[B-Greek] How to Translate and Understand EPH HW PANTES HEMARTON in Romans 5:12?
Elizabeth Kline
kline_dekooning at earthlink.net
Tue Jun 15 14:52:46 EDT 2010
On Jun 15, 2010, at 7:40 AM, George F Somsel wrote:
> Διὰ τοῦτο ὥσπερ διʼ ἑνὸς ἀνθρώπου ἡ ἁμαρτία εἰς τὸν κόσμον εἰσῆλθεν καὶ διὰ τῆς ἁμαρτίας ὁ θάνατος, καὶ οὕτως εἰς πάντας ἀνθρώπους ὁ θάνατος διῆλθεν, ἐφʼ ᾧ πάντες ἥμαρτον·
>
> While we don't normally attempt to resolve translation issues here, I think there is a basic issue of understanding involved in how one might translate this passage. In BDAG you will note that EPI appears in all three of the cases which follow prepositions. In our text it is the dative usage which appears, and there are two basic classes of usage in the dative: (1) "contiguity" which therefore has a locative sense (2) directional indicating the cline -- this is akin to a result clause. I think the second is the more likely. Paul is stating that it is a CONSEQUENCE of the passing of the contagion of sin upon all men that all men therefore sin. I think it has sometimes been understood to indicate that the fact that all men sin provides the rationale for the conclusion that sin passed to all men which is rather like putting the cart before the horse [Aside: I've seen a picture somewhere where this IS ACTUALLY DONE]. The passage of sin
> to all men rather RESULTS in the consequence that all men sin.
J. A. Fitzmyer "with the result that all have sinned." A google search on the quoted text finds both Fitzmyer's discussion of it in Spiritual Exercises Based on Paul's Epistle to the Romans 1995 and Sacra Pagina: Romans Brendan Byrne who doesn't agree with the consecutive reading EF' hWi.
A google search on "fitzmyer romans 5:12" turns up Fitzmyer's article "The Consecutive Meanings of EF' hWi in Romans 5:12" in "To Advance the Gospel".
Elizabeth Kline
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