[B-Greek] MONOUS in 14:36: Is this right?
moon at sogang.ac.kr
moon at sogang.ac.kr
Tue Jun 14 15:19:14 EDT 2005
<BR>> Hi,
<BR>>
<BR>> Is the following observation right?
<BR>>
<BR>> Let me quote from:
<BR>> Talbert, Charles H. Reading Corinthians: A Literary and Theological
<BR>> Commentary on 1 & 2 Corinthians. New York: Crossroad, 1987. p. 92-93:
<BR>>
<BR>> 1 COr 14:36:
<BR>>
<BR>> H EF hUMWN hO LOGOS TOU QEOU EXHLQHN, H EIS hUMAS MONOUS
<BR>> KATHNTHSEN;
<BR>>
<BR>>
<BR>>
<BR>>
<BR>> (In Cor 1 14:36), the second question of v. 36 "( or are you the
<BR>> ony ones it reached?")
<BR>> uses a masculine plural (MONOUS) for the term translated "only
<BR>> ones." THis masculine plural
<BR>> can be understood to refer either to multiple male persons or
<BR>> people in
<BR>> in general in a gender-inclusive sense, BUT IT CANNOT ADDRESS ONLY
<BR>> FEMAILE PERSONS
<BR>> (emphasis mine).
<BR>>
<BR>
<BR>> I would have agreed. But I am asking the question because I read
<BR>>
<BR>> Wire, Antoinette Clark. The Corinthian Women Prophets. A
<BR>> Reconstruction through
<BR>> Paul¡¯s Rhetoric (Fortress Press, 1990), p. 154:
<BR>>
<BR>> He concludes with two other kinds of argument and a threat. The
<BR>> rhetorical
<BR>> questions addresss the WOMEN JUST SILENCED (in 14:34-45) - "Or
<BR>> did God's world originate from you? Or did it reach you people
<BR>> only?" -
<BR>> ridiculing any claims to essential speaking roles on their part.
<BR>>
<BR>> ......
<BR>> The closing phrase in the last question, "Or did it reach you
<BR>> people only?" is
<BR>> written in an INCLUSIVE MASCULINE form because "reach" is a
<BR>> territorial
<BR>> concept in Paul's mission thinking (2 Cor 10.3-14; Acts 13:51; 16:1).
<BR>>
<BR>> --------------------------
<BR>>
<BR>> Question 1: It seems that Wire thinks even the inclusive masculine
<BR>> hUMAS MONOUS
<BR>> can refer to a group that consists of only women. Is she right?
<BR>
<BR>For my part, I can see no justification for such a notion. But then,
<BR>I find the notion that these rhetorical questions are addressed to
<BR>the "silenced" women questionable in itself.
<BR>
=> MOON:
If it were EIS hUMAS MONAS, then hUMAS MONAS would have referred to
the "silenced women"? I can think of the following logic:
The women be silent in the church.
...
....
Or else (ie., If you do not agree) did the word of God originate from you or
did it reach you only?
Moon JUNG
Sogang Univ, Seoul, Korea
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