[b-greek] What To Do With PNEUMATIKOS

From: B. Ward Powers (bwpowers@optusnet.com.au)
Date: Tue Oct 02 2001 - 22:31:33 EDT

Fellow b-greekers:

A couple of questions about what to do with PNEUMATIKOS.

plural forms PNEUMATIKWN and PNEUMATIKA respectively, where this is almost
universally rendered, in the different translations, as "spiritual gifts".
neuter. The word also occurs in this epistle unambiguously in the
masculine, with the meaning "spiritual person" (see 2:15, 14:37); and with
(e.g.) Ephesians 6:12.

The standard lexica give as one of its meanings, "spiritual gift". Is this
a case of circular reasoning? (Thusly: In 1 Corinthians 12:1 and 14:1 the
word PNEUMATIKOS is being used to mean "spiritual gift". Therefore
"spiritual gift" is part of its area of meaning. That is how we know it is
valid to translate it in 12:1 and 14:1 as "spiritual gift".)

Now a conclusion reached by a circular argument may possibly be correct.
But it has to be established as correct by something outside of and
independent of such circular reasoning: the circular reasoning does not
establish it.

Which leads to my first question:


headings then almost all go further and insert here also "Spiritual Gifts"
as the heading at the top of chapter 12. I am aware of only two exceptions
to this pattern.

J B Phillips's version translates in 12:1 as "in spiritual matters" (though


Here then is my second question:

Are any b-greekers able to point me to any other translations which do NOT
render PNEUMATIKOS in either 12:1 or 14:1 as "spiritual gifts"?

I am of course well aware of the exegetical and theological significance of
this question: 12:1 and 14:1 are the only verses in the NT which give
validation to the concept of "spiritual gifts", with all the connotations
which have attached to this term. Elsewhere one only has "gift", CARISMA or
DWREA-DWRHMA-DWRON, which do not carry the special meaning "spiritual" but
can refer to any kind of gifting. But please note: I am not wanting to
initiate a theological discussion; I only want to raise the question of the
validity of "spiritual gift" as a translation for PNEUMATIKOS.


PETERSHAM NSW 2049 email: bwpowers@optusnet.com.au
AUSTRALIA. Director, Tyndale College


