23:4; 1 Chronicles 26:29; 2 Chronicles 19:11; Proverbs 6:7 [[[A.]] [[V.]] "overseer"], etc.); and apparently also of a military chief ( 2 Chronicles 26:11 [[[A.]] [[V.]] "ruler"]). See below. </p> <p> '''3.''' נַצָּב, ''nitstsab,'' part. Niph. of נָצִב, to ''set orplace,a praefect or director'' ( 1 Kings 4:5; 1 Kings 4:7; 5:30 [[[A.V.]] 1 Kings 5:16]; 1 Kings 9:23, etc.); and נְצַיב, ''netsib'' ( 1 Kings 4:7; 1 Kings 4:19). (See [[Governor]]). </p> <p> '''4.''' רִב, ''rab'' ( Esther 1:8; Daniel 1:3 [[[A.]] [[V.]] "master"]); Sept. οἰκόνομος. (See [[Rab]]). </p> <p> '''5.''' פָּקַיד '', pakid,'' from פָּקִד, ''to visit,'' Hiph. ''to set over, an overseer'' or ''magistrate'' ( Genesis 41:34, Sept. τοπάρχης; Judges 9:28, Sept. ἐπίσκοπος '';'' Esther 2:3, Sept. κωμάρχης; 2 Chronicles 24:11, Sept. προστάτης )'';'' and פְּקֻדָּה, ''pekuddah,'' properly ''office,'' but used collectively for a ''body of officers'' ( Isaiah 60:17, Sept. ἄρχοντας; also 2 Chronicles 24:11 [[[A.]] [[V.]] "office"], Sept. προστάτας )''.'' </p> <p> '''6.''' עֹשֵׂי הִמְּלָאכָה, "those who did the business," marg. [[A.V.,]] Sept. γραμματεῖς ( Esther 9:3). (See Hebrew Monarchy). </p> <p> In the [[N.T.]] the words translated "officer" are both employed of legal functionaries. They are: 1. ὑπηρέτης, a word of general significance, denoting one who renders service of any kind; it is used, with this rendering, of a functionary whose duty it was to apprehend offenders, or to exact legal penalties from those who had incurred them ( Matthew 5:25 [for which Luke uses πράκτωρ '','' 12:58]; John 7:32; John 7:46; John 18:3; John 18:12; Acts 5:22); a messenger or bailiff; like the Roman viator or lictor. [[Josephus]] uses the word ὑπηρέτης of an officer two of whom, being Levites, were attached to each magistrate (''Ant.'' 4:8, 14); but it is probable that these were rather clerks or assessors of the court than servants of the class above described. The [[Mishna]] also mentions the crier and other officials, but whether these answered to the officers of Josephus and the [[N.T.]] cannot be determined. Selden, from Maimonides, mentions the high estimation in which such officials were held (''Sanhedr.'' 4:4; 6:1; Selden, ''De Synedr.'' 2:13, 11). 2. The πράκτωρ was properly the exactor of the penalty assigned by the judge, and so the word is correctly used by Luke ( Luke 12:58). There were at Athens officers bearing this name, whose business it was to register and collect fines imposed by courts of justice; and "deliver to the officer" means, give in the name of the debtor to the officer of the court (Demosthenes [or Dinarchus] c. ''Theocr.'' p. 1218, Reiske; Smith, ''Dict. of Antiq.'' "Practores," "Hyperetes;" Jul. Poll. 8:114; Demosth. c. Arist. p. 778; AEsch. c. Timarch. p. 5; Grotius, on Luke 12:58). (See [[Punishment]]). </p> <p> The most usual and specific of the above Hebrew words is shoterim' (שֹׁטְרַים ), which is best explained as the participle of an old verb, ''shatar'' ' (שָׁטִר ), that still appears in the Arabic, meaning ''to engrave, to mark upon'' anything; hence ''to write,'' and from the common use of scribes in the East, and especially in Egypt (see Wilkinson, ''Anc.'' ' ''Egypt.'' 2:176 sq., Harper's ed.), in all matters of agency, superintendence, and public business, the word naturally passes into the more general meaning of ''agent or officer'' (comp. Hengstenberg, ''Pentat.'' 1:449 sq.). In English, and other Western languages, words of kindred signification originally have acquired the same latitude of meaning. (See [[Clerk]]); (See [[Writing]]). These scribes or officers first appear in Egypt as Hebrews appointed to supervise the task of their brethren, and made responsible for its full completion ( Exodus 5:6; Exodus 5:14-15; Exodus 5:19). Those only were adapted to this task who, by their skill in writing, were competent to keep lists and tables of persons and their work. Their duties are well illustrated by many groups on the extant Egyptian monuments, in which the scribe is seen registering the workmen engaged in various employments (see Wilkinson, Anc. Egypt. 2:282 sq.). The elders of the people, while in the wilderness, were appointed officers ( Numbers 11:16; Deuteronomy 29:10; Deuteronomy 31:28), and at the exode each tribe had its own "officers" ( Deuteronomy 1:15; comp. 20:5), who, under Joshua, were the medium of communication between the commander-in-chief and their respective tribes ( Joshua 1:10; Joshua 3:2), and at different times several classes of functionaries are enumerated, the ''officers'' (שֹׁטְרַים ) being generally the last mentioned ( Joshua 8:33; Joshua 23:2; Joshua 24:1). The law indeed had already ordained ( Deuteronomy 16:18) that on the settlement in the promised land "''officers'' and judges" should be appointed in every city; and David seems to have appointed them from among the [[Levites]] ( 1 Chronicles 23:4; 1 Chronicles 26:29; comp. 2 Chronicles 19:11). Other "officers" are mentioned under David ( 1 Chronicles 27:1) as engaged in the services of the court, perhaps a kind of chamberlains; but in connection with the army ( 2 Chronicles 26:11) not only ''scribes'' ( סֹפְרַים (See [[Scribe]]) ), but also ''rulers'' or ''officers'' (שֹׁטְרַים ) were employed. None of these, however, are mentioned in the books of Kings. It is clear that although in these passages the Hebrew term ''shoterim'' ' in no case refers to mere subordinates engaged in menial duties, as lictors, beadles, etc. (the view of Fuller, Misc. Sacr. 3:19; Selden, De Synedr. 1:15), yet officers of various kinds are denoted by it, especially those whose duties required the keeping of registers and tables. It answers well, accordingly, to the Greek term for a scribe, γραμματεύς, and to the English word ''clerk'' (comp. Wachsmuth, Hellen. Alterthumnsk. 1:829 sq.). It cannot, however, be proved that these officers among the Hebrews had the peculiar charge of the genealogical tables (as Michaelis, Mos. [[R.]] p. 281; Jahn, Archaeol. [[Ii,]] 1:62; Hengstenberg, ut sup.), although this duty accords well with the proper meaning of the term. [[Scribes]] must, of course, have enrolled the army; but it remains uncertain whether these enlisting officers were permanently connected with the army. (See [[Census]]); (See [[Secretary]]). </p>
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| == International Standard Bible Encyclopedia <ref name="term_6874" /> ==
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| <p> ''''' of´i ''''' - ''''' sẽr ''''' : In the King James Version the term is employed to render different words denoting various officials, domestic, civil and military, such as סריס , <i> ''''' ṣārı̄ṣ ''''' </i> , "eunuch," "minister of state" ( Genesis 37:36 ); פּקיד , <i> '''''pāḳı̄dh''''' </i> , "person in charge," "overseer" ( Genesis 41:34 ); נציב , <i> '''''necı̄bh''''' </i> , "stationed," "garrison," "prefect" ( 1 Kings 4:19 ); שׁטר , <i> '''''shōṭēr''''' </i> , "scribe" or "secretary" (perhaps arranger or organizer), then any official or overseer. In Esther 9:3 for the King James Version "officers of the king" the Revised Version (British and American) has (more literal) "they that did the king's business." </p> <p> In the New Testament, "officer" generally corresponds to the Greek word ὑπηρέτης , <i> ''''' hupērétēs ''''' </i> , "servant," or any person in the employ of another. In Matthew 5:25 the term evidently means "bailiff" or exactor of the fine imposed by the magistrate, and corresponds to πράκτωρ , <i> '''''práktōr''''' </i> , used in Luke 12:58 . </p>
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| ==References == | |
| <references> | | <references> |
| | | <ref name="term_56756"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/hastings-dictionary-of-the-new-testament/officer+(2) Officer from Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament]</ref> |
| <ref name="term_53140"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/hastings-dictionary-of-the-bible/officer Officer from Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible]</ref> | |
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| <ref name="term_78590"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/vine-s-expository-dictionary-of-nt-words/officer Officer from Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words]</ref>
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| <ref name="term_67934"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/morrish-bible-dictionary/officer Officer from Morrish Bible Dictionary]</ref>
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| <ref name="term_74218"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/smith-s-bible-dictionary/officer Officer from Smith's Bible Dictionary]</ref>
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| <ref name="term_150043"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/webster-s-dictionary/officer Officer from Webster's Dictionary]</ref>
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| <ref name="term_61810"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/king-james-dictionary/officer Officer from King James Dictionary]</ref>
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| <ref name="term_56760"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/hastings-dictionary-of-the-new-testament/officer Officer from Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament]</ref>
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| <ref name="term_36894"> [https://bibleportal.com/dictionary/fausset-s-bible-dictionary/officer Officer from Fausset's Bible Dictionary]</ref>
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| <ref name="term_53573"> [https://bibleportal.com/encyclopedia/cyclopedia-of-biblical-theological-and-ecclesiastical-literature/officer Officer from Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature]</ref>
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| <ref name="term_6874"> [https://bibleportal.com/encyclopedia/international-standard-bible-encyclopedia/officer Officer from International Standard Bible Encyclopedia]</ref>
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| </references> | | </references> |
Officer [1]
Officer. —The term ‘officer’ is used in the Gospels (and Acts) as a translation of ὑπηρέτης in the ordinary secular applications of that term ( Matthew 5:25, John 7:32; John 7:45; John 18:3; John 18:12; John 18:18; John 18:22; John 19:6, Acts 5:22; Acts 5:28). In other two cases ( Mark 14:54; Mark 14:65 || Matthew 26:58, John 18:36) the Authorized Version translation ‘servants’; the Revised Version Nt 1881, Ot 1885 in the former adhering to ‘officers’ and in the latter putting it in the margin. In most of these cases the officers are servants of the Jewish Council; in Matthew 5:25 and John 18:36 they may be regarded more generally as servants of the State. In Luke 12:58 ‘officer’ is the translation of a still humbler term, πράκτωρ, a prison official, described in (Revised Version margin) as ‘exactor’ from his duty of collecting fines. In John 4:46 (Revised Version margin) ‘king’s officer’ appears as an alternative to ‘nobleman’ for a term meaning ‘courtier.’
It is evident that in the 16th or 17th century ‘officer’ had a lower meaning than now.* [Note: The most frequent application of the term was not to commissioners in the army or navy, but to petty officers Of justice, as In ‘sheriff’s officer,’ ‘peace officer.’ It is this usage that is reflected in the Nt.] These ὑπηρέται belong to the rank and file. They are subordinate officials, with duties purely instrumental, virtually on a level with our policemen. As emphasized in Jn., they are the creatures of the Jews, accompanying the chief priests for the doing of their will; or they may take orders from a captain of the Temple ( Acts 5:26), or they carry into execution the sentence of a judge ( Matthew 5:25). St. Luke in his narrative of the Arrest and Trial and in Luke 12:58 avoids the term, but he uses it in Acts 5:22; Acts 5:26 as above (where, possibly, he is following a source), and four times of religious service—in Luke 4:20 of a minister of the synagogue, in Luke 1:2 and Acts 26:16 (Paul) of Christian preachers, and in Acts 13:5 of John Mark, who was, in some sense, assistant to Barnabas and Paul. So also St. Paul uses it in 1 Corinthians 4:1. In all these cases the Authorized Version renders ‘minister’; in two ( Luke 4:20, Acts 13:5) the Revised Version Nt 1881, Ot 1885, without much lucidity, substitutes ‘attendant.’
ὑπηρέτης, originally ‘rower,’ was used in Greece of an assistant or inferior agent in any sort of work. In particular, it was used in a military sense of attendants on heavy-armed soldiers, and also of adjutants to officers of rank. A similar indefiniteness, but always involving subordination, belongs to the Nt usage. The term ‘officer,’ owing to the secular and especially the military associations of the name, was manifestly unsuitable for the description of a Christian minister of any rank. Such terms of ancient administration as ἀπόστολος (commissioner) and ἐπίσκοπος (inspector) were received into modern languages, not by translation into an equivalent, but by a process of adoption and adaptation. But the ὑπηρέτης, whose title, like these, was extended from the secular to the sacred sphere, was too inferior in dignity and too indefinite in character for such distinction. We have indeed in ordinary usage a somewhat similar rank expressed by the term ‘office-bearer,’ and there is a special episcopal use of ‘official’; while a still humbler dignity, parallel with the secular use in Scripture, is denoted by the designation ‘church officer.’ Of such terms, and of the term ‘officer’ as representing the servants of the Sanhedrin, the interest pertains merely to the study of language. No theological or ecclesiastical idea is involved; and for practical utility or correctness the only duty of new Revisers towards this term is to eliminate it entirely from the sacred page.
R. Scott.
References
