Julian

I was reading a few Pauline letters last night (1 Th., Gal.) and a bad pseudonymous letter (2 Th.) in Oxford's NRSV version as well as a Koine version for reference. It struck me that NRSV translates the word αδελφοι in several ways. First of all, it means brothers, either as a family member or religious connection, yet they translate it as either brothers and sisters or, worse, beloved.

I have been unable to find any reason for these translations other than excessive PC tendencies.

KJV uses brethren, which makes sense to me.

Any greek experts here who might tell me if NRSV is screwed up or I am?

Julian

CJD

I think the simple answer that the NRSV translators would offer is, regarding 'religous connections' the inclusive language ought to be used, since the use of αδελφοι includes them. In cases where a male is the obvious referent, then it ought to be left as is (but I don't think even the NRSV follows this one all that well).

CJD

CJD

I should add that there are a few instances that come to mind outside of the NT in which adelphos is used to connote brotherly or sisterly:

Aeschylus, Seven Against Thebes, line 811

Plato, Kritias, 109c

Julian

Hmmm, okay, I guess. It still doesn't explain beloved. Also, does Paul ever reference any women in his epistles?

Thanks for the answer.

Julian

Chris Weimer

Even though it may mean brothers and sisters, the word is still brothers. What has become of English is that the uber-feminist naziology opposes anything that won't automatically infer that they are being included, whether they are or not. Mankind, no Womankind, OK, we'll bargain, Humankind. :down:

Amaleq13

I know of three:

Phebe - Romans 16:1

Julia - Romans 16:15

Priscilla - Romans 16:3; 1Cor16:19

Peter Kirby

If it does include both women and men in its referent, then I would prefer "brothers and sisters" to "brothers," "beloved," or (yuck) "siblings." Note that culture is a part of language, and in English-speaking countries, "brother" is always male. If that is not the case in Greek, then the two words (Greek) adelphos and (English) brother are not equivalent.

Remember that if one is using the translation as a guide to the structure and the wording of the Greek, one is foolish. In that case, reach for the Greek itself.

best,
Peter Kirby

CJD

My best guess on this is that in those situations where the 'religious connection' is connoted, the word is a term of endearment: e.g., my "dearly loved brothers (and sisters)"; i.e., "beloved."

CJD

Don't forget the infamous "Junia" of 16:7!

CJD

Julian

Yeah, but understanding the meaning in a dead language would be even harder... As you surely read I did, and do always, keep the Koine version handy. I just don't trust the translations anymore.

Now, Peter, go answer the question I just asked you over on Ebla, pertinent to your post and this issue.

Beloved seems like an unreasonable stretch to me and brethren suitably neutral, although the fact that there were women involved makes me go, "Hmmmm...."

Julian