[B-Greek] MNHMEION vs TAFOS

Mark Lightman lightmanmark at yahoo.com
Tue Nov 16 09:03:40 EST 2010


Hi, Scott,

Your friend's theory is interesting.

TDΝΤ 4:681 says "TAFOS is primarily the burial ground, MNMEION or MNHMA the 
actual grave or tomb or monument" but also says, contra your friend's theory, 
"MNMEION and TAFOS are sometimes interchangeable in Mt."

Someone else will have to do a search of the two words in the searchable Greek 
texts, but then you would have to analyze the results to see if you can really 
know which one was more common in "secular Greek conversation."  I know English 
very well, and I have access to lots of English texts,  but  if you asked me 
which is more common in secular English conversation, "tombstone" or 
"gravestone," I would say, how the heck would I know?

Your friend might also be accused of the etymological fallacy.  While the word 
MNMEION is indeed linked to other words for memory, it would be hard to 
demonstrate that that association existed in the mind of Native Greek speakers 
or Greek-as-a-Second-Language speakers. 


In half of the NT references, the word MNEIMON has neutral or negative ( 
e.g."white-washed tombs") connotations that have nothing to do with Jesus' 
tomb.  So, it would be hard to argue it was a "special word."

Having said that, it is easier to criticize a theory than it is to construct 
one, and I would rather have a good friend with a bad theory than the other way 
around.

I find it interesting that Paul does not use either word, except for TAFOS in an 
OT quotation. (Rom 3:13.)


Mark L


Φωσφορος
FWSFOROS MARKOS




________________________________
From: Timothy Lawson <tslawson1 at yahoo.com>
To: B-Greek at lists.ibiblio.org
Sent: Mon, November 15, 2010 8:15:21 AM
Subject: [B-Greek] MNHMEION vs TAFOS

To all:

A friend of mine is doing some research on the word, MNHMEION, and has a 
question about the frequency of its use in secular Greek conversation.
 
In the Bible, MNHMEION occurs 42 times, in comparison with the word, TAFOS, 
which is used just seven times. 
He's wondering if the Bible writers chose to use MNHEMEION more often than TAFOS 

because of their beliefs on the resurrection, and its connection with the 
memory. In secular conversation, would MNHMEION still be the more commonly used 
term, or might TAFOS be used more often than it is in the Bible?
 
In other words, does the Bible treat MNHMEION as a special word because of its 
association with the resurrection? 


T. Scott Lawson



      
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