[B-Greek] KAQOLIKOS = "complete" (versus "universal")?

George F Somsel gfsomsel at juno.com
Tue Nov 29 10:30:14 EST 2005


On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 06:12:55 -0800 (PST) Eric Weiss
<papaweiss1 at yahoo.com> writes:
> I have read that "catholic" can mean both "universal"/"general" and 
> KATA + hOLOS or 
>   hOLIKOS = "according to the whole" = "complete." I.e., when 
> Ignatius and later the 
>   Nicene Creed used the term "catholic church," they could have been 
> referring to it 
>   being the completeness/fullness of the Gospel/Christ, and not 
> necessarily meaning 
>   that it was geographically everywhere.
>    
>   Ignatius wrote: "Wherever the bishop appears, let the people be 
> there; just as 
>   wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church" (Letter to 
> the Smyrnaeans, and 
>   the first use of the term, apparently). To me, the meaning 
> "whole/complete," as 
>   opposed to "geographically everywhere," seems more fitting in this 
> instance, but I do 
>   not recall finding much support in LSJ or BDAG for it meaning 
> "whole/complete." 
>   Perhaps KAQOLOS (i.e., KATA + hOLOS, but this is a non-existent 
> word) might 
>   mean "complete," but it doesn't seem to be a definition for 
> KAQOLIKOS. Any 
>   thoughts?
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That KAQOLIKOS signifies "general" as opposed to particular is, I think
fairly well established.  In Justin's _Dialogue_, 102 he states

ALL' hWS EGINWSKE KALON EINAI GENESQAI, EPOIHSEN AUTECOUSIOUS PROS
DIKAIOPRACIAN KAI AGGELOUS KAI ANQRWPOUS; KAI XRONOUS hWRISE MEXRIS hOU
EGINWSKE KALON EINAI hOMOIWS EGNWRIZE, *** KAI KAQOLIKAS KAI MERIKAS
KRISEIS EPOIEI ***, PEFULAGMENOU MENTOI TOU AUTECOUSIOU.

"He made general and particular judgements" is the relevant phrase

Here KAQOLIKOS "general" is opposed to MERIKOS which is partial,
individual or particular.

george
gfsomsel
___________



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