CHIEF

chef: The English word is in the King James Version of Old Testament the translation of some 17 different Hebrew words, most frequently of ro'sh, "head," sar, "prince," and re'shith, "beginning." The principal changes made by the Revised Version (British and American) are:

(1) Hebrew beth'abh, "house of a father," being recognized as a technical term denoting a subdivision of a tribe, ro'sh is rendered literally "head," when it occurs in connection with this phrase, so that "chief fathers" (Num 31:26) and "chief of the fathers" (Ezra 1:5) become "heads of fathers' houses";

(2) Hebrew naghidh and nasi' are more accurately translated "prince" in such passages as 1 Chronicles 5:2 Numbers 3:32;

(3) the misinterpretations which brought about the translation "chief" for 'atsilim, "corners," Isaiah 41:9, and for ma`aleh, "ascent," in 2 Chronicles 32:33, are corrected.

In the New Testament "chief" is in most of its appearances the translation of Greek protos, "first"; the Revised Version (British and American) reads "first" for the King James Version "chief," "chiefest," in Matthew 20:27 Mark 10:44 Acts 16:12. The reading in the latter passage is a difficult one, but the King James Version "Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia," seems to imply a political authority which Philippi did not possess; the Revised Version (British and American) "a city of Macedonia, the first of the district." Greek archon, "prince," "ruler," is rendered by the King James Version "chief," by the Revised Version (British and American) "prince," in Luke 11:15; the King James Version "chief Pharisees," the Revised Version (British and American) "rulers of the Pharisees," in Luke 14:1.

The original meaning of "chief" having been weakened, the comparative and superlative were admitted into English, the latter only appearing in the King James Version or the Revised Version: 1 Samuel 2:29 Songs 5:10 2 Corinthians 11:5, etc. On "chief of Asia" (Acts 19:31 the King James Version) see ASIARCH.

F. K. Farr

CHIEF FRIENDS; GOOD MEN

See CHIEF FRIENDS; GOOD, CHIEF; CHIEF.

CHIEF SEATS

chef sets (protokathedria): It was one of the reproaches urged by our Lord against the scribes and Pharisees that they loved the chief seats in the synagogues (Matthew 23:6 Mark 12:39 Luke 11:43; Luke 20:46). These were special seats set in front of the ark containing the Scriptures and of the reader's platform, and facing the congregation. They were specially reserved for those who were held in the highest honor in the congregation. There were seventy-one such seats in the great synagogue of Alexandria, which were occupied by the members of the great Council in that city (see SYNAGOGUE).

J. Macartney Wilson

FRIENDS; CHIEF FRIENDS

(hoi philoi proton): Expressions used in 1 and 2 Maccabees to designate the favored courtiers of the Antiochi. Mattathias is promised enrollment among the king's Friends, to tempt him to apostatize (1 Maccabees 2:18); Alexander Balas writes Jonathan among his Chief Friends (1 Maccabees 10:65). Compare also 1 Maccabees 3:38; 6:10, 14; 0.458333333; 11:26, 27; 2 Maccabees 8:9.

GOOD, CHIEF

What this consisted in was greatly discussed in ancient philosophy. Varro enumerated 288 answers to the question. By Plato "the good" was identified with God.

In the Old Testament while the "good" of the nation consisted in earthly well-being or prosperity (Deuteronomy 28 etc.), that of the individual was to be found only in God Himself (Psalm 16:2 the Revised Version (British and American), "I have no good beyond thee"; Psalm 41:1-5; Psalm 43:5; Psalm 73:25-28 Jeremiah 31:33; Habakkuk 3:17-19). This implied godly conduct (Micah 6:8, etc.), and led to the experience described as "blessedness" (Psalm 1, etc.; Jeremiah 17:7, etc.). It is the "Wisdom" extolled in Proverbs 1:20; Proverbs 8:1 (compare Ecclesiasticus 1:1; 5:1), elsewhere described as "the fear of Yahweh." That God alone can be the true "good" of man is implied in the fact that man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27).

In the New Testament the true "good" is placed by Jesus in "the kingdom of God" (Matthew 6:33; Matthew 13:44, etc.). This means nothing earthly merely (Matthew 6:19), but heavenly and eternal. It implies the Old Testament conception that God is the true "good"; for to seek the Kingdom supremely means whole-hearted devotion to God as our heavenly Father and to His righteousness. It was also spoken of by Jesus, as sonship to the heavenly Father (Matthew 5:45, etc.). This "good" is not something merely to be given to men, but must be sought after and won through taking up a right attitude toward God and our fellows, cherishing the Love that God is, and acting it out in kindness and righteousness, in resemblance to our God and Father (Matthew 5:43-48; here Genesis 1:27 is implied).

In some of the epistles Christ is represented as the true "good" (Philippians 3:8 Colossians 3:1-4, 11). This is because in Him God was manifested in His Truth and Grace; in Him "the Kingdom" was present; through His cross the world is so reconciled to God that men can find acceptance and rest in Him as their "good"; Christ Himself in the Spirit is our Life; in Him we have "God with us." Having God as our "good," nothing but good, in the truest and highest sense, can come to us. Even the most seemingly adverse things are turned into good "to them that love God" (Romans 8:28).

Our true "good" is found thus in God even in this present life; but its fullness can be realized only in the eternal life beyond. Placing our "good" in God leads to such life in devotion to the "good" that God is, as tends to bring all that is best to this present world. It is men's failure to do this that is the source of our misery (Jeremiah 2:13, etc.). The ultimate ideal is that God shall be "all in all" (1 Corinthians 15:28).

W. L. Walker

MUSICIAN; CHIEF

mu-zish'-an.

See ASAPH; MUSIC; PSALMS.

CHIEF MUSICIAN

mu-zish'-an.

See ASAPH.

SEATS, CHIEF

sets.

See CHIEF SEATS.