Re: "Suffering" Adultery [was: MOICHEUOMENH]

From: Jonathan Robie (jonathan@texcel.no)
Date: Thu Jan 29 1998 - 18:45:30 EST


At 03:14 PM 1/29/98 EST, CWestf5155@aol.com wrote:

>In terms of the passage at hand, the context of the situation must be a
>backdrop, but the transfer of the entire baggage of "woman as
>victim/object/suffering" into the mouths of the scribes and Pharisees
accusing
>her would involve an exegetical fallacy. First, because apparently according
>to the research of others on list, the passive (or middle) is always used, so
>that this is "simply the way they say it." Second, because in the context,
>they are holding her accountable.
 
"Simply the way they say it" would explain cultural beliefs which may have
existed at a given time; naturally, these beliefs may change over time. For
instance, the original meaning of Mr. and Mrs. is probably not terribly
relevant to modern usage, but it does reflect usage that existed at an
earlier time.

If it is middle, this would tend to indicate a focus on the woman's body,
as opposed to the man's. The woman commits adultery with respect to her own
body (that's the middle), the man commits adultery with respect to the
woman's body. But if this is "simply" the way it is said in classical
Greek, then this reflects Greek usage, not consciously chosen New Testament
theology.

And I agree that the fact that they are holding her responsible is
significant here, and far outweighs the medio-passive form.

Jonathan
___________________________________________________________________________

Jonathan Robie jwrobie@mindspring.com

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