Re: 1 Corinthians 4:13
James H. Vellenga (jhv0@mailhost.viewlogic.com)
Tue, 29 Jul 1997 10:00:17 -0400 (EDT)
> Date: Mon, 28 Jul 1997 06:14:32 -0400
> From: "Carl W. Conrad" <cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu>
> <snip>
> I think "filth" and "offscouring"
> are about as good as you'll get for PERIKAQARMATA and PERIPSEMA inasmuch as
> they derive from verbs KAQAIRW, "cleanse" and YAW, "scrape,
> rub"--PERIKAQARMATA is rather like "dirty bath water" and PERIPSEMA
> probably (I'm guessing) referred to the sweat mixed with olive oil rubbed
> off their bodies by athletes using a strigil after heavy exercise. I think
> "rubbish," "dirty bathwater," "offscourings" all express the idea, but an
> added element in the ancient conception is the notion of ritual pollution
> attaching to many such words--and the notion of ritual purity in Judaism is
> not significantly different: what is "unclean" is abominable and accursed.
> In the current context, however, I think Paul is not using these words in a
> ritual sense but simply is referring to himself and (implicitly) to other
> missionaries as despised and outcast in their larger social context.
>
>From Carl's description, it sounds like "pond scum" might be
a good contemporary idiomatic equivalent for PERIKAQARMATA.
Regards,
j.v.
James H. Vellenga | jvellenga@viewlogic.com
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