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 Fee’s very argument is that 
“EXOUSIAN ECHEIN EPI” is in it self an unshakable unity with a fixed 
meaning. Indeed, I’m 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 it’s 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 one’s 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 don’t 
think these particular questions were raised then.

Regards

/Jerker Karlsson
Lund, Sweden









_________________________________________________________________
Internet access plans that fit your lifestyle -- join MSN. 
http://resourcecenter.msn.com/access/plans/default.asp




More information about the B-Greek mailing list