1 Cor 11: 10 ECHEIN EXOUSIAN EPI KRFALHS
jerker karlsson
jerker_k at hotmail.com
Thu Oct 24 17:51:13 EDT 2002
The passage 1 Cor. 11: 10 is famous, if not infamous, when it comes to the
phrase EXOUSIAN ECHEIN EPI THS KEFALHS. Two main ways have been suggested
along which the phrase should be interpreted. The first way, and the
traditional, is that EXOUSIAN is understood as a metonym bearing the meaning
of head covering. The other way, suggested by Gordon Fee et.al., is that the
phrase is read as the fixed expression EXOUSIAN ECHEIN EPI. Now, I have
some questions, or objections, regarding the interpretation suggested by
among others Fee.
First of all, even if EXOUSIAN ECHEIN EPI is an expression of a rather
fixed nature in terms of meaning so is the EPI THS KEFALHS. The latter
always, at least in Novum and LXX, means too wear something on the head or
get something in the hair. May question would then be; is there any reason
why it should be more natural too read the phrase as Fee suggests and not as
I (and probably others) suggests? The thrust of Fees very argument is that
EXOUSIAN ECHEIN EPI is in it self an unshakable unity with a fixed
meaning. Indeed, Im in total agreement with him. But I would like to beg to
differ on whether the phrase actually is what Fee suggests it is. Why not
instead read EPI THS KEFALHS as the fixed part of the phrase? Fixed with
the meaning wear on the head?
The second question I would like to raise is on the relationship between
OFEILEI and EXOUSIAN ECHEIN. To be obliged to have or to do something is
in its inner meaning a rather clear concept. Less clear however, is the
obligation to have power. How on earth, or in heaven, can one be obligated
to have power? To do something with ones actual power perhaps, but just to
have it!? Is there, foremost in the Greek language, or in Greek and Jewish
thinking any parallel to the command Fee suggests we should read in these
passage?
I know that this topic was discussed on b-greek back in 1997, but I dont
think these particular questions were raised then.
Regards
/Jerker Karlsson
Lund, Sweden
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