CONVERSATION

CONVERSATION.— In EV the word Is always used in the archaic sense of 'behaviour,' 'conduct.' In the OT, AV gives it twice (Ps 37" SO^s), representing Heb. derek = ' wa,y' (cf. RV and RVm). In the NT it is used in AV to render tliree sets ol words. (1) Tlie noun anas-(ropfte = ' behaviour' (Gal 1", Eph 4^2, 1 Ti 4", He 13', Ja 3", 1 P I's- 18 212 31. 2 i(i_ 2 P 2' 3"), RV substituting in each case 'manner of life,' 'manner of living,' 'life,' 'living,' or 'behaviour'; the vb. anastrephesthai— 'to behave oneself (2 Co 1",' Eph 2'). (2) The noun pojjieumo=' citizenship' or 'commonwealth' (Ph S^"); the vb. politeuesthai = ' to act as a citizen' (Ph 1^'). (3) (ropos = ' manner,' 'character,' lit. 'turning' (He 13'). Cf. RV and RVm throughout. The main point to notice is that in every case 'conversation' in the Bible refers not to si)eech merely, but to conduct.

J. C. Lambeht.

CONVERSION.— The noun occurs only In Ac 15» (epislTopfa), but in AV 'convert' is found several times both in OT (Heb. shubh) and NT (Gr. epistrepM, atrephB) to denote a spiritual turning, RV in most cases substitu-ting 'turn.' ' Turn ' is to be preferred because (1) in the Eng. of AV 'convert' meant no more than 'turn'; (2) 'conversion' has come to be employed in a sense that often goes beyond the meaning of the originals. RV has further corrected AV by giving act. 'turn' for pass, 'be converted' in Mt 131' 18=, Mli 412, Lk 22m Jn 12", Ac 3" 28", where the Gr. vbs. are reflexive in meaning. In OT shubh is used to denote a turning, whether of the nation (Dt 30", 2 K 171= etc.) or of the individual (Ps 51", Is 55' etc.). In NT epistrepho, slrephB are used esp. of individuals, but sometimes in a sense that falls short of 'conversion' as the conscious change implied in becoming a Christian. Mt 18' was spolcen to true disciples, and the ' conversion ' demanded of them was a renunciation of their fooUsh ambitions (cf. v.i). Ll£ 22=!' wag addressed to the leader of the Apostles, and his 'conversion* was his return to his Master's service after his fall. In Acts and Epp., however, 'convert' or 'turn' is employed to denote conversion in the full Christian sense (Ac 3" Q"* 11" 14i' [cf. 15' 'conversion'], 2 Co 3i«, 1 Th 1'). Conversion as a spiritual fact comes before us repeatedly in the Gospels (Lk 7"«- IS"*- igs^- 23«- ") and in the history of the ApostoUc Church (Ac 2"- " 8' »• « 9^- IB'"-etc.). RV brings out the fact that in the NT conversion (as distinguished from regeneration [wh. see]) is an activity of the soul itself, and not an experience imposed from above. This view of its nature is confirmed when we find repentance (Ac 3" 26"; cf. Ezk 14« 18'») and faith (Ac 11^'; cf. 20=1) associated with it as the elements that make up the moral act of turning from sin and self to God in Christ. J. C. Lambeht.

CONVINCE.— Adams {Serm. ii. 38) says: 'Whatso-ever is written is written either for our instruction or destruction; to convert us if we embrace it, to convince us if we despise it.' This is the meaning of ' convince ' in the AV. It is what we now express by convict. Thus Jude " 'to convince all that are ungodly among them of their ungodly deeds.'

COOKING AND COOKING UTENSILS.- See HonsG, §9.

COPPER. — See Brass, and Mining and Metals.

COPPERSMITH (2 Ti 4").— See Alexandee, Arts

AND CkATTS, § 2.

COR. — See Weights and Measures. CORAL. — See Jewels and Precious Stones.

COR-ASHAN (AV Chor-ashan, 1 S 30'") is the present reading of MT, but the orig. text was undoubtedly Bor-ashan. The place may be the same as Ashan of Jos 15« 19'.

CORBAN. — See Sacrifice and Offering.

CORINTH

CORD, ROPE. — Hebrew possesses a considerable number of words rendered, without any attempt at uniformity, by 'cord,' 'rope,' and a variety of other terms. It is difiicult for the English reader to recognize the same original in the Psalmist's bow 'string' (Ps 11=) and the ' green withs ' (RVm 'new bowstrings') with which Samson was bound; or again in the tent ropes of Is 33™ (EV 'cords') and the ships' 'tacklings' of V.2'. The former set were probably of animal sinews or gut, the latter of twisted flax. The stronger ropes were of three strands (Ec 412). No doubt the fibres of the palm and, as at the present day, goats' hair were spun into ropes. The process of rope-making from leather thongs is illustrated on an Egyptian tomb, the 'wreathenwork' (Ut. 'rope-work') of Ex 28" (see RV), where, however, gold wire is the material used. Ec 12' speaks also of a silver cord, and Job 41'' of a ' rope of rushes' (see RVm). The Gr. word for the cords of our Saviour's scourge (Jn 2") and the ropes of Ac 27" also denoted originally such a rope.

The everyday use of cords tor binding evil-doers suggested the metaphor of the wicked man 'holden with the cords of his sin' (Pr 5^), while from the hunter's snares comes the figure of Ps 140'; also 'the cords of death' of Ps 116' RV. A. R. S. Kennedy.

CORE.— See Korah.

CORIANDER SEED (gad. Ex 16'i, Nu 11').— A product of the Coriandrum sativum, a common cultivated plant all over the East. It has a carminative action on the stomach. It is a globular 'fruit' about twice the size of a hemp seed. E. W. G. Masterman.

CORINTH was the capital of the Roman province Achaia, and, in every respect except educationally (see Athens), the most important city in Greece in Roman times. It was also a most important station on the route between E. and W., the next station to it on the E. being Ephesus, with which it was in close and continual connexion. Its situation made it a leading centre of Christianity. The city occupied a powerful position at the S. extremity of the narrow isthmus which connected the mainland of Greece with the Peloponnese. Its citadel rises 1800 feet above sea-level, and it was in addition defended by its high walls, which not only surrounded the city but also reached to the harbour Lechseum, onthe W. (14 miles away). The other harbour, Cenchrese, on the E., on the Saronic Gulf, was about Si miles away. The view from' the citadel is splendid. The poverty of the stony soil and the neighbourhood of two quiet seas made the Corinthians a maritime people. It was customary to haul ships across from the one sea to the other on a made track called the Diolkos. This method at once saved time and protected the sailors from the dangers of a voyage round Cape Malea (S. of the Peloponnese). Larger ships could not, of course, be conveyed in this way, and in their case the goods must have been conveyed across and transhipped at the other harbour. The place was always crowded with traders and other travellers, and we find St. Paul speak-ing of Gaius of Corinth as 'my host and of the whole Church' (Ro 16»).

The city had been destroyed by the Romans in 146 B.C., but exactly a hundred years afterwards it was refounded by Julius Caesar as a colonia, under the name Laus Julia Corinthus (see Colony). A number of Roman names in the NT are found in connexion with Corinth: Crispus, Titius Justus (Ac 18'- «), Lucius, Tertius, Gaius, Quartus (Ro 16»-m), Fortunatus (1 Co 161'). The population would consist of (1) descendants of the Roman colonists of 46 B.C., the local aristocracy; (2) resident Romans, government officials and business men; (3) a large Greek population; (4) other resident strangers, of whom Jews would form a large number (their synagogue Ac 18'). Of these some joined St. Paul (Ac 18<-«, Ro 16», 1 Co 92"), and the hatred against him in consequence led to a plot against his Ufe. The

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