RE: SYNONYMS IN J

From: perry.stepp@chrysalis.org
Date: Mon Jun 24 1996 - 11:30:43 EDT


Oh, please. This argument (that AGAPH and PHILEW were intrinsically different
words, with AGAPH understood in the first-century Hellenistic/Jewish milieu to
refer to a higher type of love) is old and tired, a great example of "preacher
Greek." Witness 2 Ki 13.1 LXX (2 Sam 13.1): speaking of Tamar, the writer
notes that "Amnon, son of David, loved (HGAPHSEN) her." Later, (13.4) Amnon
asserts, "I love (AGAPW) Tamar, the sister of my brother Absolom." Even
after the rape, the writer speaks of Amnon's lust as "THN AGAPHN, hHN HGAPHSEN
AUTHN."

Is anyone really going to suggest that Amnon's love was a god-like (or
God-like) love? I didn't think so.

Grace and peace,

Perry L. Stepp, Baylor University
                                                             



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