Monday with Mounce

Lately I have been fascinated by the more subtle methods of translation. One of the problems of first year Greek training is that we have to over-simplify the process. If we don’t, there is simply too much to learn. But somewhere along the process each of us needs to learn to read Greek in larger chunks.

Paul is combating the false theology of the opponents in Ephesus who put too much emphasis on the law. In verse 8, he's going to agree with them that the law is good, but then qualifies that it has to be used as it is intended.

This is one of Paul's many puns that rarely makes it into translations. "The law (νόμος) is good, but it must be used lawfully (νομίμως)." Since that really doesn't make any sense, most translations need to interpret νομίμως.

Peter concludes a discussion on suffering with these words. “Therefore, let those suffering in accordance with God’s will entrust (παρατιθέσθωσαν) themselves (τὰς ψυχὰς αὐτῶν) to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good” (1 Pet 4:19, NRSV).

I came across a great “divine passive” that has some interesting implications for how we study the Bible and train our seminarians and preach to our people. “Divine passive” is more of a theological category than grammatical. In form and basic meaning, it is simply a passive, but when God is the author of the verb, we call it a “divine passive.”

When Mary anointed Jesus’ feet, Judas objected to the perceived extravagant waste of money. Jesus responds, “‘Leave (ἄφες) her alone,’ Jesus replied. ‘It was intended that (ἵνα) she should save this perfume for the day of my burial’” (NIV). “It was intended” was added to make some sense of Jesus’ statement, but does that mean Mary changed her mind? She had intended to save it for the actual day of his burial, but changed her mind and poured it out in anticipation of his death?