Testing - δοκίμιον

1383 δοκίμιον [dokimion /dok·im·ee·on/] n n. A presumed derivative of 1382; TDNT 2:255; TDNTA 181; GK 1510; Two occurrences; AV translates as “trying” once, and “trial” once. 1 the proving. 2 that by which something is tried or proved, a test.

δοκίμιον is the neut. of an adj. δοκίμιος, “tested,” “genuine,” e.g., χρυσὸς δοκίμιος. CPR, 12, 6f., also 26, 6 etc.; also ψ 11:6. In the subst. form, it has the same meaning as the older (?) τὸ δοκιμεῖον, “means of testing,” e.g., Herodian describes soldiers’ κάματος as δοκίμιον, II, 10, 12. δεῖ δὲ ὥσπερ κανόνα καὶ στάθμην τινὰ καὶ δοκίμιον ὡρισμένον πρὸς ὅ τις ἀποβλέπειν δυνήσεται τὴν κρίσιν ποιεῖσθαι, Ps.-Dion. Hal. Art. Rhet., 11, 1; δοκίμιον ἀργυρίῳ καὶ χρυσῷ πύρωσις, Prv. 27:21; finally an expression which comes from the more religious East and has a religious colouring: καὶ τῆς πρὸς θεοὺς εὐσεβείας ἔργωι καλλίστωι οὐ μεικρὸν δοκιμεῖον ἀπέλιπεν … Ditt. Or., 308, 15. Theological dictionary of the New Testament.

δοκίμιον, ου, τό (s. three prec. entries and δόκιμο; on the spelling s. Mlt-H. 78; B-D-F §23; B-D-R §13, 3; 263, 5; δοκιμεῖον preferred by PKatz, TLZ 83, ’58, 314f; WGrundmann, TW II 259).

① the process or means of determining the genuineness of someth., testing, means of testing (Dionys. Hal., Rhet. 11, 1; Herodian 2, 10, 6; Plut., Mor. 230b; Περὶ ὕψους 32, 5 γλῶσσα γεύσεως δοκίμιον; Pr 27:21) τὸ δ. ὑμῶν τῆς πίστεως κατεργάζεται ὑπομονήν the testing of your faith (temptation) produces endurance Js 1:3.

② genuineness as result of a test, genuine, without alloy, neut. sg. of the adj. δοκίμιος (esp. of metals: BGU 1045 II, 12; 1065, 8; PTebt 392, 22; s. Dssm., NB 86ff [BS 259ff]) τὸ δ. ὑμῶν τῆς πίστεως the genuineness of your faith (on the usage B-D-F §263, 2) 1 Pt 1:7 (δόκιμον P72 et al.; cp. Js 1:3 v.l.; s. δόκιμος 1).—DELG s.v. δοκάω etc. III p. 291. M-M. TW. Spicq.

BDAG

GGK1510 δοκίμιον (dokimion), ου (ou), τό (to): n.neu.; ≡ Str 1383; TDNT 2.255—1. LN 27.45 testing (Jas 1:3+); 2. LN 73.3 a proved genuineness (1Pe 1:7+)

LN73.3 δοκίμιονb, ου n: genuineness on the basis of having been tested—‘genuineness, genuine.’ ἵνα τὸ δοκίμιον ὑμῶν τῆς πίστεως … εὑρεθῇ ‘so as to prove that your faith is genuine’ 1 Pe 1.7.

Louw & Nida

δοκίμιον, ου, τό dokimion means of testing; authenticity

Jas 1:3: τὸ δοκίμιον ὑμῶν τῆς πίστεως, “the testing of your faith,” in reference to temptations (cf. v. 2); 1 Pet 1:7: τὸ δοκίμιον ὑμῶν τῆς πίστεως as neut. sg. of the adj. δοκίμιος, “the genuineness of your faith” (v.l. δόκιμον), which surpasses the authenticity of gold, which is tested by fire.

EDNT

δοκίμιον dokímion; gen. dokimíou, neut. noun from dókimos (1384), approved, tried. The means of proving, a criterion or test by which anything is proved or tried, as faith by afflictions (James 1:3). In 1 Pet. 1:7 the meaning is slightly different. Here it reflects an adjectival sense which means genuine or approved. In NT times it was used of metals that were without alloy. Peter uses the word as a subst. referring to the genuineness of faith.

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