Diligence, Diligent, Diligently - Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
Diligence, Diligent, Diligently
[ A-1,Noun,G2039, ergasia ]lit., a working" (akin to ergon, "work"), is indicative of a process, in contrast to the concrete, ergon, e.g., Ephesians 4:19, lit., "unto a working" (RV marg., "to make a trade of"); contrast ergon in Ephesians 4:12;
(b) "business," Acts 19:25, RV (for AV, "craft"); or gain got by "work," Acts 16:16,19; Acts 19:24;
(c) endeavor, pains, "diligence," Luke 12:58. See CRAFT, GAIN, WORK.
[ A-2,Noun,G4710, spoude ]
"earnestness, zeal," or sometimes "the haste accompanying this," Mark 6:25; Luke 1:39, is translated "diligence" in Romans 12:8; in Romans 12:11, AV, "business" (RV, "diligence"); in 2 Corinthians 8:7, AV, "diligence," RV, "earnestness;" both have "diligence" in Hebrews 6:11; 2 Peter 1:5; Jude 1:3; in 2 Corinthians 7:11,12, RV, "earnest care," AV, "carefulness," and "care." See CARE.
[ B-1,Verb,G4704, spoudazo ]
has meanings corresponding to A, No. 2; it signifies "to hasten to do a thing, to exert oneself, endeavor, give diligence;" in Galatians 2:10, of remembering the poor, AV, "was forward," RV, "was zealous;" in Ephesians 4:3, of keeping the unity of the Spirit, AV "endeavoring," RV, "giving diligence;" in 1 Thessalonians 2:17, of going to See friends, "endeavored;" in 2 Timothy 4:9; 2 Timothy 4:21, "do thy diligence;" in the following the RV uses the verb "to give diligence:" 2 Timothy 2:15, AV, "study;" Titus 3:12, AV, "be diligent;" Hebrews 4:11, of keeping continuous Sabbath rest, AV, "let us labor;" in 2 Peter 1:10, of making our calling and election sure; in 2 Peter 1:15, of enabling believers to call Scripture truth to remembrance, AV, "endeavour;" in 2 Peter 3:14, of being found in peace without fault and blameless, when the Lord comes, AV, "be diligent." See ENDEAVOR, FORWARD, LABOR, STUDY, ZEALOUS.
[ B-2,Verb,G3191, meletao ]
signifies "to care for, attend carefully" (from melete, "care"); in 1 Timothy 4:15, AV, "meditate," RV, "be diligent in;" in Acts 4:25, "imagine" (marg., "meditate"); in Mark 13:11, the most authentic mss. have promerimnao. See IMAGINE, MEDITATE.
[ C-1,Adjective,G4705, spoudaios ]
akin to A, No. 2 and B, No. 1, primarily signifies "in haste;" hence, diligent, earnest, zealous, 2 Corinthians 8:22, AV, "diligent," RV, "earnest." See EARNEST, FORWARD. In the Sept., Ezekiel 41:25, "stout (planks)."
[ C-2,Adjective,G4707, spoudaioteros ]
the comparative degree of No. 1, 2 Corinthians 8:22, AV, "more diligent," RV, "more "earnest;" in 2 Corinthians 8:17, AV, "more forward," RV, "very earnest." See EARNEST; cp. FORWARD.
[ D-1,Adverb,G1960, epimelos ]
from epi, intensive, and an adverbial form of the impersonal verb melei, "it is a care" (cp. B, No. 2), signifies "carefully, diligently," Luke 15:8.
[ D-2,Adverb,G4435, pugme ]
the dative case of pugme, "a fist," lit. means "with the fist" (one hand being rubbed with the clenched fist of the other), a metaphorical expression for "thoroughly," in contrast to what is superficial; Mark 7:3, RV and AV marg., "diligently" (AV, text, "oft"). It also signified "boxing" (not in the NT); cp. puktes and pugmachos, "a boxer" (Lat., pugnus and pugno; Eng., "pugilist"). In the Sept., Exodus 21:18; Isaiah 58:4.
[ D-3,Adverb,G4709, spoudaios ]
"speedily, earnestly, diligently" (cp. the corresponding noun, verb and adjective above), is translated "earnestly" in the RV of Luke 7:4 (AV, "instantly"); "diligently" in Titus 3:13. See INSTANTLY.
[ D-4,Adverb,G4708, spoudaioteros ]
the comparative degree of No. 3, "more diligently," is used in Philippians 2:28, RV, "the more diligently" (AV, "the more carefully"). See CAREFULLY.
Notes:
(1) Some mss. have the neuter of the comparative adjective spoudaioteron in 2 Timothy 1:17. The most authentic texts have the adverb, No. 4.
[ D-5,Adverb,G199, Akribos ]
means "accurately, exactly." The AV translates it "diligently" in Matthew 2:8; Acts 18:25; "perfectly" in 1 Thessalonians 5:2 (cp. Luke 1:3). See ACCURATELY, CAREFUL, CIRCUMSPECTLY, PERFECTLY.