[b-greek] Re: Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon

From: Carl W. Conrad (cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu)
Date: Thu Dec 20 2001 - 08:47:58 EST


At 11:50 PM +1100 12/20/01, Jonathan Burke wrote:
>Hi Lyle,
>
>>
>However, I don't think it would necessarily be proper to use LSJ for a
>final authority on biblical definitions.
>>
>
>Oh, good point. Thanks for that. :)

I don't think I'd look to ANY lexicon as a final authority for biblical or
other definitions; BUT the latest revision of LSJ with the supplement by
Glare is a very important reference worth consulting. Although the meaning
of a word in its Biblical setting may differ from secular usage, it is
dangerous to suppose that a Greek word used in scripture is wholly removed
from extra-biblical usage.

>I would think, one should / would use a classical lexicon (LSJ) when using
>classical texts, a biblical lexicon (Thayer
>or BAGD/BDAG) when using biblical texts, and a patristic lexicon (Lampe)
>when using a patristic text.
>>
>
>Argh... more shopping to do...
>
>>
>Of course, when one runs into a hapax in a biblical text, a classical
>lexicon may very well be the best place to turn.
>>
>
>True. :)

I think that for NT Greek BDAG is about the best one can do right now, but
I would repeat the caveat: any dictionary on any particular entry is only
as good as the range of texts it is based upon and the evidence (that a
reader may check) supporting it.
--

Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics/Washington University (Emeritus)
Home: 7222 Colgate Ave./St. Louis, MO 63130/(314) 726-5649
cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu
WWW: http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~cwconrad/

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