November 1^st, 2004 Assignment

1. The Greek word aiwn (aion) appears in 4 forms:

1. Noun Singular           (NS)
2. Noun Plural              (NP)
3. Adjective Singular     (AS)
4. Adjective Plural         (AP)

The Noun Singular appears in 3 spellings:

1. aivw/na              (31)
2. aiwnvi               (8)
3. aiwvnos             (25)

Re-translate the 31 occurrences of aiwna into English. Below is an example. If you feel that your re-translation needs commentary, include it after the translated text as per my example below. For this example I have chosen to use the KJV and the NASB as my base texts. In reality, I will use many more but for this example, I am only using these two.

For those of you who have our Library CD, remember that the Exegesis Bible is available on that in two English translations and an Aramaic text.

KJV 1 Corinthians 8:13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

NAS 1 Corinthians 8:13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, that I might not cause my brother to stumble.

GNT 1 Corinthians 8:13 dio,per eiv brw/ma skandali,zei to.n avdelfo,n mou( ouv mh. fa,gw kre,a eivj to.n aivw/na( i[na mh. to.n avdelfo,n mou skandali,swÅ

In the Greek the word we are re-translating has been bolded and colored and in the English you can see the word and how it has been translated in the KJV and the NASB. Now, write your new translation. Note: If possible, put each ellipsis in brackets.

My Re-translation:  Therefore, if [a certain type of] food causes my brother to stumble, by no means will I eat [that type of] flesh for the rest of this eon in order that I might not cause my brother to stumble.

My commentary: Since Paul used both the Greek word for food (1^st) and the Greek word for flesh (2^nd), and since this word for flesh is also found in Romans 14:21, the possible context could be as regards “meat” that is offered to idols. Paul would rather not eat “questionable” meat for the rest of this eon than to eat it knowing that for himself, it is OK but because his brother’s conscience is weak because his knowledge is not up to speed, it would not be a demonstration of love and would cause his brother to stumble.

Notice that I have decided to abstain from using the NASB’s ‘never’ since there is a Greek word for ‘never’ but this verse doesn’t have it. Since aiwna means eon, age, I have decided that what Paul is talking about is not becoming a vegetarian for the rest of his life but abstaining from questionable (in his brother’s mind) meat. This would only be needed for this eon since in the eon to come, knowledge of the truth will fill the earth. He would still be able to eat non-questionable meat since his brother has no problem with that.

Here are the 31 occurrences we need to address:

Matt. 21:19, Mk. 3:29, Mk. 11:14, Lk. 1:55, Jn. 4:14, Jn. 6:51, Jn. 6:58, Jn. 8:35 (2X), Jn. 8:51, Jn. 8:52, Jn. 10:28, Jn. 11:26, Jn. 12:34, Jn. 13:8, Jn. 14:16, 1 Co. 8:13, 2 Co. 9:9, Eph. 2:2, 2 Tim. 4:10, Heb. 1:8, Heb. 5:6, Heb. 6:20, Heb. 7:17, Heb. 7:21, Heb. 7:24, Heb. 7:28, 1 Pet. 1:25, 1 Jn. 2:17, 2 Jn. 1:2, Jude 1:13   

If you do not have Greek resources, click here to download all these verses in KJV, NASB, and GNT.

2. Look up the following words in English, find the Greek word (or words) that these words were translated from, and comment on the meanings as they appear in these verses. Try to keep your commentary per verse to no more than two paragraphs. I know that is an appalling restriction but we want everyone to have the time to read your work so be as concise as you can. Note: Two paragraphs should not be more than 100 words in most cases.

The words to look up are:

Iniquity (16), immortal/immortality (6), torment (11), and brimstone (8).

3. This part requires the reading of the scholars. I will put a quote from a scholar and comment on it in two or three paragraphs as an example. Following that there will be three quotes from scholars. Pick one (you should probably read all three) and write a two or three paragraph summary as to what you understand the scholar is saying.

Click here to go to the page that contains the quotes.

4. This is the long paper for this month. Every month I will include a long paper for you to read. Please comment on it in two or three paragraphs.

Click here to go to the page that contains the long paper.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me at Lee@hodsbs.org.

Enjoy