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Hi Tiza,
I can help with the Greek part here. The word 'diatheke' in (modern)
Greek actually means either 'will' or 'covenant'. In Heb 9:16 the word
'diathemenou' gives a picture of a will (as we know it in our days) since it
referes to the one that made the will (and needs to die before the will gets
fulfilled). This word clearly gives the picture of a will.
Actually, both words ('will' and 'covenant') have similar (or the same
meaning) and in Heb 9:16 i think the language is used in such a way in order to
give a picture from everyday life. But it does refer to the covenant/testament.
As reading the Greek, I cannot find any difference in the actual meaning of
the text whether you translate the word as 'will' or 'covenant'. The idea behind
the text seems the same. The example is brought up just to clarify the issue:
the necessity of the death of Christ.
I am not a scholar, just Greek.
Hope this helps somehow,
In Christ,
Costas
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2004 1:19
AM
Subject: [sword-devel] Need Greek Help on
Diatheke
Hello,
I need help on the word "diatheke" and "diatitihemia" in Hebew
9:16. Does anyone know Greek really well?
I found this written by someone named Keith, quote: One recent
example is research I have done on Paul's use of diatheke in Gal 3.15-25
(please forgive my poor transliterating I usually type in Greek). Recent
commentaries have surfaced the idea of a will or testament in favor of the
traditional OT covenant term for v. 15. However, the word used
for
ratify (kurow) is only found in Galatians and a few oxyrinchus
fragments.
Predominantly, other language is used when diatheke means a
will, unquote.
What I'm interested in is does "diatheke" mean "will" in this specific
chapter in Hebrews 9:16? Or does it mean "covenant" like the Hebrew word
"berith"? The last part of Keith's sentence reads: "Predominantly,
other language is used when diatheke means a will."
This is what I need to know. Is this "other language" in Heb. 9:16
that means a will?
Thanks,
Tiza
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