δοκιμάζω

δοκιμάζω (s. four next entries) fut. δοκιμάσω, δοκιμῶ LXX; 1 aor. ἐδοκίμασα; pf. 2 sg. δεδοκίμακας Jer 12:3, pass. δεδοκίμασμαι (Hdt., Thu.+)

① to make a critical examination of someth. to determine genuineness, put to the test, examine (so mostly LXX.—EpArist 276; Jos., Ant. 1, 233; 3, 15; TestAsh 5:4; Tat., Ath.; Iren. 1, prol. 2 [Harv. I 3, 9]) w. acc., test oxen for their usefulness Lk 14:19 (Hdt. 2, 38 of the Apis bulls). ἑαυτόν examine oneself 1 Cor 11:28; 2 Cor 13:5; one’s own work Gal 6:4; the works of God Hb 3:9 v.l. (Ps 94:9); of God’s self (w. πειράζω); ApcPt (Ox 849, 25); τὰ διαφέροντα Ro 2:18; Ph 1:10; φθοριμαίοις (cod. φθοριμειοις) λόγοις, οὓς σὺ (cod. σοι) δοκίμασον destructive statements, which you must evaluate AcPlCor 1:3; everything 1 Th 5:21; spirits (of bogus prophets) 1J 4:1; cp. D 12:1; Hm 11, 7, 16; 1 Cl 42:4; believers in general Hs 8, 2, 5; fig. οἰκοδομήν 9, 5, 2; heaven and earth Lk 12:56a; τὸν καιρόν 56b; be convinced of someone’s faithfulness 1 Cl 1:2; try to learn τί ἐστιν εὐάρεστον τῷ κυρίῳ what is pleasing to the Lord Eph 5:10.—Of the examination of prospects for special service in the Christian community (acc. to Attic usage: Lysias 16, 3; Pla., Leg. 6, 765c; Attic ins) 1 Ti 3:10. Of God 1 Th 2:4b (Jer 11:20; 17:10; 20:12; Ps 7:10; 26:2; Jos., Ant. 1, 233).—Of opponents Βαρσαββὰς … δοκιμαζόμενος ὑπὸ τῶν ἀπίστων Barsabbas … was put to the test by the unbelievers Papias (11:2).—For Ro 2:18, and 12:2 s. 2b below.

② to draw a conclusion about worth on the basis of testing, prove, approve, here the focus is on the result of a procedure or examination.

ⓐ prove by testing, of gold (Isocr., Panathen. 14, 39; SIG 334, 45 [on monetary assoc. s. other reff. in SEG XLII, 1851]; Pr 8:10; Sir 2:5; Wsd 3:6) 1 Pt 1:7 (on testing of character cp. Pind., P. 10, 67f); Hv 4, 3, 4; cp. 1 Cor 3:13 (JGnilka, Ist 1 Cor 3:10–15 ein Schriftzeugnis für d. Fegefeuer? ’55). τὰς ψυχάς ApcPt 3.

ⓑ accept as proved, approve (PEleph 1, 10; POxy 928, 7 ἵνα ἐὰν δοκιμάσῃς ποιήσῃς; PTebt 326, 10) w. acc. τὶ ISm 8:2. οὓς ἐὰν δοκιμάσητε whom you consider qualified 1 Cor 16:3. ἐδοκιμάσαμεν σπουδαῖον ὄντα we have tested and found him zealous 2 Cor 8:22. ἐδοκίμασε γὰρ ὑμᾶς ὁ κύριος καὶ ἐνέγραψεν ὑμᾶς εἰς τὸν ἀριθμὸν τὸν ἡμέτερον Hs 9, 24, 4; cp. λίθους v 3, 5, 3. δ. τὸ ἀγάπης γνήσιον prove the genuineness of love 2 Cor 8:8. ἐν ᾧ δοκιμάζει for what he approves Ro 14:22. δ. τὰ διαφέροντα approve (or discover s. under 1) what is essential Ro 2:18; Phil 1:10. W. inf. (Appian, Iber. 90 §392, Bell. Civ. 2, 114 §475; Jos., Ant. 2, 176, Vi. 161 simply = intend, wish) οὐκ ἐδοκίμασαν τὸν θεὸν ἔχειν ἐν ἐπιγνώσει they did not see fit to have a true knowledge of God Ro 1:28 (anticipating the opposite in 12:2.—WReiss, ‘Gott nicht kennen’ im AT, ZAW 58, ’40/41, 70–98). W. indir. quest. foll. δ., τί τὸ θέλημα τ. θεοῦ approve (or discover s. under 1) what God’s will is 12:2. Pass. (Prov. Aesopi 171 P. φίλος καὶ ἵππος ἐν ἀνάγκῃ δοκιμάζονται=stand the test; Jos., Ant. 3, 71) δεδοκιμάσμεθα we have been found worthy w. inf. foll. 1 Th 2:4a. δεδοκιμασμένος tested, approved of genuine prophets D 11:11 (Diod S 4, 7, 1 δεδοκιμασμένος of the story writer who has a good reputation; cp. SIG 807, 9; PFay 106, 23; 2 Macc 4:3); cp. Hm 11, 7, 16 (s. 1 above); πνεῦμα δεδοκιμασμένον v 2, 4; of Jesus Ac 2:22 D.—B. 652. DELG s.v. δοκάω etc. EDNT. M-M. TW. Spicq.