From: jwest@highland.net
Date: Sat Sep 01 2001 - 17:28:32 EDT
> 
> I would agree that hUMWN can modify DOKIMON, but I fail to see how THS
> PISTEWS can be construed as "faithful people."
because nouns name things.  they are not mere abstractions.
thus, the people named here are described as faithful.
 For one thing, your
> translation suggests THS PISTEWS be taken in a vocative sense, though the
> case is genitive. 
the genitive here functions merely to specify that they are the faithful ones 
(in opposition to and contradistinction to the unfaithful)
>And while PISTIS in certain contexts can mean
> "faithfulness," I don't see how it can mean "faithful one." 
because- with all due respect- you are translating far too literally-- thinking 
in a modern mindset, and not availing yourself of the fact that in ancient 
palestine people used nouns to describe the attributes of folk rather than as 
mere abstractions.
>This would be
> covered by hO PISTOS. Finally, PISTEWS is singular, not plural. Even if it
> were plural, the only sense I know of for PISTIS in the plural is something
> like "pledges" (although the plural is not used in the NT).
the singular often stands in place of the plural when a group is conceived in 
its singularity.  again, you are thinking like a modern individualistic 
american rather than a first century jewish christian (the folk addressed by 
james).
best,
jim
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jim West, ThD
Adjunct Professor Of Biblical Studies
Roane State Community College
Biblical Studies Resources
http://web.infoave.net/~jwest
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