Can women be entrusted with the gospel? - Part 2

The Greek word anthropos means 'person.' Its plural, anthropoi, means 'persons' or 'people.' The Greek word aner means 'man' and its plural, androi, means 'men.' Greek lexicons have stated these meanings for a long time. Greek anthropos can refer to a man, but from that we cannot conclude that the meaning of anthropos is 'man.' Similarly, the English word "person" can refer to a man or a woman, but when it does so that does not change the meaning of the word "person" to 'man' or 'woman.'

The Colorado Springs Guidelines (CSG) for translation of gender-related language recognize that anthropoi refers to people, not men, in gender-inclusive contexts in the New Testament:

5.In many cases, anthropoi refers to people in general, and can be translated "people" rather than "men." The singular anthropos should ordinarily be translated "man" when it refers to a male human being

The CSG were created by men opposed to the increasing use of gender-inclusive language in English Bible versions. Several of the authors of the CSG were on the ESV translation team. The CSG were followed by two English versions, the HCSB and ESV. Yet, as seen in our previous post, the ESV does not translate anthropoi as 'people' in 2 Tim. 2:2. Instead, anthropoi was translated as 'men.' We are left to assume, either that:

1. The ESV translators simply copied the RSV translation, which they were revising, and overlooked revising RSV 'men' of 2 Tim. 2:2 to 'people,' or
2. The ESV translators interpreted anthropois of 2 Tim. 2:2 to refer only to men, based on theological or exegetical considerations, or possibly (but I think less likely),
3. The ESV translators used the word "men" in 2 Tim. 2:2 to refer to generic persons.

Had Paul wanted to state clearly in 2 Tim. 2:2 that the gospel was only to be entrusted to men, not women, he could have used the proper Greek dative for that, pistois andrasi 'faithful men.'

The HCSB also translates anthropoi of 2 Tim. 2:2 as "men":

And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

The NET Bible, also translated by complementarians who believe that women's roles should be different from men in ministry, however, correctly translates anthropoi as 'people' in this verse:

And entrust what you heard me say in the presence of many others as witnesses to faithful people who will be competent to teach others as well.

So does the ISV whose New Testament reflects the careful scholarship of Greek professor, David Alan Black, a conservative Southern Baptist who I would guess to be a complementarian:

What you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well.

The HCSB, ESV, NET, and ISV are all recent translations. I assume that each was translated by men who are complementarians, believing that women should not be pastors. Yet the NET and ISV put Greek scholarship above their own ideology and translate anthropois correctly as 'people' in 2 Tim. 2:2.

Other recent versions do not follow the Colorado Springs Guidelines (all except the TNIV were published before the guidelines were formulated in 1997). These versions translate the generic meaning of anthropois in 2 Tim. 2:2:

Take the teachings that you heard me proclaim in the presence of many witnesses, and entrust them to reliable people, who will be able to teach others also. (TEV)

You have often heard me teach. Now I want you to tell these same things to followers who can be trusted to tell others. (CEV)

You've heard my message, and it's been confirmed by many witnesses. Entrust this message to faithful individuals who will be competent to teach others. (GW)

You should teach people whom you can trust the things you and many others have heard me say. Then they will be able to teach others. (NCV)

You have heard me teach many things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Teach these great truths to trustworthy people who are able to pass them on to others. (NLT)

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. (TNIV; 'people' is a revision of NIV 'men')

and what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well. (NRSV)

I am thankful for Bible versions translated for people who speak current English which translate anthropoi as 'people' in 2 Tim. 2:2, a correct translation according to Greek lexical scholars. I am glad that both men and women can be entrusted to share the gospel with others.

Categories: Bible translation, Bible versions, anthropos, gender accuracy