[B-Greek] RE: 2 Corinthians 5.10
Martin Culy
MCuly at briercrest.ca
Mon Nov 15 17:05:41 EST 2004
Art Casci wrote about the meaning of FAULOS in 2 Corinthians 5:10.
>My question is concerning two works found in 2 5.10 where Paul says we will
all appear before the judgment seat of Christ and receive rewards for what
we have done in our body whether good or bad. My question has to do with
those words "good or bad" (agathos and phaulos) and in particular phaulos.
[snip] The word phaulos is not merely identical to kakos which clearly means
bad or evil. Phaulos can also mean "trivial" or "light". If this can stand
up to scrutiny, the text would mean that all Christians who appear before
the judgment seat of Christ will receive rewards for all their works whether
"noble" or "trivial". [snip] I know I am going way out of the main stream on
this one.
_______________________________________
It is always important to look to the context for clues regarding which
sense of a particular word is in view. For my part, the use of BHMA with
AGATHOS and FAULOS is sufficient to establish the traditional rendering of
FAULOS as the correct one. Beyond that, though, we can look at the
following verse, where we find these words: "Therefore, knowing the fear of
the Lord . . ." (NRSV). This suggests to me that Paul is motivated by a
healthy fear of a potentially negative outcome at the judgment seat of
Christ. Translating FAULOS as "trivial" would make the clear connection
between verses 10 and 11 expressed by OUN very difficult to resolve. The
"fear of the Lord" language does not fit well with simply fearing a trivial
reward.
Martin Culy
Associate Professor of New Testament and Greek
Briercrest College and Seminary
510 College Drive
Caronport, SK S0H 0S0
Phone: (306) 756-3207
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