Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Question for the ESV guys
Here is RLT (Russell's literal translation):
Or not [you] know that [the] unjust God[s] kingdom not [they shall] receive. Not [you be] led astray: neither fornicators, neither idolators, neither adulterers, neither effeminates, neither homosexuals, neither thieves, neither coveters; not drunks, not revilers, not swindlers [the] kingdom [of] God [shall] inherit.
[Words in brackets are understood by the case, tense, person, mood, or voice]
Do you see the natural cadence that Paul establishes? He uses that word οὔτε 7 times in succession, to build a whole series, and then adds another set of 3 onto the end with a different (but related) conjunction. Here is a brief description of the words that make up this series:
- Fornicators - comes from the word "Pornos" from which we get "pornography". Related to the verb "to sell" and was used for any kind of generic sexual immorality. It also could be translated "a man who prostitutes his body to another's lust for hire."
- Idolators - is the word "Eidololatres" which is a combination of the Greek words for "image" and "serve" and means a worshipper of false gods.
- Adulterers - the Greek word is "Moichos" and means adulterer.
- Effeminates - the Greek word is "Malakos" which literally means soft, and metaphorically was used of a boy who submits to a sexual relationship with a man.
- Homosexuals - is the word "Arsenokoites" which literally means "lying with men" and was used of the active partner in a homosexual relationship, or a sodomite.
- Thieves - from the word "Kleptes" which has obvious connections to our English word "kleptomaniac", or someone obsessed with embezzling, pilfering, or stealing.
- Coveters - the Greek word is "Pleonektes" which describes someone always wanting more.
- Drunkards - is the word "Methusos" which refers to being intoxicated (specifically with methy or wine).
- Revilers - is the word "Loidoros" which shares a root with the word for mischief and means one who utters a curse or hurls abuse.
- Swindlers - comes from the word "Harpax" which is related to word for snatching or grabbing and is used to convey the rapacious and ravenous way of an extortionist.
It is with numbers 4 and 5 that I take issue with the translators of the ESV for not making a distinction in the text itself. While I think their footnote is accurate, I don't think that it carefully preserves the strength of how Paul communicated by lumping them together as "men who practice homosexuality". Why do you think they would do that? If Paul wanted more broad generalizations, don't you think he could have just said, "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life"? I get the impression that Paul gets down and dirty with the language, even using a little bit of gutter speak, so that he can circumvent the word games that people will inevitably play. He throws out the bogus claim about "consenting adults behind closed doors," or about "being naturally wired that way." It's hard to play the slippery eel when confronted by this list.
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As for why the ESV combines these two words ... could be a number of things. Laziness comes to mind first and foremost, but that's just me guessing that they are guilty of one of my biggest shortcomings. Could be that they really do think that the two are similar enough to combine. Or it could be part of a larger, dare I say -floral- conspiracy.
I do agree with you, though, on the cadence. I think Paul was in a good rant when I Cor 6 was penned. There is a definite cadence that becomes (for me) clearly audible when I read it. Kinda like hearing someone say "Hello ... McFly ..."
- Ted N>
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