The Witness of Our Own Spirit · §7 · John Wesley

One word for the whole of life

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We have lived our manner of life. The apostle expresses this in the original by one single word. But the meaning of it is extremely broad. It takes in our whole conduct, yes, every inward as well as outward circumstance, whether it relates to our soul or to our body. It includes every motion of our heart, of our tongue, of our hands and bodily members. It extends to all our actions and words, to the use of all our powers and faculties, and to the manner of using every talent we have received, with respect either to God or to man.

1771 text

9. We have had our conversation. The apostle in the original, expresses this by one single word (ἀνεστράφημεν). But the meaning thereof is exceeding broad, taking in our whole deportment, yea, every inward as well as outward circumstance, whether relating to our soul or body. It includes every motion of our heart, of our tongue, of our hands and bodily members. It extends to all our actions and words; to the employment of all our powers and faculties; to the manner of using every talent we have received, with respect either to God or man.

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