A. Brent Hudson wrote: > > James 3:6, contains the phrase: > . . . hO KOSMOS THS ADIKIAS hH GLWSSA KAQISTATAI EN TOIS MELESIN HMWN . . . > > Can the term hO KOSMOS be understood in the sense of 'adornment' or 'decoration' rather than 'world.' Thus the translation: "... the tongue is made the adornment of iniquity among our members." If this is not possible, could someone explain why 'world' makes better sense (BAGD lists "sum total" as its choice, but only a few examples of this gloss are given). > > Thanks, > Brent Hudson > abhudson@bmts.com
Brent:
Congratulations! This is one of the most difficult verses in the NT or
so it seems to me. I would probably see it as more "the world system
organized in antithesis to God's kingdom." The whole verse would read
"That is to say (explicative KAI) the tongue is fiery (qualitative=no
article). The world system characterized by unrighteousness is
represented in our physical members like this: It is the tongue which
defiles the whole body, sets on fire the course of our life, and is
continually being ignited by the demonic forces that will inhabit
Gehenna in the future.(metonomy of place for inhabitants)" I will post
this to the list since I in in no way certain that I have a handle on
either the grammar or the way the language is being used.
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Rev. John M. Sweigart
Box 895
Dover, Arkansas 72837
Cumberland Presbyterian Church
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