Honest, Honestly, Honesty - Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

Honest, Honestly, Honesty

[ A-1,Adjective,G2570, kalos ]
good, admirable, becoming," has also the ethical meaning of what is "fair, right, honorable, of such conduct as deserves esteem;" it is translated "honest" [cp. Latin honestus (from honos, "honor")], which has the same double meaning as "honest" in the AV, namely, regarded with honor, honorable, and bringing honor, becoming; in Luke 8:15 (AV, and RV), "an honest and good (agathos) heart;" Romans 12:17; 2 Corinthians 8:21; 2 Corinthians 13:7, RV, "honorable" (AV, "honest"), of things which are regarded with esteem; in 1 Peter 2:12, of behavior, RV, "seemly," AV, "honest" (i.e., becoming). See GOOD.

Note: In Titus 3:14, the RV and AV margins give what is probably the accurate meaning, "(to profess) honest occupations" (AV, "trades"); in the texts "(to maintain) good works."

[ A-2,Adjective,G4586, semnos ]
"august, venerable," is rendered "honest" in Philippians 4:8, AV (marg., "venerable"), RV, "honorable" (marg., "reverent"). Matthew Arnold suggests "nobly serious." See GRAVE.

Note: In Acts 6:3, "men of honest (RV, 'good') report" translates the Passive Voice of martureo, lit., "having had witness borne."

[ B-1,Adverb,G2573, kalos ]
corresponding to A, No. 1, is used in Hebrews 13:18, "honestly," i.e., honorably. See PLACE, C, Note
(4), WELL.

[ B-2,Adverb,G2156, euschemonos ]
"becomingly, decently," is rendered "honestly" in Romans 13:13, where it is set in contrast with the confusion of gentile social life, and in 1 Thessalonians 4:12, of the manner of life of believers as a witness to "them that are without;" in 1 Corinthians 14:40, "decently," in contrast with confusion in the churches. See DECENTLY.

[ C-1,Noun,G4587, semnotes ]
denotes "gravity, dignified seriousness;" it is rendered "honesty" in the AV of 1 Timothy 2:2, RV, "gravity." See GRAVITY.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words