Can Anxiety Prolong Life?

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 22, 1867

Can Anxiety Prolong Life?

Adding a Cubit to One's Stature, Matt. vi, 27.

A CORRESPONDENT of the Congregationalist makes the following remarks on Matt. vi, 27: “The passage is doubtless incorrectly translated. The word [Helikia] which is rendered ‘stature’ means also ‘age.’ John ix, 21; ‘He is of age, ask him;’ and again in the 23d verse. Heb. xi, 11; ‘When she was past age.’ Men, though not commonly anxious to increase their stature—especially by twenty inches—are anxious to lengthen out their life. And our Saviour’s question simply means, ‘Which of you, by indulging anxiety, can add even a span to his life.’”

We may add that the passage referred to, is translated in the “Diaglott” as follows: “Besides which of you, by being anxious can prolong his LIFE one moment?”