Rom 1:1 KLHTOS APOSTOLOS

Steven Craig Miller scmiller at www.plantnet.com
Sat Apr 8 12:48:39 EDT 2000


To: the participants of the Biblical-Greek list,

Here is another attempt to make sense of KLHTOS APOSTOLOS (Rm 1:1).

The Greek KLHTOS has been translated as "called to be"; so that Paul was 
"called to be an apostle"; and that the Romans were "called to belong to 
Jesus Christ" as well as "called to be saints." But in the LXX the term 
KLHTOS often means "guest" at Jud 14:11; 2 Kings 15:11; 3 Kings 1:41; Zeph 
1:17; and 3 Macc 5:14. So I wonder if KLHTOS APOSTOLOS might mean "guest 
apostle." Another idea is that KLHTOS APOSTOLOS might mean "invited 
apostle" Compare Mt 22:14 "many are invited, but few are chosen" (or how 
about "many are guests, but few are chosen"?).

As for finding a translation for APOSTOLOS, how about "delegate" (per 
BAGD)? And for APOSTOLH (such as in Romans 1:5) how about "commission"?

<< [1] Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, a guest delegate ... [6] among whom 
you too are Jesus Christ's guests, [7] to those being in Rome, God's 
beloved and sacred guests: ... >> (Romans 1:1a,6-7a).

One nice thing about this is that "a guest delegate" is a much smother 
reading than the translation "a called one, an apostle."

What do you think?

-Steven Craig Miller
Alton, Illinois (USA)
scmiller at www.plantnet.com




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