Male Meaning In Generic Masculines In Koine Greek -- By: Vern Sheridan Poythress
Journal: Westminster Theological Journal
Volume: WTJ 66:2 (Fall 2004)
Article: Male Meaning In Generic Masculines In Koine Greek
Author: Vern Sheridan Poythress
WTJ 66:2 (Fall 2004) p. 325
Male Meaning In Generic Masculines In Koine Greek
[Vern S. Poythress is Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Westminster Theological Seminary]
Since 1986 gender-neutral English Bible translations have arisen that avoid the use of generic “he.”1 This new translation practice raises many questions, some concerning English, some concerning the original languages, and some concerning the nature of translation between the different languages. I cannot here rehearse the entire discussion.2 I focus only on one question, whether a sense of “maleness” attaches to the use of the generic masculine singular in Koine Greek. As I show below, considerable primary textual evidence shows that in Greek the generic masculine includes a suggestion of a male case being used to express a general principle that applies to both men and women. If so, it tends to support the propriety of using an expression in English that suggests both a general principle and a male case exemplifying the principle.3 Of course, other arguments also influence translation: for example, one must consider the nature of translation, the differences between ancient and modern cultures, and
WTJ 66:2 (Fall 2004) p. 326
the pertinence of reader response.4 We concentrate here only on one question, the nuances in meaning of the Greek masculine in general statements about human beings.
I. The Significance of Generic Masculines
We must first understand the nature of the question about Greek masculines. We illustrate using English. In English most nouns and pronouns have no grammatical gender (they are neither masculine nor feminine). But personal pronouns “he” and “she” together with their grammatical variants “his, him, himself” and “her, herself” in many contexts indicate the biological gender (sex) of the person to whom one is referring. On occasion people also want to make general statements about “everyone” or “anyone.” What does one do on such occasions? Until at least 1970, prestigious written English regularly used “he”:
If anyone loves me, he will keep my word; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him. (John 14:23, ESV)
The word “anyone” indicates that the principle includes both male and female human beings. The subsequent uses of “he” and “him” do not narrow the scope of the principle, but a...
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