Reputation
Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament [1]
This word occurs in four passages of the Authorized Version. In each ease it is employed as a rendering of a different Greek adjective or verb, and in each case the Revised Versionuses some other expression which translates the Greek somewhat more literally and exactly.
1. Acts 5:34 speaks of Gamaliel as a νομοδιδάσκαλος τίμιος παντὶ τῶ̣ λαῶ̣. Authorized Versionrenders this: ‘had in reputation among all the people,’ Revised Versionmore literally, ‘had is honour of all the people.’
2. Galatians 2:2 tells of St. Paul’s visit to Jerusalem, when he communicated the gospel which he preached to the Gentiles κατʼ ἰδίαν τοῖς δοκοῦσι. Authorized Versionrenders this: ‘privately to them which were of reputation’; Revised Version-in almost identical terms, but again with a degree of greater exactness-‘who were of repute.’ οἱ δοκοῦντες is in itself a term of honour, and is used as such here. The meaning, however, may vary with the context, and in Galatians 2:6 it is depreciatory, not of the worth of the apostles, but of the extravagant claims advanced by some on their behalf.
3. Philippians 2:7 says of Christ that He ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσε. Authorized Versionrenders this: ‘made himself of no reputation’; the Revised Version‘emptied himself’ is obviously more exact. The import of this mysterious predicate is discussed in articlePhilippians, Epistle to the, above, p. 226 f.
4. Philippians 2:29 is the passage in which St. Paul, commending Epaphroditus to his Philippian friends, bids them τοὺς τοιούτους ἐντίμους ἔχετε. Authorized Versionrenders this: ‘hold such in reputation.’ The Revised Version‘hold such in honour’ is equally clear and maintains closer correspondence with the Greek adjective.
Dawson Walker.
Webster's Dictionary [2]
(1): ( v. t.) Account; value.
(2): ( v. t.) Specifically: Good reputation; favorable regard; public esteem; general credit; good name.
(3): ( v. t.) The estimation in which one is held; character in public opinion; the character attributed to a person, thing, or action; repute.
(4): ( v. t.) The character imputed to a person in the community in which he lives. It is admissible in evidence when he puts his character in issue, or when such reputation is otherwise part of the issue of a case.
King James Dictionary [3]
REPUTA'TION, n. L. reputatio.
1. Good name the credit, honor or character which is derived from a favorable public opinion or esteem. Reputation is a valuable species of property or right, which should never be violated. With the loss of reputation, a man and especially a woman, loses most of the enjoyments of life.
The best evidence of reputation is a man's whole life.
2. Character by report in a good or bad sense as, a man has the reputation of being rich or poor, or of being a thief.
Holman Bible Dictionary [4]
Acts 5:34 Galatians 2:2 Philippians 2:29 Philippians 2:7 heauton ekenosen
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [5]
rep - ū́ - tā´shun : the King James Version uses "reputation" where modern English would use "repute," as connoting prominence rather than moral character. Hence, the Revised Version's change to "repute" in Galatians 2:2 (for δοκέω , dokéō , "seem," perhaps with a slightly sarcastic touch). The Revised Version's alteration of "reputation" into "have in honor" ( Acts 5:34; Philippians 2:29 ) is to secure uniformity of translation for the derivatives of τιμή , timḗ , "honor," but the Revised Version (British and American) retains "reputation" in Susanna, verse 64. The King James Version's "made himself of no reputation" in Philippians 2:7 is a gloss. See Kenosis . On Ecclesiastes 10:1 see the commentaries.
