[B-Greek] APOSTOLOS in 1 Cor 12
Arie Dirkzwager
dirkzwager at pandora.be
Tue Aug 31 13:33:03 EDT 2004
Eduard (and others of course),
I think we have to make a difference between the possibilities of the Greek
text and the exegesis after comparing this text with other biblical texts or
the possibilities of ancient society.
I do not think that Junia, if this is the nominative, was an apostle in the
strict sense of the 12 with Paul and James. I do not think that in the NT
women had the position of elders, apostles, bishops (if you like) etc.
But ...
If we have a group of men and women the Greek language uses the masculine to
design them. So APOSTOLOI *can* mean masculine and feminine apostles. I do
not think it does, but that is my conclusion after studying other texts too.
There is however another interesting thing.
EN with dative can mean many things. That has been written by many other
list members before me.
I found however in R.C. Jebb - E.S. Shuckburgh, The Antigone of Sophocles,
Cambridge 1963, ad vs. 458f.:
EN QEOISI, the forensic EN, denoting the tribunal: Plat. Legg. 916 B
DIADIKAZESQW DE EN TISI TWN IATRWN: Gorg. 464 D EI DEOI EN PAISI
DIAGWNIZESQAI: Lys. or. 13 § 35 hO de DHMOS EN TWi DIKASQHRIWi en DISCILIOIS
EYHFISATO (sc. POIEIN THN KRISIN).
That are texts in classical Greek. But it is clear that the "forensic" use
of EN is attested too, if the "tribunal" is not an official one.
And ...
In 1 Cor 6: 2 we have an exemple of forensic EN in biblical Greek: H OUK
OIDATE hOTI hOI hAGIOI TON KOSMON KRINOUSIN? KAI EI *EN hUMIN* KRINETAI hO
KOSMOS, .....
So we have a clear *possibility* (not the proof, I regret) that EN TOIS
APOSTOLOIS can mean "in the judgment of the apostles".
Arie
Dr. A. Dirkzwager
Hoeselt, Belgium
e-mail dirkzwager at pandora.be
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