[B-Greek] APOSTOLOS in 1 Cor 12
Eduard C Hanganu
eddhanganu at hotmail.com
Mon Aug 30 22:31:05 EDT 2004
Dear Cindy:
I believe you make the mistake so common among people who lack basic
linguistic knowledge and mix the "sense" of a word with its "meaning." You
state:
"APOSTOLOS has a full range of meaning. Coincidentally, so does PROFHTHS.
I
suggest that the term in 1 Cor 12 encompasses that range."
You are probably referring to the "senses" or "denotations" of the word
"APOSTOLOS," but the confusion is serious. "Sense" is the dictionary
definition or a word, its "denotation." Most words are polysemic and have 1,
2 or n "senses" or "denotations." One other important thing to know about
the "sense" of a word is that "sense" is context independent.
The "meaning" of a word, on the other hand is entirely dependent on context,
and is defined and limited by the context. A word cannot have "a full range
of meaning" in a certain context, because this would lead to text ambiguity
and make communication at least difficult if not impossible. To state that
the word PROFHTS "encompasses that (full) range (of meaning)" in 1 Cor 12 is
equal to affirming that the word PROFHTS has in that context multiple
"meanings." If this is so, how can the reader figure out what is the
writer's intended meaning for the word in that context? Does the writer use
a pun, or double meaning? Does he mean what he says, or he plays with words?
I don't know where this discussion is going, but it seems to me that the
hermeneutic used is similar to the one employed by Elisabeth Schüssler
Fiorenza. Are you familiar with her writiings?
Regards,
Eduard Hanganu
From: CWestf5155 at aol.com
To: iver_larsen at sil.org, B-Greek at lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] APOSTOLOS in 1 Cor 12
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 20:09:17 EDT
<<In a message dated 8/30/2004 10:47:59 AM Mountain Standard Time,
iver_larsen at sil.org writes:
>
[Cindy:]> I Cor. 9 refers to Barnabas as an apostle with apostle's rights.
As does Luke in Acts 14:14.
> What about
> the context in 2 Cor. 8:23 makes Titus, for instance, not a
> similar authority
> with similar rights to Barnabas?
I don't think we can deduce that from KOINWNOS or SUNERGOS. Only 23a talks
about Titus. 23b talks about the two other unnamed co-workers who had been
sent/commissioned by the churches, so APOSTOLOI EKKLHSIWN in this verse
refers to the two church emissaries, not Paul's assistant, Titus.
> He was sent in an authoritative capacity to
> Crete, among other places.
No, he was left by Paul in Crete to wrap up some unfinished business with
clear instructions from Paul on what to do. (Tit 1:5). And then Paul gives
further written instructions in his letter to Titus. Titus is here portrayed
as an assistant to an apostle rather than an apostle in his own right. Paul
gives similar written instructions to his other assistant, Timothy.
> In these cases, the translations miscue the
> readers, not making a good interpretive decision, though I
> understand the basis of the interpretation.
If you are referring to 2 Cor 8:23, I don't see the basis for your
unconventional interpretation. I believe all the versions have made a good
interpretative decision here.
I think the definition of apostle and the distinction between ministries and
gifts go beyond b-Greek parameters, so will respond more fully off-list.>>
Iver,
You're right that Luke refers to Barnabas as an apostle in Acts 14:14--also
in v. 4, so that's one correction. I was parroting what I'd heard in the
discussion--that Luke generally refers to the 12 as apostles. These two
verses are
certainly the exception.
I also agree with your correction that in 2 Cor 8:23, the two other ADELFOI
are described as APOSTOLOI here--that was sloppy perusal on my part. The
EITE...EITE signals a contrast between the description of Titus and the
description
of the other two. The ADELFOI was most likely not inclusive of Titus, as I
first assumed.
But the germane part of my argument is that the ADELFOI are APOSTOLOIS. I
hope that my sloppiness doesn't mess up the point--for me this isn't about
Titus
(though I disagree that being "left" could not the same as "sent" as a
representative--I don't think that this has to be technically spatial).
This is
about the "title" or designation of apostle/sent one, which is included in
the
list of spiritual gifts, being applied outside the circle of "the twelve"
and
Paul.
I think that the best discussion on 2 Cor 8:23 (that I've seen today) is in
the Anchor Bible Commentary on 2 Cor 8-9 by Betz. He states that this is a
formula of authorization, based on Hellenistic legal and administrative
texts. In
effect, Titus is given Paul's power of attourney/apostleship. As far as the
ADELFOI are concerned, Paul gives their official title and functions, and
their
title reflects their authorizing institution. They are APOSTOLOIS of the
churches, which he restates as representatives or delegates (note that this
is
really quite different than "messenger" (like mail carrier), but quite
consistent with discussions in commentaries). There follows a rather
brilliant
analysis: "One cannot fail to notice the descrepancy between the high rank
given them
by the churches and the somewhat lower rank granted them by Paul". Paul
calls
them ADELFOI not "fellow apostles". Titus is given the higher endorsement:
Paul's representational status. The apostles do not have equal authority to
Paul over the Corinthians--they don't have the same history
OK, so note that APOSTOLOIS is given a title status here. I part ways with
Betz when he says, "As has often been pointed out, this concept of apostle
has
little in common with Paul's use of the term". So you're right that the
consensus lies with you.
However, I contest that Paul's application of the title APOSTOLOIS to these
brothers is consistent with the term APOSTOLOS in I Cor. 12, 9, 15 etc. as
well
as 2 Cor 1:1. And while I don't agree with you that it is idiosyncratic
(there has been diversity on this passage--I'm taking it literally), it is
not the
consensus.
APOSTOLOS has a full range of meaning. Coincidentally, so does PROFHTHS. I
suggest that the term in 1 Cor 12 encompasses that range. Not every
APOSTOLOS
has the same function (or field, in Pauliine terminology). The two common
elements appear to be commissioning (by primarily the Holy Spirit and
secondarily the churches), and "sent" = the geographic crossing of
boundaries between
the local churches. The authority of any apostle would be in direct
proportion
to the assigned field.
Cindy Westfall
Denver Seminary
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