From: Ben Crick (ben.crick@argonet.co.uk)
Date: Sat Nov 21 1998 - 10:48:47 EST
On Fri 20 Nov 98 (20:01:43 +0000), jmtait@jmt.prestel.co.uk wrote:
> An initial query: I was surprised to find that the Translator's New
> Testament (The British and Foreign Bible Society, 1973) translates THS
> SARKOS in 1 Cor 5:5 as "of his _body_" without a note. I'm aware of the
> view that SARX here refers to the physical rather than the sinful nature,
> but "body" seems to me to be rather interpretative in a text intended
> for translation purposes. Any illumination?
Dear John
Welcome to b-greek. Clayton has already given you an excellent answer.
ISTM that Paul may be referring to the physical death of the offender (i.e.
the destruction of his physical body of flesh) *in this instance*. Compare
1 Corinthians 11:30 "For this cause many are weak and sickly among you,
and many sleep". See also Acts 5:5, Revelation 2:22). But if 2 Corinthians
2:4-11 is the *sequel* to 1 Corinthians 5:1-5, as many think it is, then
clearly it was the *repentance and restoration* of the offender that was in
view, not his premature decease. So SARX takes on a metaphorical sense,
meaning the *Works* of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21).
It also seems to me that the Translators' New Testament is pre-empting the
issue by rendering SARX as if it were SWMA here. To do so without note or
marginal comment seems "naughty" to say the least. Principal Edwards in
his splendid commentary (long out of print) writes:
"The distinction between SARX and SWMA is not precisely the same as that
between SWMA and YUCH. The SARX is the principle of sin as it actuates
itself through the SWMA, the members of the body being MELH THS SARKOS.
Hence the destruction of the SARX involves the salvation of the PNEUMA,
which the death of the body does not. As SARX here has an ethical meaning,
so also has PNEUMA. It is not "the psychological opposite of SWMA"
(Pfleiderer, /Paulin./ p 65).
"We must add the notion of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, on which the
salvation of the PNEUMA depends. Similarly in Romans 8:10-11 the life of
the human spirit is connected with the indwelling of the Divine Spirit.
The action of Satan is only destructive; but it is overruled by God to
destroy the principle of sin. Salvation is the work of God. Finally, it is
worthy of note that Satan is represented as acting from without, by the
infliction of bodily suffering; but the Spirit of God from within, by
dwelling in the human spirit" (TC Edwards, /The First Epistle to the
Corinthians/, London, 1885, p 127).
BTW are you descended from an illustrious former Archbishop of Canterbury,
Archibald Campbell Tait?
ERRWSQE
Ben
-- Revd Ben Crick, BA CF <ben.crick@argonet.co.uk> 232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK) http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm--- B-Greek home page: http://sunsite.unc.edu/bgreek You are currently subscribed to b-greek as: [cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu] To unsubscribe, forward this message to leave-b-greek-329W@franklin.oit.unc.edu To subscribe, send a message to subscribe-b-greek@franklin.oit.unc.edu
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