[B-Greek] Forgive - AFIHMI and CARIZOMAI

George F Somsel gfsomsel at yahoo.com
Fri Jan 14 08:17:19 EST 2011


I think what you have noted regarding the use of these words reflects two facts 
regarding vocabulary (and style) in the NT as well as somewhat differing 
theological outlooks (not normally a subject for discussion here).  Writers tend 
to use differing words from other writers even when discussing the same 
subjects.  This is also true today.  On the other hand, there are differing 
manners of presenting theology even in the NT.  For example, in Revelation 5.9 
and 14.3 the work of Christ is represented as an economic activity

  
9καὶ ᾄδουσιν ᾠδὴν καινὴν λέγοντες· ἄξιος εἶ λαβεῖν τὸ βιβλίον καὶ ἀνοῖξαι τὰς 
σφραγῖδας αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἐσφάγης καὶ ἠγόρασας τῷ θεῷ ἐν τῷ αἵματί σου ἐκ πάσης φυλῆς 
καὶ γλώσσης καὶ λαοῦ καὶ ἔθνους 


9 KAI AiDOUSIN WiDHN KAINHN LEGONTES, "ACIOS EI LABEIN TO BIBLION KAI ANOICAI 
TAS SFRAGIDAS AUTOU, hOTI ESFAGHS KAI HGORASAS TWi QEWi EN TWi hAIMATI SOU 
EK PASHS FULHS KAI GLWSSHS KAI LAOU KAI EQNOUS

On the other hand Paul represents it as a sacrifice in accordance with the 
Jewish cultic practice

  
Romans 3:25 
25ὃν προέθετο ὁ θεὸς ἱλαστήριον διὰ [τῆς] πίστεως ἐν τῷ αὐτοῦ αἵματι εἰς 
ἔνδειξιν τῆς δικαιοσύνης αὐτοῦ διὰ τὴν πάρεσιν τῶν προγεγονότων ἁμαρτημάτων 

 
25 hON PROEQETO hO QEOS hILASTHRION DIA [THS] PISTEWS EN TWi AUTOU hAIMATI EIS 
ENDEICIN THS DIKAOSUNHS AUTOU DIA THN PARESIN TWN PROGEGONOTWN hAMARTHMATWN.
 
It seems that we must simply become accustomed to the fact that different 
authors look at matters in a slightly different manner or use different 
vocabulary and style to express their views.
 george
gfsomsel 


… search for truth, hear truth, 
learn truth, love truth, speak the truth, hold the truth, 
defend the truth till death.


- Jan Hus
_________ 




________________________________
From: "bgreek at global4.freeserve.co.uk" <bgreek at global4.freeserve.co.uk>
To: b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org
Sent: Fri, January 14, 2011 5:42:54 AM
Subject: [B-Greek] Forgive - AFIHMI and CARIZOMAI

I have noticed that AFIHMI is used predominantly in the Gospels and Acts for 
forgive/forgave, but Paul exclusively uses CARIZOMAI (except where he quotes the 
LXX in Ro4:7).  


The spheres of meaning given in BDAG are:
AFIHMI - dismiss/release someone or something from a place, release from legal 
or moral obligations or consequence, move away/separate etc
CARIZOMAI - give freely as a favor, give graciously, cancel a sum of money that 
is owed, to show oneself gracious by forgiving wrongdoing etc

Obviously the words carry a slightly different sense of meaning even when being 
used in the context 'to forgive' - but I don't understand why Paul would so 
consistently use CARIZOMAI in favour of AFIHMI, while the Gospel writers .  In 
1Jn there is the occasional use of AFIHMI so not all epistle writers preferred 
CARIZOMAI.  In the Gospels CARIZOMAI is only used in Lk7 and then is carrying 
the meaning of cancelling of a finacial debt rather than forgiveness of sins.

All I could conclude perhaps one of the following:
1) Paul simply had a preference for the word CARIZOMAI
2) As Pauls letters were written some time before the Gospels and 1Jn, perhaps  
CARIZOMAI was being 'replaced' by AFIHMI  as the most common word for forgive 
(seems unlikely as they are only a few decades apart)
3) There is something specific about the meaning of CARIZOMAI which Paul felt 
more adequately expressed how God has forgiven us and and we should forgive one 
another

I would appreciate any insights anyone has into this

Many thanks

Adrian Clark

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