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Re: Lexicons

> I think I know the kinds of problems Dan is talking about.  BAG sometimes 
> gives a definition that reflects traditional Christian theologies rather 
> than the evidence of actual word usage in non-Biblical/Christian texts.  
> It usually does so by giving an *extra* definition, but still.  I guess 
> this has to do with how much one sees a divergence between Christian and  
> non-Christian Greek of the time & society.

One example I recently found is the meaning of of water (hudatos) in Jn3:3
"born of water and spirit" (genne:the: ex hudatos kai pneumatos).  BAGD
says it is a reference to Christian baptism, but I'm not sure that's what
is going on.  Is it plausible here that "water" refers to the amniotic
fluid?

> I would certainly recommend Liddell-Scott as a counteractive and 2nd 
> opinion.  I think we need to introduce specific words as examples. I'm 
> not sure I'll have a chance to look, but I think *arsenokoites* was a 
> good example (of course, that word has been controverted much recently).

I have recently investigated this word in the course of preparing a critique
of John Boswell's interpretation of the term in the chapter on Lexicography
and St. Paul in his book, CHRISTIANITY, SOCIAL TOLERANCE & HOMOSEXUALITY.
Both LSJ and BAGD give a meaning of "sodomite" without much explication.

Stephen Carlson
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