[B-Greek] How to Translate and Understand EPH HW PANTES HEMARTON in Romans 5:12?

Yancy Smith yancywsmith at sbcglobal.net
Tue Jun 15 16:30:25 EDT 2010


Fitzmyer argued that “because” does not support as a translation of ἐφʼ ᾧ EF hWi in texts prior to the sixth century C.E. He argued  that several passages appear to support the consecutive sense of “so that, with the result that." 
Another somewhat bawdy example he gave was Diogenes Laertius provides an example (the philosopher Cleanthes while leading his students to a public ceremony) “was exposed by the wind and seen to be without an undergarment upon which he was honored with applause by the Athenians (ἐφʼ ᾧ κρότῳ τιμηθῆναι ὑφ Ἀθηναίων)” (Vitae philos. 7.169.4–6). 

In Arat. 44.4.1 Plutarch says that a Sicyonian statesman lost popularity after lawlessly mistreating a suspect: “having tortured Aristomachus on the rack in Cenchraea, they drowned him in the sea, for which reason (ἐφʼ ᾧ) Aratus enjoyed an especially bad reputation.” Neither of these examples from Fitzmeyer really supports a strictly consecutive sense that implies “the sequel to Adam’s baleful influence on humanity by the ratification of his sin in the sins of all individuals."

Jewett (Romans, Hermeneia) argues that ἐφʼ ὧ EF hWi refers to the sphere in which humans were sinning, that is, the κόσμος (“world”) that is mentioned in vv. 12 and 13. That humans are responsible for spread of sin throughout the world is clearly implied by the expression πάντες ἥμαρτον (“all sinned”). This reading does create an bit of inconsistency with the later argument of the passage, which consistently stresses that Adam caused the later actions. Paul would be assuming a paradoxical combination Adam's fateful influence and individual responsibility for sins. As Käsemann (Romans, 148) observed, Jewish tradition provides a precedent for this paradox. For example, 2 Bar. 54.15, 19: “For although Adam sinned first and has brought death upon all who were not in his own time, yet each of them who descended from him has prepared for himself the coming torment.… Adam is, therefore, not the cause, except only for himself, but each of us has become our own Adam.”
Yancy

Elizabeth Kline wrote:

> 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".   

A good article, covers the history of interpretation and uses TLG evidence to build his case. One of his first citations in support of the consecutive reading is found in the middle of the following:

Athenaeus Soph., Deipnosophistae (0008: 001)
“Athenaei Naucratitae deipnosophistarum libri xv, 3 vols.”, Ed. Kaibel, G.
Leipzig: Teubner, 1–2:1887; 3:1890, Repr. 1–2:1965; 3:1966.
Book 2, Kaibel paragraph 33, line 3

   τράπεζαν ἡμῖν <εἴς>φερε
  τρεῖς πόδας ἔχουσαν, τέσσαρας δὲ μὴ 'χέτω.
  {Β.} καὶ πόθεν ἐγὼ τρίπουν τράπεζαν λήψομαι;
 ὅτι ἔθος ἦν ἐν τοῖς δείπνοις τῷ ἑστιάτορι
κατακλιθέντι προδίδοσθαι γραμματείδιόν τι περιέχον
ἀναγραφὴν τῶν παρεσκευασμένων, ἐφ' ᾧ εἰδέναι ὅ τι
μέλλει ὄψον φέρειν ὁ μάγειρος.
        ΔΑΜΑΣΚΗΝΑ. Δαμασκοῦ τῆς πόλεως ἐνδόξου οὔ-
σης καὶ μεγάλης πολλοὶ τῶν ἀρχαίων μέμνηνται.
ἐπεὶ δὲ πλεῖστον ἐν τῇ τῶν Δαμασκηνῶν ἐστι χώρᾳ
τὸ κοκκύμηλον καλούμενον καὶ κάλλιστα γεωργεῖται, 

   TRAPEZAN hHMIN <EIS>FERE
  TREIS PODAS ECOUSAN, TESSARAS DE MH 'CETW.
  {B.} KAI POQEN EGW TRIPOUN TRAPEZAN LHYOMAI;
 hOTI EQOS HN EN TOIS DEIPNOIS TWi hESTIATORI
KATAKLIQENTI PRODIDOSQAI GRAMMATEIDION TI PERIECON
ANAGRAFHN TWN PARESKEUASMENWN, EF' hWi EIDENAI hO TI
MELLEI OYON FEREIN hO MAGEIROS.
        DAMASKHNA. DAMASKOU THS POLEWS ENDOXOU OU-
SHS KAI MEGALHS POLLOI TWN ARCAIWN MEMNHNTAI.
EPEI DE PLEISTON EN THi TWN DAMASKHNWN ESTI CWRAi
TO KOKKUMHLON KALOUMENON KAI KALLISTA GEWRGEITAI, 


Yancy


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