Ephesians 1:10
Ben Crick
ben.crick at argonet.co.uk
Tue Dec 5 05:49:25 EST 2000
On Mon 4 Dec 2000 (15:51:38), jfisher777 at aol.com wrote:
> That in the dispensation of the fullness of times, He might gather all
> together in the Messiah, whether they are in the heavens or on the earth.
>
> This translation of mine just doesn't seem right. And this word
> OIKONOMIAN, when did we start translating it dispensation? What are
> some other flowing alternatives?
> And the word ANAKEFALAIWSASQAI - what a monster! Any suggestions?
Hi Jeffrey!
Carl's answer is a model of "economy"; but if I may offer my suggestions:
ANAKEFALAIOMAI means 'to sum up' or 'to bring together under headings' from
ANA and KEFALAION. Everything is going to be completely "categorised" in the
fulness of time. William the Conqueror attempted this with his Domesday Book
in 1086 in England. The Latin /instaurare/ (see the Vulgate) means 'to renew'
or 'to renovate', after things have been allowed to go to wrack and ruin. This
is another part of Good Housekeeping, when a new Butler or Manager has taken
over the running of all domestic and business affairs. The full purpose of God
is going to be worked out in human history.
Re OIKONOMIA. The translation 'dispensation' comes directly from Jerome's
Vulgate, well known to the Authorised KJV translators: /In dispensationem
plenitudinis temporum instaurare omnia in Christo, etc/. OIKONOMIA is the root
of our word 'economy', meaning the running of the household (OIKOS) so as to
make optimal use of all available resources. It would not stretch it too far
to understand it as "good housekeeping" or "husbandry". Compare Ephesians 3:9,
where the NIV translates OIKONOMIA as "administration". The KJV translators
appear to have read OIKONOMIA as KOINWNIA at this point, following the Textus
Receptus and a few late miniscules. BM Metzger writes "The true reading is
supported by p46, all known uncials, almost all miniscules, all known versions
and patristic quotations" (/A Textual Commentary on the GNT/, p 535). Jerome,
always consistent, has /dispensatio/ again at Ephesians 3:9.
It is only in recent times that OIKONOMIA has acquired a "Dispensationalist"
connotation, as in "the Mosaic Dispensation" or "the Christian Dispensation".
E&OE, IMHO, etc.,
ERRWSQE
Ben
--
Revd Ben Crick, BA CF
<ben.crick at argonet.co.uk>
232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm
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