[B-Greek] Re; Rom 16:7

Jim West jwest at highland.net
Tue Dec 21 10:14:35 EST 2004


At 10:04 AM 12/21/2004, you wrote:

>1. When accents were added to the Greek text in the ninth century the
>circumflex was placed over the ultima indicating that our ninth century
>brothers and sisters understood this to be a man's name.
>
>HH: One of these two men are wrong if Crossan makes a sweeping claim, 
>which is what his words appear to do.

When one does textual criticism one has to weigh evidence.  What benefit is 
there to scribes, or interpreters, to change a masculine name to a 
feminine?  None, in this instance.  But what benefit is there in changing a 
woman's name to a man's (interpretatively speaking)?  Much, if one is 
inclined to believe that women were never apostles or preachers or other 
leaders in the early church.  Look, for example, at what has happened to 
poor old Phoebe the deacon.

I am inclined to see Junian as a female's name- contrary claims not 
withstanding.  And I further suspect those who wish to make her male to be 
something akin to cryptognostics who believe God will change women into men 
so they can enter the kingdom of heaven (a la the ending of Thomas).

Best

Jim


++++++++++++++++++++
Jim West, ThD
Adjunct Professor of Biblical Studies
Quartz Hill School of Theology

http://web.infoave.net/~jwest Biblical Studies Resources
http://biblical-studies.blogspot.com Biblical Theology Weblog






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