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CONVERSATION.—In EV [Note: English Version.] the word is always used in the archaic sense of ‘behaviour,’ ‘conduct.’ In the OT, AV [Note: Authorized Version.] gives it twice (Psa_37:14; Psa_50:23), representing Heb. derek = ‘way’ (cf. RV [Note: Revised Version.] and RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] ). In the NT it is used in AV [Note: Authorized Version.] to render three sets of words. (1) The noun anastrophç = ‘behaviour’ (Gal_1:13, Eph_4:22, 1Ti_4:12, Heb_13:7, Jam_3:13, 1Pe_1:15; 1Pe_1:18; 1Pe_2:12; 1Pe_3:1-2; 1Pe_3:16, 2Pe_2:7; 2Pe_3:11), RV [Note: Revised Version.] substituting in each case ‘manner of life,’ ‘manner of living,’ ‘life,’ ‘living,’ or ‘behaviour’; the vb. anastrephesthai = ‘to behave oneself’ (2Co_1:12, Eph_2:3). (2) The noun politeuma = ‘citizenship’ or ‘commonwealth’ (Php_3:20); the vb. politeuesthai = ‘to act as a citizen’ (Php_1:27). (3) tropos = ‘manner,’ ‘character,’ lit. ‘turning’ (Heb_13:5). Cf. RV [Note: Revised Version.] and RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] throughout. The main point to notice is that in every case ‘conversation’ in the Bible refers not to speech merely, but to conduct.
J. C. Lambert.