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WAY
1. OT usage.—(a) Of a road or journey (1Sa_6:9; 1Sa_6:12, 2Ki_3:20, Jer_2:18). (b) Figuratively, of a course of conduct or character (Job_17:9, Psa_91:11), either in a good sense as approved by God (Deu_31:29, Psa_50:23, Isa_30:21), or in a bad sense of man’s own choosing (Psa_139:24, Isa_65:2, Jer_18:11). (c) Of the way of Jehovah, His creative power (Job_26:14), His moral rule and commandments (Job_21:14, Psa_18:30, Pro_8:32).
2. NT usage.—(a) In the literal sense (Mat_4:16; Mat_10:5, Act_8:25). (b) Figuratively, as in OT of human conduct, or God’s purpose for man (Mat_21:32, Act_14:16, Rom_11:33, 1Co_4:17, Jam_5:20). But the gospel greatly enriched the ethical and religious import of the word. Though Jesus was addressed as one who taught ‘the way of God in truth’ (Mat_22:16), He Himself claimed to show the way to the Father because He is ‘the Way, the Truth, and the Life’ (Joh_14:4-6). By Him ‘the two worlds were united’ (Westcott). This is equivalent to the Apostolic doctrine that Christ is the gospel (Mar_1:1, Rom_15:18). In Heb_9:8; Heb_10:20 there is the similar thought that Jesus by His life, death, and exaltation has opened a way whereby men may enter into the holy presence of God, and enables them also to walk therein. In Acts ‘the Way’ is used with the distinctive meaning of the Christian faith and manner of life, which is the only ‘way’ that leads to salvation (Act_9:2; Act_19:9; Act_19:23; Act_24:22). This is the ‘way of the Lord’ so often referred to in the OT, of which Jesus became the final and perfect revealer. The development of the conception may be traced in Act_16:17; Act_18:25-26.
R. A. Falconer.