From: Carlton L. Winbery (winberyc@popalex1.linknet.net)
Date: Mon Jul 22 1996 - 09:21:07 EDT
On Dec. 13, 1995 Carl responded to Tim's question about the Moffatt
translation of I Tim. 2:15.
<Moffatt>
>"However, women will get safely through childbirth, if they continue to be
>faithful and loving and holy as well as unassuming."
>>>>>Wow! This is fascinating. For clarity's sake in comment, let me cite (noch
wieder einmal!) the Greek:
SWQHSETAI DE DIA THS TEKNOGONIAS, EAN MEINWSIN EN PISTEI KAI AGAPHi KAI
hAGIASMWi META SWFROSUNHS.
Outside of its context (which, quite frankly, is itself not exceptionally
helpful toward the interpretation of the verse), this translation cannot be
faulted, I think, as a reading of the possible meaning of the Greek text.
In fact, although we do find DIA + genitive to express instrumentality, an
instrumental dative would (from my admittedly Attic perspective) be
preferable by far; and, in view of the fact that ancient childbirth is by
no means without risk of life (Euripides' Medea, remember, says she'd
rather face the foe with a spear on the battlefield three times to giving
birth once!), and given the fact that, outside of the theological sphere,
SWZEIN most normally DOES mean "bring safely," "preserve through peril,"
"keep intact" (as in the parable of the wine and wineskins; I tend to think
of getting safely through a semester!), the first clause of Moffat's
translation seems very natural.<<<<<
I have generally agreed with Moffatt at this verse (and most others as
well). I find that very few theologians can lay aside their theology and
translate this verse. Keep in mind that the writer here is most likely not
the same person who wrote Romans and Galatians, but a later writer who is
moving away from the Pauline concepts toward more settled concepts of the
church as a part of the world for some time to come. It is now considered
more important for women to "get married, rear children" etc. The
stability of the church as an institution is now becoming very important
(Compare I Cor. 7 "stay single unless you cannot live as I do and also "the
time is short").
Carlton L. Winbery
Prof. Religion
LA College, Pineville, La
winberyc@popalex1.linknet.net
winbery@andria.lacollege.edu
winbrow@aol.com
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