[B-Greek] SUMFERON in 1 Coe 12:7

Beata Urbanek beata.urbanek at op.pl
Mon Apr 25 10:22:07 EDT 2011


Dear B-Greekers,

I've searched the archives but did not find what I needed.

The text 1 Cor 12:7
ἑκάστῳ δὲ δίδοται ἡ φανέρωσις τοῦ πνεύματος πρὸς τὸ συμφέρον.

Most translations have common good for τὸ συμφέρον.

e.g.
NRS To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

NAS But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common 
good.

Now, the word SUMFERW does not seem to convey the idea of anythning 
"common". τὸ συμφέρον according BDAG is profit, advantage.
But also:
A common term, both sg. and pl. in ins in ref. to contributions to the 
public good by civic-minded pers., e.g. IPriene 119, 23 al.) TO hEMAUTOU 
SUMFERON 1 Cor 10:33 v.l. TO KOINH SUMFERON the common good .
PROS TO SUMFERON for (someone’s) advantage 1 Cor 7:35 v.l.; 12:7 (Aeneas 
Tact. 469; schol. on Pind., I. 1, 15b; cp. Jos., Ant. 15, 22).
Other lexicons have "profit, advantage", but Friberg is weird for me:
"neuter participle as a substantive  TO SUMFERON profit, advantage (HE 
12.10); PROS TO SUMFERON for the common good (1C 12.7)". So in Hebrews it is 
"profit" but in 1 Cor it is "common good". I don't get it.

Is it possible that the rendereing as "common" comes from the context - Paul 
talking about the community of believers? But is it a translation or 
interpretation?

thanks in advance
Beata Urbanek


My question is: Does SUNFERON means "common advantage" or just "advantage"?




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