KOSMOS
SPAWN OF A JEWISH CARPENTER: CINDY SMITH
cms at dragon.com
Fri Oct 11 18:59:12 EDT 2002
A professor of mine, Dr. Kathryn McClymond, told me that
the word KOSMOS cannot justifiably be translated to mean
the entire universe and all the planets within it because
the original users of the word in the New Testament text
had a very different conception of the nature of the
universe, believing that there was the Earth and the sky,
which they considered to be a physical vault with
sluicegates holding back the water above the vault; when
the sluicegates were opened, water fell through in a
process we call "rain." Thus, to translate 1 John 2:2,
"He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only
but for those of the whole cosmos" gives an inaccurate
implication. I don't think she's right.
I think that the word KOSMOS means "universe" in the sense of "known
sphere of existence."
Someone on another mailing list said indeed it does, it should be
translated world because the writer did not believe other
planets existed.
I'm looking at different levels of interpretation.
"At the time of Christ, Jewish exegesis could be classified into four main
types: literal, midrashic, pesher, and allegorical."
-page 49 of Hermeneutics by Henry A.
"Many of the ancient types of teaching were passed down to modern times. The
major example is that of the acronym PARDES, representing the first letter
of the four basic types of Jewish exegesis used during the first century.
These methods were PESHAT (simple), REMEZ (hinting), DERASH (complex), and
SOD (secret). These were utilized by Jesus and other rabbis. The meaning of
the word PARDES is "orchard," indicating a place from which one gleans."
-
http://www.restorationfoundation.org/volume_3/32_6.htm
It seems to me that the word KOSMOS can have a meaning beyond that of
the original intent of the author, so that KOSMOS can indeed mean the
entire universe encompassing all the planets and any beings on them.
Bob Rea said the following:
>The professor is using the modern idea of kosmos instead of
>the Sacred Author's idea of it. This is an anachronism, and
>bad hermeneutics. Does she read Koine Greek well, by the
>way? Has she consulted the Greek concordance of the NT and
>the Septuagint what Hebrew it was used to translate? Has
>she compared how the word was used in outer comtemporary
>authors, especially Jewish ones. Has she looked at how it's
>used in the papyri? Hint hint, have *you* looked at these
>sources? Far more fruitful than later Talmudic
>interpretation, I would think.
I wrote:
>> The word KOSMOS has a meaning beyond the intent of the
>> original author to include everything in the universe.=20
Bob Rea wrote:
>They meant everyhting in the the world=3Duniverse by it. They=20
>jsut had less knowledge of the world then we do.
>--=20
>Bob Rea
>mailto:gapetard at stsams.org
>http://www.petard.us
>Freedom is only privilege extended
> unless enjoyed by one and all
> --Billy Bragg
I look forward to your interpretations of the meaning of the word
KOSMOS.
Thanks!
Cindy Smith I have further observed under the sun that
cms at dragon.com The race is not won by the swift,
cms at 5sc.net Nor the battle by the valiant;
cms at romancatholic.org Nor is bread won by the wise,
Me transmitte sursum, Nor wealth by the intelligent,
Caledoni! Nor favor by the learned.
A Real Live Catholic For the time of mischance comes to all
in Georgia! -- JPS Ecclesiastes 9:11
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