A Torah Commentary on First
Corinthians 1-6:
Interpreting the Text in Light of
Its Old Testament Roots
by
Roland
H. Worth, Jr.
Richmond, Virginia
© 2011
Reproduction of this book for non-profit circulation by any electronic or print media means is hereby freely granted at no cost—provided the text is not altered in any manner.
If accompanied by additional, supplemental material—in agreement or disagreement—it must be clearly and visibly distinguishable from the original text.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are
taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Introductory Matters
Chapter 1:
The Writing and
Intents of the Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 8
1. Authorship (8)
2. Date of Composition (8)
3. Place of Writing (9)
4. Canonicity (10)
5. The Broad Themes of the Epistle: An Overview (10)
6. Doctrine of the
Church and Its Leadership (16)
Notes (19)
Chapter 2:
The Corinthian
Church in its Historical and Social Context. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 24
1. Overview of the
City’s History (24)
2. Ports (25)
3. Economy (26)
4. Intellectual and
Cultural Life (27)
5. Moral Behavior
(28)
6. Religion (29)
7. Introduction of
Christianity (30)
8. Local Illustrations of Pauline Allusions (32)
Notes (33)
Chapter 3:
Focuses for
Conflict within the Congregation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 43
1. Paul’s Immediate Reason for Writing: Rampant Factionalism (43)
2. Paul’s Sources
of Information on the Internal Corinthian Divisions (45)
3. Sexual Morality As a Source of Disagreement (47)
4. The Abuse of the
Communion As a Source of Discord (49)
5. The Abuse of Tongue Speaking and Prophecy As a Source of Conflict (51)
6. Women’s Role in the Congregation As a Source of Division (54)
Notes (56)
Chapter 4:
The Epistle’s
Doctrine of the Supernatural. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 59
1. Doctrine of God (59)
2. Christology (60)
3. Doctrine of the Holy Spirit (62)
4. Doctrine of Divine Justice: Rewards and Punishments
--Temporal and Beyond (65)
Notes (67)
Studies of the Text
Chapter 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Themes Developed (68)
Old Testament Precedent for the Themes of This Chapter
(74)
Explicit Quotations (74):
1:19: The limits of human insight when it comes to
spiritual
matters (74).
1:31: Honor and praise should be directed toward
God and His
blessings
rather than our own real and imagined
accomplishments
(75).
Possible Allusions/Similar or Parallel Concepts (77):
1:2: “Calling on the name of Jesus Christ”
(77).
1:7: The Corinthians were “eagerly waiting for the revelation”
of
Christ (78).
1:9: “God is faithful:” the steadfastness and reliability
of
Yahweh (78).
1:10-13: The evil of disisiveness
among God’s people (79).
1:20: God’s ability to make “foolish the wisdom
of this world” (79)
1:23: Christ as a “stumbling block” to ethnic
Jews due to His
having
been crucified (80).
1:26-28: God’s use of the less respected classes of
society to teach
their
“superiors” wisdom and humility (80).
1:30: Believers accept Jesus as “wisdom from
God,” “righteousness,” “sanctification”
and “redemption” (81).
Historical Allusions: None.
Problem Texts (82)
1:1: Was “the church of God which is at
Corinth” one congregation
meeting
in one place or did it actually consist of only dispersed
“house
churches” within the city (82)?
1:12: What
were the convictions of the “Paul(ine),”
“Apollos,”
“Cephas,”
and “Christ” factions he refers to (87)?
1:15,
17: Paul’s “unconcern” with baptism
(92).
1:22-23:
Fundamental Jewish and Gentile dislike for the conception
of
a crucified Messiah (93).
1:26: The
class/socio-economic composition of the Corinthian
congregation
(94).
Notes ( 95)
Chapter 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Themes Developed (103)
Old Testament Precedent for the Themes of This Chapter
(108)
Explicit Quotations (108):
2:9: Divine decisions that human speculation
would not
have
anticipated (108).
2:16: Maintaining humility when faced with the
instructions
of
God (110).
Possible Allusions/Similar or Parallel Concepts (111):
2:1: Non-eloquent spokesmen for God in the Old
Testament (111).
2:4-5: Paul’s preaching as backed not by the
power of human
reasoning
“but in the power of God” (112).
2:6-7: God
as possessor and revealer of “wisdom” that no mortal
can
gain by study, research, or insight (115).
2:6: The “wisdom” of earthly “rulers” is
ultimately frustrated and
they
are “coming to nothing” in their defiance of
the Divine (116).
2:8: “The Lord of glory” (116).
2:10: The Holy Spirit as revealer of God’s will (116).
2:11: The inner “spirit” of a person “know[ing] the things” that
are
within the heart and mind (117).
2:11: The degree of God’s wisdom (117).
2:14: God’s will is “foolishness” to those who
are unable to think in
terms
of anything beyond their “natural” selves
and
the world immediately around them (117).
Historical Allusions: None
Problem Texts (118)
2:3: Paul’s physical and/or mental condition
when preaching
in
Corinth (1:18).
2:6, 8: The identity of the “rulers of this age”
(119).
2:12: The influence of the environment for
encouraging hostility
to
the gospel message (120).
2:15: “He who
is spiritual judges all things” (120).
Notes (121)
Chapter 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Themes Developed (126)
Old Testament Precedent for the Themes of This Chapter
(132)
Explicit Quotations (132):
3:19: The clever person’s schemes ultimately backfire when their purposes and intents defy the Divine will (132).
3:20: The smartest person still suffers failures
of his or her practical
and theoretical reasoning (134).
Possible Allusions/Similar or Parallel Concepts (135):
3:5-9: The comparison of encouraging others to
follow God’s will
with planting and growing a crop (135).
3:6: Even when human labor is involved in
producing a result, when
it
is an act in obedience to God’s will Yahweh should be given
the credit for its success (136).
3:8: Individual rewards from God based upon
individual
accomplishment (136).
3:10-11: The need for building upon the right
spiritual foundation,
“which is Jesus Christ” (136).
3:13: The testing of God’s people by the testing “fire” of life’s adversities (137).
3:14: The person who converts an individual who
remains steadfast
will “receive a reward” (137).
3:16: The individual who is part of God’s people
is a “temple of
God” (138).
3:16: The Holy Spirit as “dwell[ing] in” believers (138).
3:17: The person who “defiles the temple of God” will bear severe retribution (141).
3:18: Self-deception easily arises in a person
who is overly
confident of how clever (wise”) he or she is (141).
3:22: No one should “boast” of how great or important they are (142).
Historical Allusions: None
Problem Texts (143)
3:13-15: Testing “by fire” of one’s earthly work (143).
3:21: “All things are yours”--in what sense? (145)
Notes (145)
Chapter 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Themes Developed (151)
Old Testament Precedent for the Themes of This Chapter
(156)
Explicit Quotations: None
Possible Allusions/Similar or Parallel Concepts (157):
4:2: The need for “stewards” to be “faithful”
in fulfilling the duties
and
obligations as representatives of their superior(157).
4:4: The
fact that our own personal judgment finds nothing wrong
with
us, does not guarantee that the “Lord” will reach the
same
conclusion (157).
4:4: Our ultimate judgment by “the Lord” (158).
4:6: The danger of uncontrolled pride in others
(158).
4:8: The Corinthian delusion of greatness as an
accomplished
reality
(160).
4:10: Mockery as a teaching tool (160).
4:14: Paul was not attempting to “shame” his
readers but to “warn”
them
of conduct dangerous to their spiritual welfare (161).
4:15: The
idea of spiritual parentage (161).
4:21: The
punishing rod (162)
Historical Allusions: None
Problem Texts (164)
4:5: “Judge nothing . . . until the Lord
comes.” Nothing?
(164)
4:6: Did the Corinthians
have literal Pauline, Cephian, Apollonian,
and
Christian sects or are they substitute names for the
guilty
parties (165)?
4:6: Where is it “written” that we are not to
think too highly
of
ourselves (166)?
4:15: The difference between “fathers” and
“instructors” (167)
Notes (168)
Chapter 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Themes Developed (171)
Old Testament Precedent for the Themes of This Chapter
(178)
Explicit Quotations (177):
5:13: Those guilty of extremely inappropriate
behavior must be
removed from God’s people (177).
Possible Allusions/Similar or Parallel Concepts (178):
5:1: The spread of bad news about the moral
failures of
God’s people (178).
5:1: “Incest:” Old Testament regulations on sexual
relationships
with parents and equivalent close kin (178).
5:1: Evils so extreme that even bad people avoid them (181).
5:2: Congregational members were to “mourn”
(rather than to be
blasé or proud) of clear-cut moral evil in their ranks (181).
5:6: The degenerative impact of a “small” amount of evil on the entire congregation (182).
5:7: The Passover (183).
5:8: Observing our “Passover” feast of
obedience to Christ without
being spoiled by “leaven” (183.
5:11: Old Testament condemnations of the six
sins that are
specified
(183).
5:11: Not
to eat with the morally outrageous (184).
Historical Allusions: The Passover (185)
Problem Texts (185)
5:1: The nature of the incest in Corinth (185).
5:2: Regardless
of the nature of the kinship relation, why did the
Corinthians
tolerate such extreme conduct (187)?
5:4-5: The
nature of the penalty to be inflicted upon the incestuous individual: a formal and public repudiation in the church
assembly itself (188).
5:5: The goal of such public repudiation: salvation through being
handed
over to Satan and “the destruction of the flesh” (189).
5:9: What was the “epistle” in which Paul
instructed the Corinthians
to avoid “sexually immoral people” (191)?
5:9, 11, 13: The discipline
was to involve shunning all social
relationships with the individual (193).
5:11: Other offenses by believers that Paul
lists as proper to cause
social shunning (195).
Notes (197)
Chapter 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Themes Developed (206)
Old Testament Precedent for the Themes of This Chapter
(206)
Explicit Quotations (212):
6:16: Sexual expression’s uniting of the two genders (212).
Possible Allusions/Similar or Parallel Concepts (213):
6:1: Standards for lawsuits in ancient Israel
(213).
6:2-3: God’s people as “judg[ing] the world and even “angels” (213).
6:6-7: There are times when it is better to
accept loss than to
contest
an issue (215).
6:8: “Cheat[ing]”
others what they are due is bad enough, but
even
worse when they are our own co-religionists (216).
6:9: The moral unacceptability of both parties
in a homosexual
relationship
(216).
6:11: We do
not have to be the prisoners of the moral failures
of
the past (218).
6:18: “Flee[ing]”
sexual misbehavior (219).
Historical Allusions: None
Problem Texts (220)
6:2-3: In what sense will “the saints . . . judge
the world” and even “angels”
(220)?
6:4-5: The nature of the individual to decide
legal controversies
among
coreligionists (222).
6:5: The nature of pagan law courts in civil
matters (224).
6:9-10: Attempts to limit the condemned heterosexual
and homosexual misconduct
to prostitution (226).
6:12-13: In what sense were “all things . . .
lawful” for Paul (229)?
6:15: The nature of the prostitution condemned
by Paul (231).
6:17: In what sense are Christians “one spirit”
with “the Lord” (232)?
6:18: In what sense are sins “outside the body”
but sexual misconduct uniquely
a transgression against one’s “own body” (233)?
Notes (235)
Preface
This commentary has three central goals:
(1)
To provide an overview of the divisions of Paul’s arguments—how they are
developed and interlock; in short, to encourage the modern reader to put the
text in its intended context.
“Proof texting” is potentially fine and good,
but the two quickest ways to subvert its value is by either ignoring what the
verse actually says--unconsciously interjecting into it the gloss of what we’ve
been told it says or means--or by ignoring the context in which the statement
is made. The context—the “overview”--needs
to be understood in order to assure that we haven’t taken the ensuing textual
argument in a direction other than the apostle intended.
(2)
To present analysis of controversial texts that stress in a concise form
not only the dominant interpretation, but also the alternatives that exist to
challenge it. What makes them
tick and how have they held up to the challenges made against them? As one attempts to
prepare a commentary on the entire Pauline letter, one immediately becomes
painfully aware of just how many different matters the book discusses,
on each of which there is often a variety of vigorously and loudly defended
positions. Many of them justify a volume
in their own right! Hence it is
impossible to provide all that one might like on these various matters. If you did, you would have an encyclopedia
and not a commentary. Relative brevity
has been essential--but not so short that subjects can not be given a decent
over-view.
Hence I
have attempted to present a concise analysis of the various interpretive
options that are available and the reasoning behind them. It is quite possible that the reader will
decide that the ones I opt for are not the best ones. Even if that should be the case, the reader will
still be well versed as the other possibilities that are available. After all, a good commentary is not designed
to do your thinking for you but to provide an aid and stimulus as you judge the
matters for yourself.
(3) Finally it is the purpose of this work to bring to the front and center the intense and detailed degree to which Paul’s argumentation routinely incorporates a detailed knowledge and embracing of the wisdom and insights of the Torah. Not just occasionally by introducing selected “proof texts” but comprehensively, buried deep in the very assumptions and arguments that he makes. (Although the “Torah” properly refers just to the opening five books of Moses, we will utilize it as verbal shorthand for the entire Old Testament. The entire work is referred to, upon occasion, as “the law and prophets” in the New Testament and the latter utilizes “the law” = narrowly, the Torah, Books of Moses, in allusion to other parts of the Old Testament as well. Hence the propriety of this broader usage.)
Paul
has those writings so deeply engrained in his unconscious, as this book will
document, that a similar world, moral, and religious view are woven throughout
the very grain of his arguments. He
gives no indication in the bulk of cases of even “intending” them to be viewed
as Old Testament based; they have become so internalized in his very soul that
they are now part of his spiritual essence as well. A conscious reliance on the Old Testament is
not even required; he just does it automatically.
To be
quite candid, since this commentary is designed to be Torah-centered, I originally
calculated that a volume on Corinthians would be one of the easiest of the New
Testament writings to approach from this perspective. With a predominantly Gentile [Page 2] audience
the amount of Old Testament dependent or based material had to be modest--didn’t
it? I suppose I should have known better
from my earlier published and non-published studies. Between the large number of such precedents
and the substantial number of interpretive issues, I discovered that the
material would not fit within the confines of one volume and do justice to the
data. Hence we have had to divide
Corinthians into multiple volumes and even then exercised caution in keeping
the material within reasonable length:
too long and the reader will not be interested in “plowing through” it
all; too short and there will not be enough to make the effort worthwhile. Hopefully, I have struck a good balance
between the two needs.
The
primary Bible translation quoted throughout is the New King James Version, with
major supplementation from my own Alternative Translation and Paraphrase (see
below). No translation is without its
problems, but for years the NKJV has been at the top of my very short list of
on-going favorites—having displaced after years of usage both the Revised Standard
Version and the New American Standard Bible.
Alternate readings from other translations are given upon occasion and
identified as to their source.
These include such versions as God’s Word (GW), the New
American Bible (New Testament section in the Revised Edition) (NAB), the New
Revised Standard Version (NRSV), and the Revised Standard Version (RSV).
I
preached and wrote for years from the RSV and it still holds up well. The GW I find, well--fascinating is
the only word I can come up with. Through
the ingenious substitution of equivalent language for the “tried and true”
traditional verbal formulations, it often provides insight that is otherwise
missed.
The NRSV
is perhaps the dominant translation in “mainstream” religious circles at the
moment but, in my judgment in spite of good renderings in certain places,
overall, it does not measure up to its predecessor. (More than a few of its efforts to “degenderize” the text strike me as hasty and sloppy—the
resulting unnatural sound (to English speaking ears) are reminiscent of reading
“Young’s Literal Translation” at its worst.)
The NAB represents the fruit of modern Roman Catholic scholarship and is
another useful tool for translation comparison.
Evolution of this work. This
volume goes back to somewhere in the early 1990s and was then rewritten
twice—including adding, as requested, a new translation of Paul’s
epistles--before its intended publisher decided it would just not be a feasible
project for his firm to publish. The
comprehensiveness of the work had resulted in a manuscript too long for a
single volume, and, even more fatally (for even the most idealistic publisher
has to make a profit to stay in business), I simply
did not have the “name recognition” that might enable them to overcome this
hindrance.
Since
then a number of years have gone by and I decided to return to this work once
again to produce a final fourth version.
This required the addition of newer literature, including works that at
last were giving the New Testament reliance on the Old the kind of attention
the subject deserved. In the process,
the length increased from around 200,000 to what is likely to be 300,000 words by
the time the work is finished. In turn,
this led to the decision to divide the commentary into three separate volumes,
both for the convenience of the user—who may well be interested in only a
limited part of the entire analysis—and in order to assure the availability of
the work to the public without further delay.
Revision also involved the addition of two new major interpretive issues: whether [Page 3] all early churches were solely “house churches” (in chapter 1) and whether the nature of the human resurrection (chapter 15) can be interpreted in a non-physical manner descriptive of first century events. The first of these is a common assumption across the theological landscape; the latter is a key thesis of a movement that, in the last decade, has become increasingly popular at the “evangelical” end of the religious spectrum. The nature of individual human resurrection requires far more detailed examination than space will be available even in this study. The result, God willing, will be a separate book just on that issue and at least twice as long as the projected current chapter 15—itself already clearly the longest in this commentary.
Because these volumes are being released in electronic format and, alas, are unlikely to ever have a printed form, some means of identifying where a statement is found in the text was deemed appropriate. Hence for reader convenience and reference use, I have identified with a page number every page of the manuscript as it was found in a single spaced version of the material. (Actual placement of the number may vary a line or two to avoid interruption of the natural “flow” of the text, visibly and in reading.)
Alternative Translation and Paraphrase
Although the original intent was to include the full Corinthians text of the NKJV, the length of the commentary—as well as the varying preferred text of different individuals—has led me to abandon this approach in the final revision. Hence one should read the text of each section in one’s preferred translation and then, for comparative reasons, examine the ATP that is included in each section.
I claim a number of skills, but that
of translator is not among them. Hence
when I was requested to provide a fresh version of the text to accompany this
commentary, it posed something of a quandary for me. Traditionally I have viewed one person
translations rather cynically: If it is that
good, why isn’t it already part of one of the various widely used consensus versions
currently in print?
Hence, in spite of a considerable degree of personal cynicism, I proceeded with the effort. The preparation of the text involved careful consideration of the efforts of seventeen previous translations--building on the collective wisdom of predecessors always seems a prudent policy. In addition I consulted at length with Jack Gibbert, a now-retired long-term minister among the non-denominational churches of Christ. His advice, counsel, and suggestions were invaluable in the process of further revision. The final responsibility for that which was adopted is, of course, my own.
I count Jack both as a friend of
decades and as a capable analyst of the sacred text. Through the years, he has repeatedly
challenged my thinking and ideas.
Sometimes I have accepted his reasoning; in other cases I have rejected
it. In all cases I have been benefited. Similarly he will find much in this work that
will appeal to him and sections that he would have done considerably
differently.
I call this
an Alternate Translation and Paraphrase since an element of paraphrase is
always present in any translation and in one of this nature it is best to acknowledge
it in the “naming” of the work itself:
By the very effort to make “clearer” the intent of the text, it is
extraordinarily ease to cross that very thin boundary line between rendition
and interpretation, even though it is done out of the best of intentions. Indeed, so wrapped up are the issues involved in translation and explanation that
one may easily cross that line [Page 4] in the mind of the reader when
the preparer of the version has not done so in
his or her own mind.
This text is utilized at the beginning of each chapter as the textual divisions of that chapter are discussed. It is also included as a comparative translation (with the abbreviation, “ATP”) in the commentary itself, with the NKJV being the primary text quoted unless otherwise stated.
The NKJV, in spite of its virtues,
is determined to follow the precedent of the KJV even in those cases where
modern critical editions disagree. For
the reader’s benefit, they have provided a wide cross-section of footnotes
indicating where that translation differs from either the majority text or the
critical text, however. The ATP will
reflect the latter, leading to an occasional “disjoint” when the two
translations are compared. For
comparison purposes, renderings of the ATP are interjected directly into NKJV
quotations when only a very few words are involved (with “ATP” for
identification); when a longer rendering is being compared, it is typically
quoted afterwards (again, with the identification of source).
In regard to the many passages
quoted to detail the Old Testament principles Paul is either directly or
implicitly relying upon, the NKJV is utilized, with occasional other
translations being introduced where deemed especially relevant. Its inclination toward “literalism” is useful
due to the very fact that it compels us to consider the text with a minimum of
conjecture. Adding an ATP of these texts
was impracticable for it would have required a project covering virtually the
entire Old Testament.
This
Alternative Translation operates under several broad guidelines. On the one hand we desire to be substantially
“literal”; on the other hand we desire to fully communicate the intent
of the words themselves, something that literalism can never fully do. The danger, of course, is that in the effort
to bring out the intent we read into the text meanings and purposes that
were never contemplated. If one is too
literalistic one does not adequately communicate the original message—indeed
one may make it incomprehensible to the bulk of readers who lack decades of
study in the text; on the other hand, if one is too paraphrasitic
one also hides, alters, or removes the original intention.
Hopefully we have avoided that danger
in this rendition by striking an appropriate balance between the two
tendencies. If we sometimes seem to
wander too far in one direction or the other, it is due to our paramount intent
of communicating the text’s underlying purpose and meaning rather than
stubbornly holding to an absolute consistency in translation style that would
undermine that goal. This is a paramount
advantage of a translation/paraphrase that is designed for commentary use
rather than as an authoritative text for general consultation.
De-genderizing is
the common methodology of the day and I must confess major reservations about
the approach in spite of its popularity.
The unquestionably “male” term “brethren” is, paradoxically, clearly
intended in the original to encompass both male and female. Yet to arbitrarily replace it with non “male” language allows theological considerations to
overrule accuracy and literalness in order to solve a “problem” that was never
conceived to be a difficulty until the last decades of the twentieth
century. To insert “brothers and
sisters” (as many do) is to add to the text that originally intended to be covered
by the first word alone.
[Page 5] The
use of “male” terminology to include both genders served the constructive
purpose of teaching early Christians that whatever were the proper “roles” of
the two sexes, they shared a spiritual “oneness” in the Lord that transcended
gender considerations. By abandoning
this tradition of dual usage, a further barrier is created between male and
female rather than diminishing it; it unintentionally tends to replace a recognition of the gender equality within the fellowship
of God with an implicit maximizing of gender differences.
The legacy of spoken English itself
poses a major problem in that we do not have gender inclusive terms that
function as well as the old fashioned “he” and “him.” Again this double usage reinforced the fact
that though there are undeniable male and female differences, the Divine
fellowship and message always encompassed both.
The simple fact is that in spoken English, terms like “people” and “persons”
and “one” simply fall short on in regard to “naturalness” of the language—at
least when imposed uniformly and persistently throughout a text.
The problem is not dealt with
fairly when one interjects “Christian,” “believer” or other terminology in its
place since these are quite specific terms:
although describing the same group as “brethren” the terminology
is not conceptually equivalent--they are describing different aspects of
that same group. Furthermore, it leaves
the erroneous impression that the words are used in passages where they are
completely lacking in the original—places where the traditional “he” and “him”
and “brethren” were used to include both genders. Uniformly rewriting and rearranging the text
to remove the problem (as is the demand) opens one to the legitimate charge
that preserving what the text says is far less important than advancing
a theological agenda, an approach to scripture translation that would normally
be viewed with the most serious reservations and indignation.
Be that as it may, since the
Alternate Translation makes no pretense of becoming a generally used
translation and since the contemporary fancy is for absolute degenderizing—even when a modest preservation of the
traditional double usage of words like “he” and “him” make the text read far
more “naturally”--I have attempted to adopt that approach for this version
except in those contexts when males are clearly intended as the immediate
object of discussion. Hopefully we have
avoided the worst offenses outlined above.
If so, perhaps we will have assisted those who prefer to fine tune and
improve present efforts in behalf of “degenderization.”
Beyond the
matter of the loss of “natural speech sound” to the English reader when we omit
the “he’s” and the “him’s,” the greatest challenge
is, probably, in regard to the term “brethren.”
The nearest conceptual parallel that has always included both genders is
that of “comrade.” Originally applied as
a term to express the solidarity of those involved in a revolutionary political
movement, with the passing of communism it becomes available for participants
in what--when actually lived--is a religiously revolutionary
movement. Hence we speak of “comrades,”
“spiritual comrades,” and “comrades in the faith.”
In certain places where Paul is often
viewed as quoting those asking him questions or making assertions to him, we
have utilized quotation marks. We have,
however, severely limited how much of the text is placed in quotes
because it is our judgment that in a number of cases he is more likely to be partly
embracing the assertions [Page 6] being made.
In other words, he is not out so much to fully repudiate them as to mark
the reservations and limitations of what has been argued.
He is, in effect, making “even if
this is so” and “but on the other hand” arguments. These note the limitations of the
assertions regardless of whether they are his own teaching or rhetorical
questions or whether they represent the wording of those received from Corinth.
The conjunctions that begin the verses
in traditional translations (such as “for” and “and”) clearly link what is now
being said with what has previously been presented. They do not, however, spell out the nature
and intent of the linkage. Hence we have
often spelled out that matter in explicit language rather than require the
reader to do so as part of the reading process.
In doing this to the degree to which we have, we far exceed normal
custom, yet if the reader is to quickly grasp the likely connection between the
immediate verse and the context, such an “expansive” translation/paraphrase
(call it either or both) can prove of great benefit to the reader.
A number of other characteristics
of the ATP deserve passing comment.
In spite of the marked
disinclination of modern translations to retain capitalization when “he” and
parallel terms refer to God or to Jesus we have done so for it remains a useful
tool to assist the ready comprehension of the context by the reader. Theoretical rules of “contemporary usage”
should always yield to reader usefulness.
“Mysteries”—which
refers to things hidden rather than things mysterious—is rendered by terms such
as “sacred secrets.”
“Edify” is
translated with expressions like “builds up,” “builds up spiritually,” or
“spiritual improvement.”
“Church” is
so often synonymous with a place of worship that we have substituted its
original connotation of “assembly,” “religious assembly” or “congregation.”
“Apostle”
carries with it the idea of an individual designated as the authoritative
representative of another. Because of
the high rank normally assumed in its usage, we have adopted the diplomatic
rhetoric of “ambassador” to convey the meaning.
Except as
it becomes a controversy in regard to proper current religious practice,
the vast bulk of scholarly opinion readily concedes that in the first century
“baptize” referred either predominantly or exclusively to the action of
“immersion, submersion, burial in water.” Hence we have utilized this or
parallel wording in the translation.
Modern usage causes “sanctified” to
be read as if describing someone extraordinarily pious. Although that is certainly desirable to be,
the actual meaning is far less drastic. Hence
we have spoken of those who are “set apart” for God’s service. Likewise in regard to
“saints.”
“Justified” becomes “made
acceptable.”
“Grace” becomes “Divine favor” or
“Divine kindness.” In a case or two
where it is used twice in the same verse, we’ve retained “grace” in one to
remind the reader that the common translation should never cause us to lose
sight of the concept behind it.
No strict conformity in translation
has been adhered to. Hence “crucified”
is sometimes retained but in other cases replaced with “nailed to the
cross.” “Holy” typically becomes “pure”
or “dedicated,” according to context.
Few would have trouble in understanding “gospel” as synonymous with the
message of and about Jesus so this has often been retained. In other places, its meaning of “good news”
has been substituted to [Page 7] stress the synonymous nature of the terms and
to bring out that easily overlooked aspect of the essence of the gospel.
This translation is not claimed as
perfect in execution, merely as one that will hopefully be of value in
recasting the traditional wording in a manner that will aid the student of the
text to better understand its intents and meanings. Indeed, upon some occasions, I have even
recast the text from a question to the assertion mode that underlies the
question in order to give an often read verse a greater impact on our
consciousness. In short, conveying the
intent has been a higher priority than strict verbal accuracy or consistency.