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5. τὸ ἐπιεικὲς ὑμῶν. Vulg., Modestia vestra; A.V., “your moderation”; Wyclif, “youre pacience”; Tindale and ‘Cranmer,’ “youre softenes”; Geneva, “your patient mynde”; Rheims, “your modestie”; Luther, Eure Lindigkeit; R.V. text, “your forbearance,” marg. “your gentleness.” “Forbearance” is best, though scarcely adequate. Ἐπιεικής, ἐπιέκεια, are connected either with εἴκω, “to yield,” or, more probably, with τὸ εἰκὸς (ἔοικα), “the equitable.” Aristotle (Eth. N., v. 10. 6) contrasts the ἐπιεικής with the ἀκριβοδίκαιος, the stickler for his full rights; the ἐπιεικής will rather take sides against himself, look from the other’s point of view, remember his own duties and the other’s rights. Ἐπιείκεια is, so to speak, πραότης applied in action. In the N.T. we have it (or ἐπιεικής) in e.g. 2Co 10:1, παρακαλῶ ὑμᾶς διὰ τῆς πραότητος καὶ ἐπιεικείας τοῦ Χριστοῦ: 1Ti 3:2-3, δεῖ … ἐπίσκοπον … εἶναι … ἐπιεικῆ, ἄμαχον (so Tit 3:2): Jam 3:17, σοφία … ἐπιεικής, εὐπειθής.—The ἐπιεικές ὑμῶν of this passage is the spirit which will yield like air in matters of personal feeling or interest, while it will stand like rock in respect of moral principle. See Trench’s careful discussion, N. T. Synonyms, § xliii.
γνωσθήτω πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις. For τὸ ἐπιεικὲς is essentially practical and operative. Estius (quoted by Trench) says that “ἐπιείκεια magis [quam πραότης] ad exteriorem conversationem pertinet.”
ὁ κύριος ἐγγύς. Perhaps rather in the sense of presence than of coming; cp. Psalms 118 (Heb., 119):151, ἐγγὺς εἶ, κύριε. “In the secret of His presence” (בְּסֵתֶר פָּנָיו ἐν ἀποκρύφῳ τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ, Psalms 31 (30):19) they were to be “hid” from the vexations of life around them. Yet the deeply calming thought of the Lord’s Return may well be latent in the words too. In the Teaching of the Twelve Apostles (probably cent. i.), the final Eucharistic prayer closes with the words Μαρὰν ἀθὰ (“The Lord cometh,” 1Co 16:21) ἀμήν.