- χρηστός
- χρηστός, ή, όν (χράομαι; Trag., Hdt.+; ins, pap, LXX; En 32:1; TestSol; TestJob 13:6; TestBenj 3:7; Just.; Ath.; superl. Just. A I, 4, 1) gener. ‘useful, beneficial’① pert. to that which causes no discomfort, easy (PsSol 8:32 of divine judgments; Jos., Ant. 3, 98 of news) ὁ ζυγός μου is easy to wear Mt 11:30 (metaph.).② pert. to meeting a relatively high standard of value, fine οἶνος (Plut., Mor. 240d; 1073a; Hippiatr. II 66, 16; Abercius ins 16; cp. En 32:1 ‘fine’ nard) Lk 5:39 the old is (just) fine = the old suits me fine (the Greek is normal, and it is not necessary to assume an Aramaism, but s. μέγας 9:48 and B-D-F §245; v.l. has the comp. χρηστότερος [Philo, In Flacc. 109; Jos., Ant. 8, 213]).③ pert. to being morally good and benevolent. This mng. is in keeping w. the Israelite and Hellenic ideal of morality as exhibition of usefulness within the socio-political structure (s. κακός, πονηρός; EWelskopf, Soziale Typenbegriffe im alten Griechenland ’68; KDover, Greek Popular Morality ’74).ⓐ reputable (Ath. 36, 1 βίος) ἤθη χρηστά 1 Cor 15:33 (s. ἦθος.—ἦθος χρηστόν also POxy 642; 1663, 11; EpArist 290; Philo, Det. Pot. Ins. 38 ἤθη χρηστὰ διαφθείρεται).ⓑ kind, loving, benevolent (Jos., Ant. 6, 92 w. ἐπιεικής; 9, 133 >w. δίκαιος; Herodian 4, 3, 3 and Philo, Leg. ad Gai. 67 w. φιλάνθρωπος; Cass. Dio 66, 18; ins in FCumont, Études syr. 1917 p. 323, 12; POxy 642)α. of humans (Nicophon Com. [V/IV B.C.] 16; Ps.-Demosth. 59, 2; TestJob 13:6 λίαν μου χρηστοῦ ὄντος) 1 Cl 14:4 (Pr 2:21). εἴς τινα to someone (POxy 416, 2) Eph 4:32.β. of God (Hdt. 8, 111; Sb 158, 1; LXX; PsSol 2:36 al.; Philo, Det. Pot. Ins. 46 al.; SibOr 1, 159) 1 Pt 2:3 (Ps 33:9), Χριστός P72; Dg 8:8. ἐπί τινα to someone Lk 6:35. ἐν τοῖς κτλ. among those = to those, who 1 Cl 60:1.④ subst. τὸ χρηστόν the quality of beneficence, kindness (Philo, Virt. 160; Jos., Ant. 8, 214; Just., A I, 4, 5 [w. wordplay on Χριστιανοί]; 15:13, and D. 96, 3 [Luke 6:35f]; difft. Ath. 20, 3 τί τὸ σεμνὸν ἢ χρηστὸν τῆς τοιαύτης ἱστορίας;) τοῦ θεοῦ Ro 2:4.—JZiegler, Dulcedo Dei ’37; CSpicq, RB 54, ’47, 321–24.—DELG s.v. χρης-. Frisk s.v. χρή. M-M. TW. Spicq. Sv.
Ελληνικά-Αγγλικά παλαιοχριστιανική Λογοτεχνία. 2015.