hOI PERITEMNOMENOI in Gal. 6:13

Mark D. Nanos nanos at gvi.net
Mon Jan 24 09:59:13 EST 2000


Dear List,

I am seeking help for how to translate and understand hOI 
PERITEMNOMENOI, by which Paul identifies those who are advocating the 
addressees' circumcision in 6:13.

A list of the prevailing views found in commentaries with a few of my 
own additional suggestions for possibilities (#'s 3-5):

1 Present middle causative, thus emphasis on the influencers' 
advocacy of circumcision of addressees is the focus: "those who cause 
to be circumcised," or "the ones causing receipt of circumcision," or 
simply, "the advocates of circumcision."

2 Present middle permissive, which highlights the present sense of 
the action with a passive twist, thus it could be translated as 
"those who receive circumcision," "those presently getting 
circumcised themselves," or "those who let themselves be circumcised."

3 Present middle habitual would signify a temporal habitual force at 
work, "those who customarily circumcise," or "those who are 
customarily circumcising."

4 Present middle concessive would focus upon the connection by 
accentuating the exception that it involves, bringing to bear the 
opening OUDE: "even the ones who are circumcised," or "even the ones 
who circumcise."

5 Present middle circumstances attendant brings out the action of the 
main verb, in this case, the accusation following that focuses upon 
the connection between their identity by way of this substantive 
participle and the undermining "revelation" that these ones do not 
themselves "keep/guard" the Law, thus: "the ones who are 
circumcising," or simply "the ones circumcising" do not "keep/guard" 
that which they would be expected to thus hold most dear.

6 Present passive, thus emphasizing the influencers own receipt of 
circumcision. This may be translated as "the ones who receive 
circumcision."

7 Perfect passive, or hOI PERITETMNHMENOI, a variant construction 
actually attested in a few important manuscripts (including [P46), 
focuses on the condition which results from a previous action, and 
would translate "those who have been circumcised," or "those in the 
state of circumcision.

Are the above options the only ones that should be sorted through? 
And following Carl's observation that passive is a form of middle, so 
passive-middle perhaps, what difference might this make?

In this case it does seem that the active middle choice is redundant, 
Paul has already said clearly that they "would compel you to be 
circumcised," so why the substantive participle here in the next 
verse," or is that just why, because it is the already defined 
identity?

On the other hand, might not their own identity as circumcised, 
perhaps even by choice (i.e., that they are themselves proselytes who 
now seek the proselyte conversion of the addressees), be implied in 
this participle, so that it is not a restatement of their advocacy as 
much as of their culpability, which is what the rest of the verbal 
phrase undermines. That is, that in spite of their indebtedness as 
circumcised ones to observe the whole Law (5:3), which is living with 
the interests of one's neighbor in view (5:14), that their advocacy 
of circumcision of the addressees is a violation of this principle, 
since it is, in Paul's view, a violation of what is in the best 
interests of these gentiles, because it for them render's meaningless 
the death of Christ for them as gentiles, representatives of the 
Nations. I mean to express no judgement of whether Paul's judgement 
of these people or groups is correct or not; I take his interest here 
to be a part of a larger rhetorical discussion that would have to be 
considered.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Regards,
Mark D. Nanos
Kansas City
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