[B-Greek] EIDOS in 1 Thessalonians 5:22

Jon Boyd boyd at huxcomm.net
Thu May 1 23:57:09 EDT 2003


Dear B-Greekers,

I was just reading a book that made a big point of abstaining from all
"appearance of evil" as the KVJ translates 1 Thess. 5:22.  

1 Thess. 5:21-22
PANTA DE DOKIMAZETE, TO KALON KATECETE, APO PANTOS EIDOUS PONHROU APECESQE.

Looking at BDAG I see they have three categories for EIDOS: 1) the shape and
structure of someth. as it appears to someone, 2) a variety of someth., 3)
the act of looking/seeing.

BDAG lists several passages to support the sense "variety of something,"
including Josephus, Ant. 10:37, which speaks of PAN EIDOS PONHRIAS.

My Bibleworks copy of Louw and Nida lists two senses of EIDOS: 1) form 58.14
and 2) sight 24.1.  

My questions: Is the second sense in BDAG legitimate, and if so why isn't it
included in Louw and Nida?  Does anyone have any thoughts on the KJV's
translation "appearance of evil"?  Every other modern version I've seen goes
with "form" or "kind" of evil.

Thanks,

Jonathan Boyd
Huxley, Iowa




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