[b-greek] Re: Ephesians 1:10

From: Ben Crick (ben.crick@argonet.co.uk)
Date: Tue Dec 05 2000 - 05:49:25 EST


On Mon 4 Dec 2000 (15:51:38), jfisher777@aol.com wrote:
> That in the dispensation of the fullness of times, He might gather all
> together in the Messiah, whether they are in the heavens or on the earth.
>
> This translation of mine just doesn't seem right. And this word
> OIKONOMIAN, when did we start translating it dispensation? What are
> some other flowing alternatives?
> And the word ANAKEFALAIWSASQAI - what a monster! Any suggestions?

 Hi Jeffrey!

 Carl's answer is a model of "economy"; but if I may offer my suggestions:

 ANAKEFALAIOMAI means 'to sum up' or 'to bring together under headings' from
 ANA and KEFALAION. Everything is going to be completely "categorised" in the
 fulness of time. William the Conqueror attempted this with his Domesday Book
 in 1086 in England. The Latin /instaurare/ (see the Vulgate) means 'to renew'
 or 'to renovate', after things have been allowed to go to wrack and ruin. This
 is another part of Good Housekeeping, when a new Butler or Manager has taken
 over the running of all domestic and business affairs. The full purpose of God
 is going to be worked out in human history.

 Re OIKONOMIA. The translation 'dispensation' comes directly from Jerome's
 Vulgate, well known to the Authorised KJV translators: /In dispensationem
 plenitudinis temporum instaurare omnia in Christo, etc/. OIKONOMIA is the root
 of our word 'economy', meaning the running of the household (OIKOS) so as to
 make optimal use of all available resources. It would not stretch it too far
 to understand it as "good housekeeping" or "husbandry". Compare Ephesians 3:9,
 where the NIV translates OIKONOMIA as "administration". The KJV translators
 appear to have read OIKONOMIA as KOINWNIA at this point, following the Textus
 Receptus and a few late miniscules. BM Metzger writes "The true reading is
 supported by p46, all known uncials, almost all miniscules, all known versions
 and patristic quotations" (/A Textual Commentary on the GNT/, p 535). Jerome,
 always consistent, has /dispensatio/ again at Ephesians 3:9.

 It is only in recent times that OIKONOMIA has acquired a "Dispensationalist"
 connotation, as in "the Mosaic Dispensation" or "the Christian Dispensation".

 E&OE, IMHO, etc.,

 ERRWSQE
 Ben

-- 
 Revd Ben Crick, BA CF
 <ben.crick@argonet.co.uk>
 232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
 http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm

--- B-Greek home page: http://metalab.unc.edu/bgreek You are currently subscribed to b-greek as: [jwrobie@mindspring.com] To unsubscribe, forward this message to leave-b-greek-327Q@franklin.oit.unc.edu To subscribe, send a message to subscribe-b-greek@franklin.oit.unc.edu



This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Mon Feb 11 2002 - 18:40:08 EST