[B-Greek] TELH and KHNSON in Mt 17:25

Polycarp66 at aol.com Polycarp66 at aol.com
Sun Dec 28 20:18:37 EST 2003


In a message dated 12/28/2003 5:57:26 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
kenneth.vendler at higherwinds.net writes:
Is there any marked distinction between telh (TELH) and khnson (KHNSON)? The 
latter, according to ANLEX seems to be a more specific type of tax, one 
assessed on the basis of census/property value and would be analogous to modern day 
property taxes .

What would be the nature of the distinction (if any) between these two terms?

____________

I'm not a great fan of Louw & Nida, but this is one of the occassions when it 
truly comes into its own.  By listing words according to semantic domains it 
is easy to compare to two usages

  
57.179 TELOS, OUS n: payments customarily due a governmental authority—‘
duty, tax, revenue.’ hOI BASILEIS THS GHS APO TINWN LAMBANOUSIN TELH hH KHSON; ‘
but from whom do the kings of earth collect duties or taxes?’ Mt 17.25. The 
term TELOS differs from KHNSOS (57.180) in being somewhat more generic in 
meaning. In certain contexts TELOS may refer to various kinds of direct taxes, 
customs duties, and tribute money, but in contexts such as Mt 17.25 in which KHNSOS 
also occurs, TELOS probably refers primarily to customs duties, while KHNSOS 
refers to a direct poll tax upon all adult males.
57.180 KHNSOS, OU m (a borrowing from Latin): a tax paid by each adult male 
to the government—‘tax, poll tax’ (see discussion at 57.179). ECESTIN DOUNAI 
KHNSON KAISARI H OU; ‘is it lawful to pay tax to the Emperor or not?’ Mk 12.14.
gfsomsel



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