EIS in Romans 7:19
richard smith
rbsads at aol.com
Sat Jun 29 16:42:41 EDT 2002
hWSPER GAR PARESTHSATE TA MELH hUMWN DOULA THi AKAQARSIA KAI THi ANOMIAi
EIS THN ANOMIAN, hOUTWS NUN PARASTHSATE TA MELH hUMWN DOULA THi DIKAISUNHi
EIS hAFIASMON.
The NIV and NRSV both translate THi ANOMIAi EIS TN ANOMIAN by what seems
to be an idiomatic expression of ever increasing lawlessness. I think that
I remember reading something of this use in one of the grammars, but I
cannot find it again.
However, both translations then suffer, in my mind, by treating
differently the similar construction THi DIKAISUNHi EIS hAGIASMON. Here
the preposition retains in translation something of a transitive or
directional force.
Robertson's Word Pictures offers an alternative with the use of the
archaic "unto." This word seems to have a transitive sense, maybe
something of purpose or result. "Slave to righteousness unto
sanctification." Maybe -- "Slave to righteousness for the purpose of
sanctification" or "with the result of sanctification."
Would it be better to understand the earlier construction as having a
similar significance.
Rather that "greater and greater iniquity," could the verse be understood
as meaning "slaves to uncleanness and lawlessness for the purpose of being
lawless" or "with the result of becoming persons without law (either law
of Moses or law of conscience.)?
Robertson does not translate the earlier construction in the Word
Pictures.
The preposition "unto", except that it is archaic for modern use, seems to
me to be a good, consistent option to translating EIS in this instance.
But, with or without the archaic "unto", should the verse be understood to
convey purpose or result with regard to the development of character that
is from acts of either uncleanness or acts of righteousness?
Or is the idiomatic expression correctly understood as "greater and
greater?"
Thank you,
Richard Smith
Chattanooga, TN
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