Perperam

PERPERAM. St. Paul makes use of this Term in his first Epistle to the Corinthians. Much Dispute has been about the Signification of this Word. St. Chrysostom, Theophylact, and the greatest part of Interpreters, explain it by Rashness, Lightness, Precipitation. Charity is wise, steady, constant, serious, and grave in its Behaviour. It never acts lightly or with Precipitation. Theodoret; Charity does not mingle itself in other People’s Business: It does not meddle with what it has nothing to do. Others maintain¹ that the Greek Word in this Text properly signifies, to be puff’d up with Pride, to boast, to make a vain Shew of one’s Understanding or Capacity.

The Word Perperam is very common among Latin Authors. Agere perperam in this Language signifies to act incongruously or unadvisedly. But the Greek Word περπερεύομαι is not found in antient Greek Writers, which makes it probable, that it is taken from the Latin Word perperam, and that it has in Greek a more extensive Signification than in Latin. It signifies properly, to boast or brag, to set a Value on one’s self, to display one’s own good Qualities.

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