x. δειλία, φόβος, εὐλάβεια.
Of these three words the first, δειλία, is used always in a bad sense; the second, φόβος, is a middle term, capable of a good interpretation, capable of an evil, and lying indifferently between the two; the third, εὐλάβεια, is quite predominantly used in a good sense, though it too has not altogether escaped being employed in an evil.
[End Quote]
δειλία is the word appearing in 2 Timothy 1:7 that's translated "fear" in the KJV, but "cowardice" by NWT. The word δειλία is only used pejoratively in the GNT; for φόβος, see Hebrews 10:31 and the language "fearful thing." I've also read that Hebrews 10:31 is alluding to/quoting from 2 Samuel 24:14, LXX.
The words in both verses are definitely similar, even if the meaning is not. The Insight book discusses dread, another facet of fear, and in addition to considering Hebrews 10:26-27, Insight mentions Hebrews 12:28.
Some things to consider.
2 comments:
https://chs.harvard.edu/CHS/article/display/3722.gregory-nagy-the-subjectivity-of-fear-as-reflected-in-ancient-greek-wording
Thanks, Duncan. Very good piece for classicists.
Nagy writes: "I start, then, by considering the emotion that we call fear. There is no single word in ancient Greek that matches the modern English word fear in all its comprehensiveness. In the ancient Greek language as it comes down to us in surviving texts, there are several different ways of talking about fear as we understand that word. In this essay, I will concentrate on three of these different Greek words translated as ‘fear’"
As he says, the Greeks made distinctions between trepidity, panic, and awe of the divine. Of course, Nagy doesn't say anything about cowardice or εὐλάβεια, but admittedly, that is not his focus.
Not to distract from Nagy's paper in anyway, but my friend wanted to know what the LXX and GNT had to say about "fear" or timidity: his questions also revolved around 2 Tim. 1:7. Nevertheless, I still enjoy reading papers like the one you referenced.
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