[B-Greek] SKEUOS in 1 Thessalonians 4:4
Carl W. Conrad
cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
Thu Oct 19 14:54:00 EDT 2006
On Oct 19, 2006, at 2:24 PM, Webb wrote:
> Dear Carl,
> I've read your posts, which are very illuminating. I wonder if the
> middle
> form of KTASQAI in TO hEAUTOU SKEUOS KTASQAI could open the
> possibility that
> Paul might mean "exercise ownership of his own body". That would
> make sense
> of the whole context to me if it were possible. Paul sees the body
> as a
> vessel for which the person is responsible, comparing it elsewhere,
> for
> example, to a tent that we live in (2 Cor. 5:1). But without the
> perfect
> tense form, I am dubious.
KTAOMAI is what I prefer to call a middle (rather than "deponent"
verb: there is no active form at all: one always acquires "for
oneself." Moreover, this verb doesn't mean "exercise ownership" but
"get ownership" and its perfect, KEKTHMAI, means "own."
> But I have to admit my interest in the outcome--not wanting to have
> to admit
> to people that Paul used instrumentalizing language about women's
> bodies.
I suspect that the ancients were less squeamish about this; Greeks
spoke readily of "tools" (hOPLA) and "vessels" or "gear" (SKEUH) and
"chattels" (KTHMATA), using such words indiscriminately of persons
and things.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org
> [mailto:b-greek-bounces at lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Carl W. Conrad
> Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 10:43 AM
> To: James & Ali Stone
> Cc: b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: Re: [B-Greek] SKEUOS in 1 Thessalonians 4:4
>
>
> On Oct 19, 2006, at 12:45 PM, James & Ali Stone wrote:
>
>> Hi all
>>
>> I was wondering if someone would mind giving some pros and cons for
>> translating SKEUOS in 1 Thessalonians 4:4 as:
>>
>> 1) "body"
>> 2) "vessel"
>> 3) "wife"
>> 4) another alternative?
>
> Check the archives. My own fullest contributions are:
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/b-greek/2002-July/021814.html
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/b-greek/2002-July/021820.html
>
> Carl W. Conrad
> Department of Classics, Washington University (Retired)
> 1989 Grindstaff Road/Burnsville, NC 28714/(828) 675-4243
> cwconrad2 at mac.com
> WWW: http://www.ioa.com/~cwconrad/
>
>
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Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Retired)
1989 Grindstaff Road/Burnsville, NC 28714/(828) 675-4243
cwconrad2 at mac.com
WWW: http://www.ioa.com/~cwconrad/
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