Junia, the apostle: Part 13

This is the last example which Wallace and Burer offer to support their argument. It is from Lucian. Harmonides. 1.17,

ἡ δόξα ἡ παρὰ τῶν πολλῶν καὶ τὸ ἐπίσημον εἴναι ἐν πλήθεσι
glory before the crowds and fame among the masses

They write,

Lucianus speaks of Harmonides the pipeplayer craving fame for his musical abilities to the extent that he wants “glory before the crowds, fame among the masses”. He clearly sees himself as set apart from 'oi polloi'!63


63 The text goes on to indicate his desire for distinction: Harmonides wants “to be pointed at, and on putting in an appearance anywhere having everyone turn towards me and say my name, ‘That is Harmonides the oustanding piper’” (LCL translation).

I will take this line and retranslate it first literally, and then according to Wallace and Burer.

ἡ δόξα ἡ παρὰ τῶν πολλῶν καὶ τὸ ἐπίσημον εἴναι ἐν πλήθεσι
glory which is from the many and to be distinguished (outstanding) among the multitude

That is about as literal as one can get. However, W & B are sure that Harmonides sees himself as 'apart from' the crowd so for them this line reads,

ἡ δόξα ἡ παρὰ τῶν πολλῶν καὶ τὸ ἐπίσημον εἴναι ἐν πλήθεσι
glory before the many and fame from the multitude

However, the line contrasts para (from) and en (among) , so it only makes sense to read en (among) with an inclusive meaning. This line will not prove anything in itself, that I can see. Once again, Wallace and Burer must depend on reading into the text information which is not there. So this example cannot be considered evidence for their hypothesis.

There remains to be presented about 10 texts which support the understanding that Andronicus and Junia are outstanding among the apostles. I realize that the minute detail of this study may have lost many, but it must be remembered that the literal understanding of God's word has been altered to suit the article written by Wallace and Burer. Surely this makes it worthwhile.

The King James Version presents a somewhat ambiguous translation, "of note among the apostles". I am concerned that any Bible would depart at this point from a literal and ambiguous reading. To be so sure as to read into the text information which is not there on the basis of evidence in Wallace and Burer's article is surely a misjudgement.

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