AGAPH outside the New Testament
Jonathan Burke
jburke at sprint.com.au
Fri Jun 14 10:34:09 EDT 2002
Hi David,
>
I think you are trying to have it both ways. I agree that Greek words for
"love" have a range of meanings, just like English does.
>
I'm reminded of the Greek word HAGIOS, which can mean both 'holy' and
'desecrated'.
Someone was trying to have it both ways there, it seems. But they managed.
Don't ask my how these two meanings can possibly be part of the same
semantic range.
I couldn't figure it out for the life of me. :)
>
But if AGAPH is to have a specific meaning, it seems to be cheating to say
it can also have this meaning of "unconditional desire." That seems to me to
be clutching to a theory in the face of clear evidence that it does not have
this restricted meaning.
>
I'm not trying to clutch at any meaning. I'm trying to make some kind of
sense of it. I've already had to give up with the word HAGIOS, and I think
I'll have to give up with the word AGAPH also. I'm thinking that in the end
I'll have to give up Greek. You should see the argumenst on B-Trans over
what a word means. It's incredible. Scholars with knowledge I'll never
gain in 50 years can't agree. How am I meant to understand the language?
>
I only quoted one passage and deliberately chose one that was extreme, and
hopefully repugnant to the concept of AGAPH meaning a special Christian
love.
>
Yes, I see what you mean. Of course, I agree that they are two opposite
extremes, and two opposite uses of the word.
The question is, what relates them? Or can a Greek word just mean one thing
and the complete opposite for no apparent reason?
Jonathan Burke.
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