> I can make a case in the English for filthiness, for example, to be
> that which is filthy. I can also make a case for it to be the source
> of making something filthy
Dear Paul,
It seems to me that it is neither of these. The flow of meaning for me is
from hRUPOS the noun 'dirt', hapax legomena in 1 Peter 3:21, to hRUPAROS the
adjective 'dirty', hapax legomena in James 2:2, to hRUPARIA (noun, 'the
condition of dirtiness', hapax legomena in James 1:21).
Robertson says, " Late word (Plutarch) from [ruparos], dirty (Jas 2:2), here
only in N.T. Surely a dirty garment" (presumably because of the normal usage
of APOTIQHMI - take off, or shed).
I would translate it as my state of imputed dirtiness after my outer clothing
has come into contact with dirt and been made dirty by it. I remove dirty
clothes not because they might make something else dirty, but because their
dirtiness offends me.
CARIS hUMIN KAI EIRHNH,
Mike Beazley,
Bushey, Hertfordshire, UK
CILIARCOS