Page 1 of 1

τίς in Titus 1:6

Posted: December 5th, 2022, 7:15 am
by grogers
In Titus 1:6, we see the phrase εἴ τίς ἐστιν. In many translations τίς is rendered as 'man' or' elder'. Since τίς is an indefinite, what is the justification for rendering this in the masculine rather than as 'anyone' as the ESV or Young's so render it?

Re: τίς in Titus 1:6

Posted: December 5th, 2022, 8:05 am
by Philip Arend
UBS Translation commentary:

"This verse begins with if any man (better “if anyone”). It makes no sense to translate the Greek literally here, since what comes out is somewhat ungrammatical, if not unclear, as RSV shows. In fact what the text seems to be saying is that Titus can appoint people to be elders if they have the qualifications as stated. Most translations therefore restructure the text along these lines."

Since within verse 6, one of the qualifications is being the "man' of one woman, it seems that some translators added meaning from the context.

Re: τίς in Titus 1:6

Posted: December 5th, 2022, 8:31 am
by grogers
Yea, that is pretty much the way I understand it, especially since ἀνέγκλητος is masculine. It seems to me that Young is being too literal here.

Re: τίς in Titus 1:6

Posted: December 7th, 2022, 6:13 pm
by Jason Hare
grogers wrote: December 5th, 2022, 8:31 am Yea, that is pretty much the way I understand it, especially since ἀνέγκλητος is masculine. It seems to me that Young is being too literal here.
Ἀνέγκλητος, -ον “without reproach, blameless” is a two-termination adjective. It is expressly not exclusively masculine. The feminine nominative singular form of this adjective is also ἀνέγκλητος. Most words with the alpha privative share a common termination for masculine and feminine.

Re: τίς in Titus 1:6

Posted: December 8th, 2022, 7:20 pm
by Stephen Carlson
Sounds like a translation question. The Greek indefinite makes an animate (τις) -- inanimate (τι) distinction, which isn't gendered on masculine or feminine lines (same as English 'someone' 'anyone'). In context, it is in apposition to ἀνήρ, so the indefinite could be rendered "any man" but that would seem to emphasize the gender more than the Greek original.

Re: τίς in Titus 1:6

Posted: January 10th, 2023, 10:55 am
by grogers
Gentlemen, I really appreciate your help on this. Thank you.