ἐπιείκεια (WH ἐπιεικία, see Iota), ἐπιεικείας, ἡ, (ἐπιεικής, which see), mildness, gentleness, fairness (`sweet reasonableness' (Matthew Arnold)): Act_24:4; joined with πραότης (which see), 2Co_10:1; Plutarch, Pericl. 39; with φιλανθρωπία, Polybius 1, 14, 4; Philo, vit. Moys. i. § 36; with χρηστότης, Herodian, 5, 1, 12 (6 edition Bekker). Cf. Plato, defin., p. 412 b. Aristotle, eth. Nic. 5, 10. (Bar_2:27; Wis_2:19 Wis_12:18; 2Ma_2:22; 3Ma_3:15.) [SYNONYMS: ἐπιείκεια, πραότης: "πραότηςmagis ad animum ἐπιείκειαvero magis ad exteriorem conversationem pertinet (Estius on 2Co_10:1). πραότηςvirtus magis absoluta; ἐπιείκεια magis refertur ad alios (Bengel, ibid.). See at length Trench, § xliii.]

ἐπιείκεια epieikeia 2x also spelled ἐπιεικία , reasonableness, equity; in NT gentleness, mildness, 2Co_10:1 ; clemency, Act_24:4

ἐπιεικία ( Rec. -είκεια ), -ας , ἡ ( < ἐπιεικής ), [in LXX : Wis_2:19 ; Wis_12:18 Bar_2:27 , from LXX Bar_4:24 , TH (3:42), 2Ma_2:22 ; 2Ma_10:4 , 3Ma_3:15 ; 3Ma_7:6 * ;] fairness, moderation, gentleness ("sweet reasonableness," Matthew Arnold): Act_24:4 ; c . πραΰτης , 2Co_10:1 .† ἐπιείκεια see ἐπιεικία SYN.: πραΰτης G4240 ( v. Tr., Syn. , § xliii)

ἐπιείκεια [page 238] An interesting ex. of this word occurs in the Abinnaeus correspondence, when an official writes urging him in his character of πραιπόσιτος to keep a look-out for any natron that might be smuggled into Arsinoe, and to arrest those engaged in the attempt P Lond 231 .10 ( c. A.D. 346) (= II. p. 285, Chrest. I. p. 379) τὰ αὐτὰ δ̣ηλῶ , ἵνα μετὰ πάσης ἐπιεικείας τὴν φρουρὰν τῶν ταμειακῶν νίτρων ποιήσῃ καὶ πάντας ὅσους καταλαμβάνεις ἐπισχῇς μετὰ καὶ τῶν κτηνῶν αὐτῶν . Cf. from the inscrr. OGIS 504 .9 (time of Hadrian) where a certain Οὔλπιος Εὐρυκλῆς is praised ὡς . . . ἐν τῶι κοινῶι ἐπὶ παιδείαι τε καὶ τῆι ἄλληι ἀρετῆι καὶ ἐπιεικείαι διάδηλον ἑαυτὸν πεποιηκέν [αι ], ib . 507 .3 (time of Hadrian) αὐτῶι τὰ αὐτὰ ἐπιεικείᾳ τε καὶ αἰδοῖ πάσηι κεχρημένωι , and Syll 932 .35 (ii/A.D. ad init. ) ἐντείλ ]ας μὴ ὕβρει μηδὲ βίᾳ , δικαιοσύνῃ δὲ καὶ ἐπεικείᾳ [κρατ ]εῖν τοὺς ἐνοικοῦντας . In P Oxy I. 67 .6 (A.D. 338) ἅπερ ἀντέγραψεν πρὸς τὴν σὴν ἐπιείκιάν τε καὶ καθαρότητα , which in reply he wrote to your clemency and impartiality (Edd.), the abstract honorific periphrasis : cf. CPR I. 19 .15, .24 (A.D. 350). The word is used by Proclus in his description ( Epistologr. Gr. p. 8 ε̄ ) of an ironical epistle λίαν ἄγαμαι τὴν σὴν ἐπιείκειαν , ὅτι οὕτω ταχέως μεταβάλλῃ ἀπ᾽ εὐνομίας εἰς τὸ ἐναντίον (cited by Dibelius HZNT ad Php_4:5 ). From the above instances it will be seen that ἐπιείκεια is a very elusive term, and is by no means always = sweet reasonableness.

ἐπιείκεια ἐπιείκεια, ἡ, [Etym: ἐπιεικής] "reasonableness, fairness, equity", Thuc. , Plat. , etc.: "clemency, goodness", Dem.

ἐπιεικία (Rec. -είκεια), -ας, ἡ (ἐπιεικής), [in LXX: Wis.2:19 12:18 Bar.2:27, from LXX Bar.4:24, TH (3:42), 2Ma.2:22 2Mac 10:4, 3Ma.3:15 3Mac 7:6 * ;] fairness, moderation, gentleness ("sweet reasonableness," Matthew Arnold): Act.24:4; with πραΰτης, 2Co.10:1.† SYN.: πραΰτης (see Tr., Syn., § xliii) (AS)