EPISPAOMAI in 1 Cor 7:18

Mark Wilson emory2oo2 at hotmail.com
Tue Sep 17 17:02:18 EDT 2002



Just thought I would offer this highly speculative question:

>Does anyone have any information on the use of the NT hapax EPISPAOMAI ("to 
>remove the marks of circumcision")in 1 Cor 7:18.

Seems that EPISPAOMAI is used often in the sense of being "drawn
away," perhaps more mild, to be "allured," or more harsh, to be
"dragged."

Could it be that Paul is commanding those who had been circumcised
not to be drawn away or allured by the non-circumcised party? After
all, the next sentence is to those who are uncircumcised not
to be drawn into the circumcised party (and presumedly be circumcised).

What I am assuming then is not that these were being asked to somehow
reverse circumcision (an impossibility), but that they were being
ask to withdraw from one party (here, the circumcized party)
to the opposing party, this by attraction or allurement. This is
similar to the party lines found in Chapter 1. "I am of Paul..." Here,
the party lines are drawn based on some ritual mark on the body,
or lack thereof.

My thoughts,

Mark Wilson


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